The Escape Pod, an independent advertising agency in Chicago, today announced that it has purchased a stake in ORA Interactive, a digital experience studio headquartered in the city’s West Loop neighborhood. The expansion of The Escape Pod’s full-service offering will accelerate the agency’s speed to ideas while driving cost-efficiencies for clients.
“We bring our clients’ brands to life in the most powerful manner possible—whether through broadcast, digital, social or experiential. By bringing ORA’s digital firepower in-house to enhance our full suite of services, we now have the ability to concept, produce, program and build anything we can dream up, faster and at a better cost for our clients,” said Norm Bilow, Managing Director, The Escape Pod.
The strategic partnership between the two agencies is a natural fit based on similar cultures and complementary offerings. “The Escape Pod is known for bringing a sense of energy and excitement to help clients break through the clutter in their category,” said Mike Kelly, Founder and CEO, ORA Interactive. “Similarly, with digital experiences, people have high expectations. If you don’t create a great experience, they’ll drop off or switch brands. By joining forces, we’re fusing the best creative ideas with technology that can power richer brand experiences for clients,” Kelly added.
Founded in 2009, ORA Interactive specializes in Interface/UX design, application development, web development and identity design. The Studio has created apps, dynamic websites, virtual reality and connected devices for a broad range of clients, from start-ups such as Dryv and Fooda to mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies, including Interpark, Allstate, Baxter and more.
In August, the agency’s full team of designers, developers and managers will move to The Escape Pod’s Fulton Market headquarters in Chicago.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More