Creative production studio Where The Buffalo Roam (WTBR) has promoted Candice Matthews to head of people. Formerly the head of creative xervices, Matthews will now also oversee human resources and cultural initiatives at WTBR. Drawing on her deep experience managing creatives and assembling multimedia production teams, Matthews will also play an integral role in cultivating innovative partnerships with agencies and brand clients.
“Candice has an infectious love for life and a kind and caring personality to match,” says Tim Pries, WTBR co-founder and executive producer. “When thinking about someone to be head of people, she’s the spitting image of what we imagined that person could be.”
Since her promotion, Matthews has expanded the WTBR internship program to include a new partnership with BLAC (Building Leaders and Creators) to support emerging Black talent. The partnership has already yielded positive results, leading to the hiring of an intern into a full-time role. In addition, Matthews hosts a monthly Ladies Power Lunch in Portland, Ore,, connecting professionals from the advertising, production, and marketing industries.
“WTBR is the perfect place for me to do what I love most–fostering a fulfilling environment where everyone can create their best work and thrive,” said Matthews. “And through successful DEI initiatives, like our partnership with BLAC, it is equally rewarding to create pathways for the next generation of creative leaders.”
With a diverse background in advertising and marketing, Matthews has served as a full-service account director, project manager, and producer. Along the way, she has successfully managed a variety of projects, budgets, events, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder–and traveling to 40 countries–Matthews embarked on her career at the World Affairs Council in Portland. At the Council, she led the marketing and membership department, supporting the International Affairs Program and hosting distinguished guests, such as the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Madeleine Albright, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bono, Fareed Zakaria, Thomas Friedman, and others. She next moved into accounts with Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, BBDO, Autofuss, and several other notable San Francisco agencies, followed by a tenure as VP of creative operations at Edelman.
Outside of her work at WTBR, Matthews is an advisor for The Host Co, a platform that enhances Airbnbs and short-term rentals by offering curated, hotel-style amenities. She is also developing a new content series at WTBR that spotlights artists in the industry. As an artist herself, having fronted the band Date Nite for 13 years, Matthews will host the upcoming series, combining her passion for creativity and mentorship.
Alongside her professional achievements, Matthews and her husband are parents to four-year-old twins and a seven-year-old.
