Agency’s Staff Gives Voice to Entrepreneurial Spirit

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Playa Vista ad agency Team One has long supported its employees with their side projects and companies – even creating incubator program Launch an Idea.

The entrepreneurial spirit continues, as five of its employees launched a device last month called Dustin’s Words. The product helps people who cannot speak communicate with the push of a button.

Dustin’s Words was developed by Solve for One, a company co-founded by Team One employees that also aims to develop other accessibility products.

Matt Reamer, experience designer at Team One and co-founder of Solve for One, said the goal was to create a tool to help those unable to speak communicate with family members and caregivers.

“We’re also going to open source everything we do – from our code to the 3-D models to the platform itself,” Reamer said. “So that in addition to being able to purchase a preassembled device, anyone can print and assemble a device of their own.”

Reamer initially created the device for his autistic brother Dustin, who can’t speak. The device allows his brother to send a text message over Wi-Fi to their mother with messages indicating when he is hungry or just wants to say “I love you.”

The device features large buttons with icons on each button that can be customized to fit a user’s needs.

Solve for One has started an Indiegogo campaign to raise $20,000 to give 100 free devices to families in need. Through the first eight days of the campaign, the company had raised about $7,000. Team One has also partnered with Solve for One to help guide the crowdfunding launch.

Social Growth

Fifty & Five, a social media agency in Redondo Beach, is getting bigger. The company recently announced the addition of three employees to its home office, which came on the heels of opening regional outposts last year in Orlando, Fla., and Boston.

Lucas Vandenberg, Fifty & Five’s founder and chief executive, credits the expansion to the growing number of brands looking to increase their social media presence.

“Our company growth and expansion on a national level is a testament to the role social media continues to play in brand marketing efforts,” Vandenberg said.

The agency hired Hayley Cammarata as director of accounts. Cammarata was working independently as a marketing and public relations representative in the entertainment industry for recording artists. Sabrina Potter was named account manager. She was previously marketing manager for Chalkboard Music, an artist management company in Burbank. And Michael Robertson was named account coordinator. He previously served as brand marketing coordinator at Toms Shoes in Playa Vista.

Agencies & Accounts

Public relations firm Porter Novelli in Playa Vista has promoted Linda Martin to managing director of its Southern California offices. Martin, a partner at the firm, previously served as managing director of the agency’s Irvine and San Diego offices. … Torrance ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles has named Lalita Koehler executive director of integrated production. Koehler previously served as executive producer at Culver City ad agency Omelet. … West Hollywood public relations firm Ballantines PR has been named international public relations agency of record for Marriott International of Bethesda, Md. … Santa Monica ad agency RPA has been named agency of record for ampm. The firm will handle strategic, creative, social and digital work for the gas station convenience store chain. … Ad agency Deutsch has named Madonna Deverson executive vice president of brand intelligence, a newly created role. Deverson will be based out of the agency’s Playa Vista office but report to the firm’s L.A. and New York offices. Deverson was previously senior partner at New York ad agency Ogilvy & Mather. … El Segundo ad agency David&Goliath has hired three creative directors: Brandon Davis, Rick Utzinger and Nick Hine. Davis previously worked as a freelancer in New York. Utzinger and Hine previously worked at L.A.’s TBWAChiatDay as creative director and global executive director, respectively. … Playa Vista ad agency 72andSunny has added Nuno Ferreira to its creative department. Ferreira previously served as creative director at Chicago-based Leo Burnett.

Staff reporter Subrina Hudson can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 251.

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