agency

we are spawn ideas.

a fully integrated advertising agency. employee owned — proudly independent.

our leadership

karen king

president & ceo

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karen king

president & ceo

with spawn since: 1999

claim to fame:

Karen has a well-earned reputation for being fearless on the job and always game for outdoor adventure. This irrepressible spirit guides her as president of Spawn Ideas, where Karen is a true thought leader. She rose to the top of her discipline as a strategic planner and brand building for national clients like General Mills and Coca-Cola as well as regional marketers that include GCI (telecom) and the Alaska Railroad.

When not innovating for clients, Karen can be found traveling, skiing or hiking with her two Aussies, Juneau and Stormcloud.

loves it when our work: gets it right by personalizing a message to a consumer’s mode (planning, organizing, etc.). Messages such as these elevate the customer’s journey and shorten the distance between thinking (“I should join a gym”) and doing (joining that gym).

mike weed

vp, creative director

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mike weed

vp, creative director

with spawn since: 2016 (technically 2015, but that’s another story)

claim to fame: Mike is a mentor, to his core. Over the span of his impressive career, Mike has taught young “wannabe advertising creative people.” Developing talent and passing along a bit of wisdom that inspires the next generation brings him a great deal of pride. Seeing former students go on to become some of the most awarded, successful people in the ad industry is the ultimate flattery for Mike.

loves it when our work: takes the form of a creative, well-told story that makes the audience laugh or cry, or inspires them to do something. Emotions drive behavior. The worst thing our work can do is make someone say, “So what.”

kathy norford

vp, media director

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kathy norford

vp, media director

with spawn since: 1999 (Round 1) and 2007 (Round 2)

claim to fame: Kathy stepped up and challenged herself to compete in the rigorous Tri for the Cure triathlon after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This internal drive to succeed inspires her daily to solve client challenges and find solutions to what keeps clients up at night. Kathy’s brave outlook serves her well in her ongoing quest to reach audiences in unique ways.

Kathy resides in Denver and, when she’s not being a media maven, she’s an ace tennis player, a walking sports encyclopedia, and (surprise!) a big Broncos fan.

loves it when our work: is translated from a flowchart to a campaign that produces positive results for clients.

lisa king

evp, chief financial officer

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lisa king

evp, chief financial officer

with spawn since: 1991

claim to fame: Lisa has given over 11 gallons of blood in her lifetime! Needless to say, giving is in her nature. She gives her all to the agency. Lisa has been keeping Spawn dialed in and moving forward for over two decades. She gives our clients her very best, being as vigilant with their money as she is with her own. And Lisa goes above and beyond to make employees happy, giving them the kind of care and personal attention you don’t typically find in today’s workplace.  

When Lisa is not giving her all at work, she gives her time as a volunteer and travels the globe.

loves it when our work: exceeds client expectations and agency standards due to Spawn employee-owners being supported and happy.

april cook

director, project management

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april cook

director, project management

with spawn since: 2002

claim to fame: April achieved McGoddess status in 2017. McDonald’s national culled their roster of 60 local agencies working with U.S. Co-ops to just nine, and Spawn Ideas was among the select group. April’s dedication, commitment and 15-year relationship with the Alaska owner/operators were major factors in retaining the business.

In addition to leading the project management team, April also leads two sons who love outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and getting dirty, as Alaskan boys do.

loves it when our work: rises above the expected, to the magical; when it’s based on a truth so compelling that it takes her breath away, makes a client emotional, or leaves someone momentarily speechless.

julie hirt

director, account management

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julie hirt

director, account management

with spawn since: 2015

claim to fame: Julie successfully assembled marketing leaders from 15 different countries in an effort to ensure consistency for a multi-national brand. The result: transforming the brand into a global one. Cross-cultural communication expertise is only one of the many talents in Julie’s portfolio. Her strong leadership skills and attention to detail have allowed her to provide superior client service to myriad brands.

Julie is a true adventurer, having driven the legendary Dalton Highway to Deadhorse, Alaska, as well as the AlCan highway during the dead of winter. That’s next-level road warrior stuff.

loves it when our work: makes people take action. As long as it compels you to react and do something positive, we’ve done our job. 

charles leshan

director, production

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charles leshan

director, production

with spawn since: 2013

claim to fame: Charles truly exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of Spawn employee-owners. He concepted, planned and helped pull together Spawn’s subsidiary Bore Tide One Source, Spawn’s in-house print/promotional procurement service. He brings a wealth of experience in print and collateral production, has a worldwide network of vending partners, and is an expert negotiator.

Charles considers marketing a “hobby” and feels fortunate to get paid to do something he loves. When not ruminating on paper samples, he enjoys spending time with his family, anything “baseball” related, and of course, combat fishing.

loves it when our work: makes our clients excited about how their story is being told; when a project feels like a true partnership between the client, the Spawn team and our outside vending partners – there is no better feeling professionally!

ryan mendenhall

director, growth initiatives

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ryan mendenhall

director, growth initiatives

with Spawn since: 2018

claim to fame: Ryan is a natural when it comes to building trust with clients; the kind of trust that leads to clients embracing solutions outside their comfort zones. And that results in successful campaigns.

When not engendering client trust, Ryan, who calls Coeur d’Alene, Idaho home, can be found fly fishing Northwest rivers, indulging in live blues music and spending time with his family.

loves it when our work: motivates the client to take a risk and see that risk pay off in droves.

a little bragging

AdAge Small Agency of the Year NW
Alaska Chamber Small Business of the Year
AIGA Alaska
Outside - 100 Best Places to Work in America
Inc. - One of the Fastest Growing Companies

what
we do

As an integrated agency, Spawn offers the services you expect from an ad shop — creative, strategy, media, and design — and we do it for every channel that matters in 2019.

But our approach to our work? It’s to go far beyond the expected, delivering fresh ideas, smart execution and superior outcomes for our clients.

Here’s what makes us different:

contact us

want to learn more? let's talk.