Closed Loop employees at the company's annual retreat at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia.
Closed Loop is demonstrating how a company can grow without losing its soul, maintaining a culture built on trust, transparency and respect amid new account wins, a larger cast and a management succession in 2023.
The Roseville, California-based digital agency grew its headcount from 49 to 57 in 2023 as it took on new clients including RingCentral. In October, Amanda Evans became Closed Loop’s CEO, succeeding founder Lance Loveday, who transitioned to chairman.
Evans, who has been with Closed Loop for almost 10 years, traced the company’s reputation for employee care to Loveday, who founded the agency in 2000.
Closed Loop ranked No. 5 on Ad Age Best Places to Work 2024, and the top digital agency, among companies with up to 200 employees. The agency has scored as a Best Places to Work winner for six consecutive years.
“Very much from its roots we’ve had a very strong values system in place around ownership and positivity and entrepreneurship. That started with [Loveday] and continues to this day,” Evans said. “But it’s not just keeping it for the sake of it being something that Lance started. It really has been an ingredient in our success. I feel very strongly that our culture has fueled our growth and will continue to do so. The challenge for me is maintaining that culture as we grow.”
With a largely remote workforce, Closed Loop offers benefits including unlimited vacation time, profit sharing, a charitable giving program, paid volunteer days and a peer recognition program. Bonds between colleagues are forged through virtual events and an annual employee retreat Evans describes as “everyone’s favorite week of the year.”
Closed Loop staffers show work from a group painting class.
Most recently, Closed Loop has formally incorporated a diversity program into its strategic plan. The agency is actively working with its recruiting staff to increase diversity. Such programs have real business benefits, Evans said, including attracting and retaining talent and motivating employees to give their best.
CEO Amanda Evans: “I think it goes back to our commitment to our employees. Despite all the external chatter about recession, we are remaining strong and remaining committed to our employees. I think employees are going to gravitate toward a company that maintains that culture even in the face of difficult external circumstances.”
Closed Loop grew from 49 to 57 employees in 2023.
