The Bench Logo

The Bench Logo

"There has to be a better way to run an agency" - Sarah Musgrove
"Hell Yes" - Jennifer Houston

It's
simple.
Really.

the bench breaks down the barriers between brands, agencies and talent to provide efficiency, expertise and flexibility where and when it is needed most. As agencies have been tasked with doing more for less, brands have taken more duties in-house, and some of the most talented people in the business have embraced the gig economy – the bench leverages our vast network to hand-select the perfect team for any project without the friction, overhead and limitations of a physical agency.

  • EXPERIENTIAL
    • Event Planning & Production
    • Sponsorships
    • Trade Shows & Tours
    • B2B/B2C Activations
    • EXPERIENTIAL
  • PRODUCTION
    • Video Production
    • Photography
    • Animation
    • Print Production
    • production
  • CREATIVE
    • Copywriting
    • Art Direction
    • Design
    • Illustration
    • CREATIVE

  • Capabilities

  • Digital
    • Content Planning
    • SEO
    • SEM
    • Digital Media
    • Digital
  • Social
    • Content Creation
    • Community Management
    • Social Influence
    • Reputation Management
    • Social
  • Strategy insights
    • Discovery Research
    • Strategic Planning
    • Data Analysis
    • Media Planning
    • Strategy insights
  • Brand management
    • Brand Consulting
    • Business Strategy
    • Public Relations
    • Project Management
    • Brand management
  • Partnerships & Sponsorships
    • Valuation Assessment
    • Sales
    • Execution
    • Measurement
    • Partnerships & Sponsorships
  • IC Management
    • Localized Solution
    • Co-Employment Compliance
    • Engagement Classification
    • IC Payments
    • IC Management
  • Organizational Consulting
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • FTE vs. Fractional
    • Employee Utilization
    • Communication Audit
    • Organizational Consulting
person holding blocks

What
sets us Apart

  • Vetted, hand-selected Talent
  • Full Service Capabilities
  • C-level Experience
  • Minority Owned
  • Enhanced Transparency
  • High-Touch Access
  • Increased Speed & Flexibility
  • Diverse Expertise
Magnify Glass

WHO BENEFITS

Castle
AGENCIES

Whether it’s support for a shorthanded team or you have an RFP that requires specialized knowledge and expertise, the bench is here to back you up with right mix of talent and know-how.

Castle
BRANDS

For brands looking to expand their in-house capabilities, have needs that don’t require a full-service agency or just looking for a fresh perspective, the bench can do it all.

Castle
Talent

For experienced people of all backgrounds who have embraced the freelance revolution, the bench provides access to a steady range of projects and handles all administrative duties, so you can do what you do best.

clip board

THE ROSTER

Person

Our freelance network consists of diverse individuals with a wide variety of experience, expertise and capabilities, including:

  • Writers
  • Art Directors
  • Designers
  • Producers
  • Project Managers
  • Creative Directors
  • Videographers
  • Photographers
  • Editors
  • UX/UI Designers
  • Developers
  • PR Specialists
  • Brand Consultants
  • Brand Strategists
  • Data Analysts
  • Content Creators
  • Social Media Experts
  • Researchers

OUR WORK

In our first two years, the bench has partnered with over 75 brands and agencies on over 300 projects. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ve seen our work for the world leader in shoes and sports apparel or a beloved global toy brand. But as the industry’s best kept secret weapon, we often operate behind the scenes. That doesn’t mean we can’t share our work, it just means we prefer not to do it here. But if you’d like to see some samples, all you have to do is ask.
In the meantime,
here are a few categories where we excel:

  • SPORTS | GAMING
  • LUXURY TRAVEL & TOURISM
  • LIQUOR/BEVERAGE
  • SPONSORSHIP SALES & ACTIVITIONS
  • B2C
  • QSR
  • CPG
  • B2B
  • BEAUTY
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • SPORTS | GAMING
  • KIDS/TOYS
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • FINANCIAL SERVICES

In our first two years, the bench has partnered with over 75 brands and agencies on over 300 projects. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ve seen our work for the world leader in shoes and sports apparel or a beloved global toy brand. But as the industry’s best kept secret weapon, we often operate behind the scenes. That doesn’t mean we can’t share our work, it just means we prefer not to do it here. But if you’d like to see some samples, all you have to do is ask.
In the meantime,
here are a few categories where we excel:

Who We Are

the bench was founded in 2018 by Jennifer Houston and Sarah Musgrove, former coworkers who believed there had to be a better way to get things done. As seasoned industry veterans with a passion for problem-solving, they set out to create a virtual agency that could solve the most pressing issues facing our industry.

Jennifer Houston

Founder • Los Angeles

Leveraging 20 years of experience, providing successful strategic and tactical leadership for major agencies and brands, Houston founded the bench with Musgrove in 2018. Jenn supports brands and agencies in the realization of their goals, overseeing the creative and strategy side of the business. view on linkedin

Sarah Musgrove

Founder • Los Angeles

A connector by nature, Sarah dove head-first into the gig economy in 2008, which honed her skills for the ever changing world of freelance. As co-founder of the bench, Sarah is responsible for brand relationships and company operations. view on linkedin

Karen A. Clark

Board Member • Los Angeles

Currently, the Multicultural Strategies Manager at City National Bank, she creates marketing and advertising strategies to win diverse clients; and internally, manages diversity & inclusion.  She studied digital analytics (Columbia Business School ’19); strategic marketing management (Harvard Business School ‘16); BA in economics (CSUS). As if that wasn’t enough, she is also an actor, singer, songwriter and producer.  view on linkedin

Robin Billups

Board Member • Los Angeles

Robin Morgan Billups is a former banker having spent her formative years in commercial real estate construction financing on a national level. She sourced and underwrote conventional and affordable housing investment transactions for multiple institutions, including Bank of America and U.S. Bank.

Following U.S. Bank, Robin joined the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council-D.C. (WBENC) team as the National Business Development Manager recruiting, retaining and engaging corporate members. She increased retention and corporate members across a wide sector of public and private entities.  view on linkedin

Elizabeth Rosenberg

Board Member • Los Angeles

As a Communications and Marketing consultant, Elizabeth strikes a dynamic dissonance between traditional PR and its evolution into modernity as she continuously reinvents her career to mirror the changes in the fast-paced, and ever-changing world we live in. An entrepreneur at her core, Elizabeth’s true love lies in working with new or reimagined, cutting-edge brands that are bringing consumers products and tools that make life more enjoyable, accessible, and healthy. view on linkedin

Kristy Suworoff

Regional Director • Nashville

Kristy brings her deep experience and a passion for delivering exceptional service, as well as her keen eye for operational details and strong project management acumen. Kristy, provides clients with top quality work in the creative and strategy space. view on linkedin

Sophia Patten

Regional Director • Los Angeles

Sophia spent several years as a news producer and reporter in Eugene, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona before she caught the experiential bug and channeled her producer skills into the events world. She produces live/experiential events for brands large and small, manages and oversees the Bench’s different productions in the Los Angeles area, and helps ensure working with the Bench is both seamless and enjoyable for vendors, freelancers, and clients all around. view on linkedin

Mark Musgrove

Business Manager • Phoenix

Mark Musgrove is a serial entrepreneur. Mark has owned and operated several businesses spanning a variety of industries including, sustainability and engineering. Mark brings over 30 years of business operations to the bench and helps our ship run smoothly.

Becca Weigman

Advisor • Dallas

Simply put, Becca is all accelerator and no brakes. Becca believes that “impatience is a virtue.” She expects results, and she expects them quickly. In a fast-paced industry such as advertising, it helps that we have equally fast-paced advisor in Becca. Becca brings over 20 years of experience in business, marketing, branding and advertising.

Some call her the “CMO Whisperer”

She directs, guides and oversees the high-level, business and marketing strategic brand thinking, bring over 20 years of experience. She insists that we over-deliver as an agency and that each client be consistently inspired with the results they are receiving from the bench. She pushes everyone to achieve more than they thought possible. In every sense of the word, Becca is a leader – one who leads by example.

Jay Lenstrom

Advisor • Chicago

Jay Lenstrom is a respected marketer with an extensive track record of building companies, accelerating brands and inspiring teams to overachieve. Throughout his professional career, Jay has held leadership positions in top US marketing agencies. Those experiences provided a tremendous education in launching new products (250+), working with 15 of the Top 20 Fortune 100 companies and developing impactful programs for 20+ Billion-dollar brands. He views the bench. as an integral resource in today’s marketing landscape. “The best people are leaving agencies, which are generally resistant to change,” he observes. “Freelance talent are seeking a winning team to play on and agencies need the support.  Leadership of the bench serves as a guide who comforts agencies as they embrace what they already know is the logical solution.”

Jay who has led companies in CPG, Sports/Entertainment, Marketing Services, Media, and Healthcare believes.. “The talent on the bench is more passionate, affordable and driven to deliver results than the agency staff that are maintaining the status quo.”

contact us

man book