Independent advertising agency Firehouse in Dallas has hired Wade Alger as chief inspiration officer. Alger most recently had been chief creative officer at Zimmerman Advertising in Florida. Prior to that he was executive creative director at TBWAChiatDay New York.
Alger is perhaps best known for his tenure as a creative at The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va., where he was behind the Geico ads “Unskippable,” “Happier Than (hump day),” and “Did You Know” that helped the brand go from ninth to the number two auto insurer in the country. At Martin he also co-wrote the “The World’s Biggest Asshole” for Donate Life – which led to a more than 600% increase in organ donation registrations. In addition, Alger helped create the award-winning site We Chose the Moon and Clouds Over Cuba for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Originally from the Dallas area, Alger coming aboard Firehouse represents him coming full circle geographically. His hiring kicks off Firehouse’s 25th year in business. Alger will add to the firm’s momentum and talented creative roster as he helps lead and inspire the team of creatives in the brand-building space.
“There’s a reason why big agency talent like Wade is migrating to smaller shops. There’s less bureaucracy, fewer barriers to creativity and greater access to clients”, said Tripp Westbrook, president and chief creative officer, Firehouse. “Wade’s arrival shows our intent to continue punching above our size and being a highly valuable, highly creative resource for clients of all sizes.”
Alger related, “I really do think small is the new big. Clients are looking for agencies like Firehouse–with more transparency, more creative engagement on their business, and most important, they’re looking at agencies to see who exactly will work on their business. When you’re a smaller, independent agency like Firehouse, the people in the room are the ones working on your account. That level of focus and firepower is hard to ignore, which is why we’re seeing even large clients take notice.”
Alger was raised in McKinney, Texas, and graduated from McKinney High School. From there, he went to SMU and received a bachelors in marketing/communications. Alger’s work has won 57 Cannes Lions, 38 One Show pencils, nine D&AD pencils and countless FWA and Art Directors Club awards. His work also won several industry AICP awards and multiple ANDYs, Webby and CA awards as well as two Emmy nominations and one Emmy win.
Firehouse’s clients include Lennox, Trupanion, Stryker, Coinstar and Mary Kay. In this newly created role at the agency, Alger will be a creative catalyst across all clients and look for opportunities to amplify the ideas and the work wherever possible.
Directors Melissa Bolton-Klinger and Sasie Sealy Join Honor Society For Spots, Branded Content
Production company Honor Society has added directors Melissa Bolton-Klinger and Sasie Sealy to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Bolton-Klinger, a director and creative director, brings a diverse portfolio of commercial, TV and film work to her new roost. Her background in improv at L.A.’s The Groundlings informs her fast-paced, sharp, and humorous directing style. She also has a finely honed expertise with celebrity talent and complex shoots. Bolton-Klinger, who was awarded a Grand Clio for her work with Reno 911, kicked off her collaborative efforts at Honor Society with projects for Coffee Mate and Future Forward. She said, “I’m so excited to be joining the Honor Society crew. They’re all about supporting women and taking creative risks, which is exactly where I thrive. With [Honor Society founder and EP] Megan Kelly leading the charge, it’s the ideal spot for me to use my comedic and celebrity-infused powers for good. I’m looking forward to crafting more work that not only gets laughs but leaves a lasting impact.” Prior to joining Honor Society, Bolton-Klinger was repped by production studio Slim. Meanwhile Sealy, who had earlier been repped by production house Bullitt, is an award-winning writer/director celebrated for her striking visuals and witty, original scripts. Her debut feature film Lucky Grandma premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to critical acclaim and was included in multiple “Best of 2020” lists, such as Indiewire and New York Magazine. Named one of “9 Filmmakers Who Should Be on Your Radar” by The New York Times, Sealy has had her work recognized for its bold, humorous take on the female experience. Her commercial work spans... Read More