opinionated
We didn’t plan to start an agency. One day we were freelancing for Bob’s Discount Furniture from a dining room table; the next, we were being acquired by Tombras, one of the hottest agencies in the country. Somewhere in between, we moved into a three-story building, partnered with some of the world’s biggest brands, and worked alongside some of the smartest people in the business.
2017-2026
We didn’t set out to start an agency. There was no game plan, we didn’t meet with investors, or try to get start-up money.
Bob’s Discount Furniture was our first ‘client’ - it was really just a direct to client freelance thing. Something neither of us had done before. A conversation I was having with SnapChat turned into our second ‘client’. We started at Mark’s dining room table and worked out of my WeWork account.
One thing led to another.
We bought a printer.
Then we bought toner.
Toner became a KPI. It’s one thing to have a printer, but we were printing!
Not long after, Trish joined, and the three of us set out to build something together. It felt like a second chance—for all of us. In a lot of ways, it was recovery. Literally and figuratively. We didn’t overthink it. We just tried to do good work and let it happen.
Over time, the momentum compounded. By December 2025, Opinionated had been named Ad Age Small Agency of the Year six times and was included on the A-List alongside some of the best agencies in the country.
A month later, the agency was acquired by Tombras. The hottest agency in the country acquired us. We had definitely done something right.
From a dining room table to 40 full-time people in our own building. In 2017 we had one client, in 2025 we had: adidas, Panda Express, Shake Shack, Dick's Sporting Goods and more. All great clients. A lot of great work.
What an amazing ride. Roller-Coaster is an insane understatement. What a mountain of learning. So many things I wouldn’t change, so many things I would. But ultimately I am nothing but grateful.
