Inspired by the creative culture of Southern California, we use insights, creativity, technology and reach to help our clients grow their brands. With a team of over 100 across offices in Costa Mesa, Ottawa and Atlanta, SCS helps some of the best brands in the world perform.
SCS is an independent agency
start-up that powers brand performance.
KEY FACTS
Year Founded: 2016
Schiefer Media 1987; ChopShop 2003; Fuel 1999; Swarm 2009
Offices: 3
Costa Mesa, CA; Atlanta, GA; Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Longest Standing Client:
Mothers, 36 Years
Office Dogs:
6
Agency Network:
Independent
Current AOR Clients:
Aaron’s, Borla, Brembo, Classic Industries, DECKED, Discovery Networks, Miele, Mothers, OSDB, Remington, Spectrum Brands (Baldwin, Black+Decker, George Forman, Kwikset, Pfister), Vans
OUR
HISTORY
SCS was founded in November 2016 with the merger of Schiefer Media and ChopShop to form SCS. Schiefer Media’s James Schiefer and ChopShop’s Zach Lyons wanted to create an agency uniquely designed to meet the future needs of consumer marketers by bringing media, creative and content together in a nimble, data-first offering designed for the new speed of consumer business today. SCS acquired Fuel in July 2018 to bring advanced digital studio capabilities to the agency. In 2021, SCS acquired Atlanta-based digital performance marketing agency Swarm to strengthen e-commerce, retail, and performance media capabilities, taking SCS to over 100 staff across three offices.
Schiefer Media (1985)
Schiefer Media was an enthusiast media agency with an original focus on the automotive aftermarket and related enthusiast categories. Founded in 1985 by second generation automotive veteran Carl Schiefer (whose father Paul Schiefer was a founding member of the automotive aftermarket trade industry association SEMA in 1963), Schiefer Media went on to help numerous automotive brands – including category leaders Edelbrock, Mothers, Bilstein, and Royal Purple – to connect to enthusiast consumers through television, print and digital media.
ChopShop (2003)
Founded by seasoned video production entrepreneur Ken Anderson in 2003 as a post-production house, ChopShop went on to be an important television production partner for Fuel TV in the 2000s and ultimately became a creative agency with a focus on lifestyle brands under the leadership of film director Zach Lyons, who has directed work at ChopShop for Nike, PacSun, and Mophie.
Fuel (1999)
Fuel was founded in Ottawa, ON (Canada) in 1999 by Mike Burns, Jeff Doiron, and Dave Ozipko as a pure play digital studio, initially developing digital experiences for local clients such as Canada Post and The Royal Canadian Mint. Within a few short years Fuel was a significant digital agency with global roll-outs such as Barbie for Mattel, Happy Studio for McDonald’s, and Fanta Fruit Slam for Coca-Cola resulting in multi-language digital platforms that engaged millions of consumers around the world.
Swarm (2009)
Swarm was founded by Tom Ellis and Alexa Ellis as a data-driven, conversion focused digital marketing agency, with proven expertise in helping clients achieve and surpass their conversion goals. Swarm assists regional, national and global retail, e-commerce, and B2C and B2B brands with an innovative digital marketing process that creates long-term models of growth through a harmonious blending of marketing strategy, technology development, and performance media optimization.
OUR
CULTURE
SCS operates on six key principles that drive our approach and way of life. These six principles launched the agency in November 2016 and help SCS provide brands with speed, value, integration and innovation that helps our clients reach their goals.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
James Schiefer
Partner, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
James is an innovative entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience in the media and advertising world. His career has focused on client advocacy and developing ways to reach new and relevant consumers to drive results. Through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, he has grown SCS to 100+ employees in the US, Canada and Europe, expanding SCS’s capabilities into a data driven media planning/buying, creative, content, social and digital agency. Schiefer was a founder of Torque.TV, which became Motor Trend and was acquired by Discovery Communications. He has created and executive produced TV shows on Spike TV, Outdoor Channel, digital properties reaching millions of viewers and films such as “A Life of Endless Summers” which won Coast Film Festival’s “Best Feature Film.” He developed a proprietary data driven business intelligence tool to drive insights and results for all SCS clients. Schiefer is a passionate “outside the box” thinker that loves his team, clients and partners.
Jeff Roach
Partner, Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer at SCS, Jeff Roach is tasked with connecting consumer and pop culture insights to creative and strategic planning that drives performance-based brand marketing for SCS’s clients. Jeff focuses on the intersection of digital technology, content, and media to build brands while developing campaigns that work to add value to consumers’ lives. Jeff has worked at the highest level of brand design and communication for brands such as Coors Light, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Microsoft, P&G, Vans, and Warner Bros., with an emphasis on creative strategy and technology innovation. Jeff has presented at Adobe MAX, SXSW, Digital Hollywood, MediaPost, and Digital Kids Summit conferences and has been featured in MarketingProfs, MediaPost, iMedia Connection, and Adweek, and was the Editor-in-Chief of digital insights magazine, Generation Play. Jeff is a Communications & Advertising Accredited Professional (CAAP).
Tom Ellis
Partner, Chief Revenue Officer
Tom Ellis serves as the Chief Revenue Officer for SCS, overseeing all business development and client relationships. He thrives on sharing knowledge and gaining new perspectives by networking with other leaders in the industry. Tom has served on various boards including AMA, AiMA, TAG Marketing, Georgia CxO Forum, and has recently joined the board of advisors for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Prior to SCS, Tom founded and operated The Swarm Agency, Atlanta’s premier digital and performance marketing agency, until Swarm merged into SCS in 2021. Outside of work, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife, Alexa, and their two sons, Hunter and Asher.
Glenn Rogers
Partner, Chief Development Officer
With a storied history as an entrepreneur, publisher, and marketing industry leader, Glenn Rogers charts strategic growth for SCS via business development and new partnerships as Chief Development Officer. The founder of XS Energy Drink, which was sold to Amway in 2017, he’s a member of the executive council for New Age Beverages, a publicly traded company (NBEV) where he is engaged in mergers and acquisitions and growth strategy. A veteran of digital and print publishing, Rogers has held leadership roles at Variety and Advanstar Communications along with publishers such as Cardomain Networks, Black Press, Cahners Business Information, and the Vancouver Sun and was the past Director of PMB, the Print Measurement Bureau. Rogers serves on industry and non-profit boards and is active as an early stage investor in various start-ups and new business opportunities. Recently, he is advising PE and venture capital firms including RX3, a division of Roth Capital.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Julie is a CGA, CPA with 20 years of accounting experience and over 11 years working in an Agency. As the CFO, she oversees the financial function with a focus on strategic growth and operational efficiency. She has experience in scaling and growing companies through strategic management of operations, HR and project management. Additionally, she has involvement in M&A, due diligence, raising equity and debt. During her agency tenure, Julie was an integral part of the management team of an agency that tripled in size from a single Canadian studio to an international agency with a US presence and clients like McDonalds, Microsoft, and Dreamworks. She previously served on the SoDA Board of Directors and continues to be an active member.
John is a 20+ year veteran as an advertising, marketing, social media and content creative who has worked in virtually every medium from broadcast and print to social media and multi-platform content campaigns along with design and branding. From agencies in Boston, Chicago, NYC, Denver, and now Orange County, California, John’s roles have included Group Creative Director at FCB, Creative Director at DGWB, and Art Director at Bozell Worldwide with national and global work for brands such as Taco Bell, Avia Footwear, Sunmilk, YogaWorks, Kawasaki, and Hilton Hotels. With a career start as an art director, John is a strategic creative director with an eye for executional detail that connects strongly to business goals.
As Chief Operating Officer of SCS Digital, Braden leads the operations on all SCS digital agency work, creating a bridge between the needs of some of the world’s largest brands with award-winning creative and technology studios.
Braden’s digital career started as an interactive film producer working on award-winning work including the Sexy Subaru campaign launching the 2009 Subaru Forester. Since then, Braden has overseen a large number of digital experiences active in over 60 markets worldwide for key clients such as NASCAR, Warner Bros., Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney, McDonald’s, DreamWorks, Microsoft, Geox, ZeptoLabs, and Mattel. Braden has a passion for creating uncompromising digital experiences that deliver against strategic brand goals focused on ROI.
Braden’s digital career started as an interactive film producer working on award-winning work including the Sexy Subaru campaign launching the 2009 Subaru Forester. Since then, Braden has overseen a large number of digital experiences active in over 60 markets worldwide for key clients such as NASCAR, Warner Bros., Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney, McDonald’s, DreamWorks, Microsoft, Geox, ZeptoLabs, and Mattel. Braden has a passion for creating uncompromising digital experiences that deliver against strategic brand goals focused on ROI.
Alexa Ellis serves as the SVP Special Projects for SCS, overseeing all project management, client data and insights, HR, and the managed marketing division of the agency. Alexa focuses on driving positive results for clients while balancing efficiency and organization for the agency. Prior to SCS, Alexa co-founded the Swarm Agency in Atlanta, GA. During her tenures at SCS and Swarm, she has worked on delivering large-scale projects for enterprise clients such as Aaron’s, Rollins, RaceTrac, Lima One, Equifax, LexisNexis, Coca-Cola, and more.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2021
ADDYs (Regional – Orange County)
Gold – John Deere “FarmCraft”, Games
Gold – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Regional/National Consumer
Silver – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”, Campaign
Silver – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”, Regional/National Consumer
Bronze – DECKED “Retooled Toolbox”, Digital Campaign
Bronze – DECKED “Sexiest Toolbox”, Branded Content & Entertainment for Online/Interactive
Bronze – Discovery+ “Show Pages”, Website Based App
Bronze – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”, Digital Campaign
Bronze – Mothers “Ultimate Hybrid”, Regional/National Consumer
Bronze – Mothers “Ultimate Hybrid”, Single Spot
Bronze – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Campaign
Bronze – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Photography
ADDYs (Regional – LA)
Silver – John Deere “FarmCraft”, Games
Silver – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Regional/National Consumer
ADDYs (National)
Silver – John Deere “FarmCraft”, Games
AMY Awards
Aaron’s – 21′ Dating Campaign, e-Commerce (Lead Gen)
Atlanta’s Business Chronicle
Atlanta’s Top 25 Advertising & Marketing Firms
Creative Media Awards
Finalist – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”
The Drum Awards
Highly Commended – John Deere “FarmCraft”
The Telly Awards
Gold – DECKED “Retooled Toolbox”, Social Video
Gold – Mothers “CMXATICS”, Social Video
Gold – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Branded Content, Campaign
Silver – DECKED “Retooled Toolbox”, Social Video
Silver – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”, Branded Content, Commercials
Silver – Kwikset “A Smarter Kind of Simple”, Branded Content, Influencer & Celebrity
Silver – Mothers “CMXATICS”, Social Video
Silver – Mothers “Ultimate Hybrid”, Social Video
Silver – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Branded Content, Art Direction
Silver – Pfister “Pfits Just Right”, Social Video, Art Direction
Bronze – Mothers “CMXATICS”, Branded Content, 3D Animation
Bronze – Mothers “Ultimate Hybrid”, Branded Content, 3D Animation
2020
AAF
Gold – AAF OC “Freak Show” Special Event Materials
Gold – NASCAR “Acceleration Nation” App
Silver – Dana Brown Films “A Life Of Endless Summers” Poster
Silver – Dana Brown Films “A Life Of Endless Summers” Branded Content & Entertainment, Non-Broadcast
Silver – Dana Brown Films “A Life Of Endless Summers” Poster, Out-Of-Home & Ambient Media
Silver – DECKED “Lock It Up” Social Media, Single Execution
Silver – DECKED “2,000 Pounds of Glory” Social Media, Single Execution
Silver – DECKED “Act of God Proof” Social Media, Single Execution
Silver – DECKED “All In” Social Media, Campaign
Silver – DECKED “Big Boy Heist” PR Stunt
Silver – Falken Tire “Website Landing Pages ” Microsite
Silver – Kwikset “Science Project” Integrated Advertising Campaign
Silver – Mad Tasty, Consumer Website, Online/Interactive
Silver – NASCAR “Acceleration Nation” App
Bronze – Discovery Networks “Discovery+” Audio Brand Mnemonic
Bronze – Kwikset “Science Project” Internet Commercial
Bronze – Limar “USA Website” Consumer Website
Bronze – Limar “USA Brand Video” Branded Content & Entertainment Online/Interactive
Bronze – Sylvania Automotive “Dark Path” Regional/National Television Commercial
Bronze – Sylvania Automotive “Off Road” Internet Commercial
2019
AAF
Silver – Blackberry KEY2 “What Is That?” Online/Interactive Campaign
Silver – NHRA “Speed For All” Campaign
Silver – OXIGEN “Re-Brand” Logo Design
Silver – Visit Laguna Beach “Brand Design” Integrated Advertising Campaign
Bronze – Blackberry KEY2 “What Is That?” Internet Commercial
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Switch Crew” Internet Commercial Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “NBA Snapchat” Social Media, Single Execution
Bronze – Boost Mobile “James Corden Snapchat” Social Media, Single Execution
Bronze – Boost Mobile “NBA Snapchat” Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “James Corden Snapchat” Social Media, Single Execution
Bronze – Boost Mobile “James Corden Snapchat” Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Switch Crew” Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Fireside With Grant” Internet Commercial Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Pain Points” Internet Commercial Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Switch Crew” internet Commercial
Bronze – NASCAR “Acceleration Nation” Mobile App
Bronze – NASCAR “Acceleration Nation” Tools & Utility App
Bronze – SYLVANIA “Farther Down The Road” Integrated Branded Content Campaign
AMY Awards
Swarm and Aaron’s Increase Paid Search Orders by 35% and Expand Reach by 9%
2018
AAF
Gold – Boost Mobile Elements of Advertising Animation, Special Effects or Motion Graphics
Gold – Boost Mobile “Channel B” Graphics, Elements of Advertising
Silver – Boost Mobile “Galactic Thunder Pony” Online/Interactive Campaign
Bronze – Blizzard Entertainment Hearthstone “Mulligans” Film, Video & Sound – Webisode, Series
Bronze – Blizzard Entertainment Hearthstone “Mulligans” Film, Video & Sound – Internet Commercial, Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile Biz Markie “#unBEATBoxing” Online/Interactive Social Media Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Do Right. Not Easy.” Online/Interactive Social Media Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Flip Off Taxes”Online/Interactive Advertising/Promo Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Galactic Thunder Pony” Online/Interactive Branded Content
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Biz Markie “#unBEATBoxing” Online/Interactive Branded Content
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Project Switch” Film, Video & Sound – National TV Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Do Right. Not Easy.” Film, Video & Sound – Internet Commercial, Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Channel B” Graphics – Sales Presentation
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Project Switch” Cross Platform – Integrated Campaigns
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Flip Off Taxes” Cross Platform – Online/Interactive Campaigns
Bronze – Edelbrock “Never Rest” Film, Video & Sound – TV Advertising, Single
Bronze – Prestone “Defy” Cross Platform – Integrated Campaigns
Bronze – Prestone “prestone.com” Online/Interactive Websites Consumer
2017
Webby Awards
Gold – Blizzard Entertainment “A New Hero” Film & Video (Branded Entertainment) Unscripted
AAF
Gold – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Online/Interactive Websites Consumer
Gold – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Out of Home & Ambient Media Outdoor Board
Gold – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Integrated Advertising Consumer Campaign
Gold – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Online/Interactive Websites Consumer
Silver – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Website, Consumer
Silver – Boost Mobile “WAWYA” Integrated Advertising Campaign
Bronze – Blizzard Entertainment “A New Hero” Branded Content & Entertainment
AiMA Awards
Best in Show, Social Media for GLOCK Inc.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta’s Top 50 Advertising & Marketing Firms
2016
AAF
Gold – Mophie Film, Video & Sound, Internet Commercial, Single Spot
Gold – Mophie Film, Video & Sound Internet Commercial Single Spot
Gold – Boost Mobile “Passions” Cross Platform, Online/Interactive Campaign
Bronze – Boost Mobile “Passions” Cross Platform, Online/Interactive Campaign
TAG Marketing Awards
Upcoming Marketer of the Year – Jonathan Foulds
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta’s Top 50 Advertising & Marketing Firms
2015
Streamy Awards
Microsoft “Atari: Game Over” Best Documentary
AAF
Silver – Magnaflow ” Mario Andretti: The Godfather of the Track”
Silver – Magnaflow “Chip Foose: Born Into It”
2013
AAF
Silver – Royal Purple “Outperformer Series” Digital Advertising Campaign
Silver – Royal Purple “Outperformer Series: Roland Sands” Digital Advertising Video
AiMA Awards
Most Effective Online Brand Awareness for Aaron’s Inc.
2012
Digi Awards
McDonald’s “Happy Studio” Best in Branded Entertainment
2008
London International Awards
Gold – Subaru “Sexy Subaru” (Tribal DDB)
2007
FITC
Best Game, Best Canadian Studio, Best Developer, Best Convergence
Webby Awards
Honoree – Fox “American Dad vs. Family Guy”
