Best Places to Work 2025: Small Agencies

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Akrete

Evanston, Illinois

Akrete staffers celebrate this agency’s culture and the ample paths it offers for career growth. Employees report feeling empowered by the flexibility to work when and where they want in a virtual environment that respects each employee’s unique strengths, workstyle and professional development. It’s no surprise the agency received high marks from staffers for fostering a collaborative, creative and productive workplace. 

The agency’s professional development tools also received a shout-out from employees and judges alike. Staffers appreciate “access to some of the best professionals in the industry who are always willing to teach/mentor/develop new skills or hone existing ones,” as well as the opportunity to expand their skill sets and enrich client relationships. Career advancement is also available for part-time employees. 

Employees feel their safety, health and well-being are always a top priority at Akrete, a result of management’s “open-door problem-solver” mindset that helps keep turnover low and employee morale high.

Team-building is a particular strength at the firm. Last year, Akrete introduced a new AI committee, which has “encouraged innovation, exploration, experimentation, camaraderie and creative engagement” to advance employees and the agency, explained one associate. Another staffer noted weekly discussions on industry trends are a great opportunity for “checking in and team-building.”

Big Valley Marketing

San Jose, CA

Big Valley Marketing has earned a reputation as a people-first workplace. An agency that “knows how to put clients first while treating team members right,” Big Valley earned high scores from employees and judges on its culture. 

While the agency is fully remote, virtual happy hours and regular off-site gatherings keep this team connected. Camaraderie, employee recognition, internal communication and team-building all received outstanding ratings at a firm that “embraces work-life integration” and “focuses on its people’s needs and values first.” One staffer revealed that executives opted to forgo pay increases to direct more money to the general staff.

Professional development is another key strength at Big Valley. Employee growth is a major focus of leadership and staffers said the firm excels at identifying opportunities and solutions for employee development. In addition to access to LinkedIn Learning, professional association training and events, role-based coaching and quarterly individual development plans/reviews, the agency also provides access to the latest AI tools and will soon implement an AI hackathon. 

“Big Valley is always looking to upskill and develop its employees with customized training and learning paths in addition to various mentorship programs,” noted one team member.

Candor

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

It’s all about growth at Candor — for the business and everyone on the team. Employees appreciate the agency’s commitment to providing a formal goal-setting process that encourages them to identify desired areas of growth and provides the support necessary to help them reach those goals. 

Staffers value the access to consistent in-house development, as well as the ability to seek learning opportunities outside organizations. They feel supported at an agency that offers “heartfelt encouragement to explore, learn and excel” with stretch assignments that help them develop new skills and access to direct mentorship opportunities. 

Judges were clearly impressed with this agency’s dedication to career growth. “Candor is the best place to work if you want to expand your career and challenge yourself. It pushes you to your fullest potential,” explained one team member. Judges also gave the agency high marks on compensation.

Candor was praised for a workplace environment that is built on trust and transparency and “strikes an excellent balance between working hard and having fun,” noted one employee. The agency scored high on fostering a creative, productive and collaborative work environment that employees described as boasting a “thoughtful and intelligent team” and a “genuine, amazing energy that makes this place extraordinary.”

Chamberlain Healthcare PR

New York City

Team members described this “small but mighty” agency as a “powerful collaborative and smart team doing inspiring work.”  The combination of “authentic culture and purposeful work” enables Chamberlain to maintain one of the highest retention rates in the industry, with management team tenure at 10-plus years. Even those who leave often boomerang back to an agency where employees are celebrated for being themselves and where their “strengths and skills are being used effectively,” said one staff member.

This agency’s employee-friendly policies are another reason staffers feel supported. One staffer noted the combination of employee-friendly policies and a focus on work-life balance makes “thriving as both a PR leader and working parent possible.” 

Judges gave the agency high marks for its carefully cultivated culture. The firm has made a deeper commitment to bringing all employees together once or twice a year for team-building and bonding and continues to find new ways to foster team cohesion.

Recently instituted employee-led Culture Teams Channels connect employees around shared passions and a biweekly Kudos and Cases meeting lets staffers acknowledge each other’s work and share case studies. Employees also praised the agency’s robust online training program, regular in-person trainings and thoughtfully developed mentorship program.

Litzky PR

Hoboken, New Jersey

This agency’s “supportive, collaborative environment” is one attribute that helps Litzky PR frequently secure a spot on the Best Places to Work list. 

“From professional development to work-life balance, Litzky PR has developed a culture that allows staff of all levels to thrive,” explained one employee. Staffers described a workplace that is supportive and collaborative, led by management with an open-door policy. 

“I trust in the values and vision of our owner,” added another staffer. “The commitment and collaboration of each team member make a great environment and great work.” Judges noted the synergistic spirit and focus on team-building at this agency and awarded Litzky high marks in those areas. 

Ample professional development opportunities are another reason Litzky stands out. The agency received perfect scores on professional development and was cited by judges as a strong performer on this metric. “Litzky is big on professional development,” avowed one staffer. “The leadership team encourages us to find opportunities.” 

“Internal mentorship is extremely hands-on with consistent check-ins and actionable goals, with steps to achieve those goals,” added another. 

The agency recently adopted quarterly all-agency summits for professional development that employees praised as “a great opportunity to connect with each other and learn something new.”

MSQ Sport + Entertainment

New York City

Making sure its team has the tools and skills to keep pace with the ever-changing industry is a top priority at MSQ Sport + Entertainment. Employees value this firm’s commitment to meaningful professional development and they called out the firm’s considerable investment in supplemental training on AI. 

“Our team goes above and beyond to ensure mentorship for emerging talent and has been at the forefront of adding AI tools,” declared one staffer. “Leadership sets the tone prioritizing everyone’s professional development. It’s about firsthand learning more than anything and giving people opportunities and chances to grow,” remarked another. Judges were also impressed with MSQ’s professional-development prowess.

The agency’s culture was noted by judges as a key strength as well. Employees gave MSQ the highest possible scores for fostering a positive workplace culture that they described as well-managed, transparent, nurturing and inclusive. 

“We have a very nurturing leadership team who always positions employees to be successful in their day-to-day work,” revealed one staffer. Employees said their agency was “built by a team who takes pride in doing best-in-class work and are deeply committed to a balanced, engaging environment.” 

The result is excellent client management and creative work and a workforce that feels supported and valued. 

SourceCode Communications

New York City

Culture is the key to success at SourceCode Communications. At this agency, employees said “growth is real, creativity is encouraged and people genuinely like building together.” Staffers also overwhelmingly said their agency puts them in an ideal position to thrive both in the short and long term. 

“SourceCode puts people first — fueling growth, celebrating wins and empowering employees with trust and opportunity to create an inspiring, one-of-a-kind culture,” explained one team member. Others praised the firm for its “inclusive and collaborative environment with transparency at the core” and its “commitment to DEI and work-life balance.” 

“We’re ahead of new tech trends while also staying human in our approach,” noted one staffer. “SourceCode is the future of the comms industry.” 

Last year, the agency introduced a global offsite focused on collaboration, learning and culture to give teams space to connect beyond client work. The first offsite, held in Puerto Rico for one week, won raves from staffers who agreed that it fostered greater connection and collaboration among team members. 

SourceCode also received positive feedback from employees and judges for professional development. The agency’s Codebase gamified learning and development program — customized for each employee to build skills through training, mentorship and real client challenges — was universally praised by staffers.

Stretch PR

Chicago

Culture and team-building are two areas in which Stretch PR shines. Employees credited president and owner Amy Littleton with shaping a culture that keeps people motivated.  

“Stretch PR is led by a strong, experienced and dedicated leader who cares about her team and creating a strong future for the business,” revealed one staffer. 

“I never saw myself working for an agency again, and I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t for our incredible leader — best in the biz,” raved another. Judges were impressed with the agency’s ability to ensure that its employees feel supported, empowered and engaged.

Staffers appreciate access to management and report a strong sense of connection and career development. 

“Because we are a smaller agency, I work and learn directly from my managers each day,” noted one team member. “We are encouraged to work above our paygrade and closely with the founder of the company,” added another.

“There are always at least two senior people available for help,” said one staffer. The firm also offers professional development opportunities through interactive all-agency group discussions, stipends for outside organizational development and the opportunity to work on stretch assignments.

Water & Wall

New York City

Teamwork is the core focus at this small but mighty firm, where employees said the agency’s smaller scale facilitates accelerated growth and external visibility. While management celebrates the specific attributes of each individual team member, employees at Water & Wall feel like a part of a cohesive team that works toward one goal. The mutual respect they feel has a big impact on the culture at this agency. 

“We prioritize everyone’s time, regardless of title. We help each other out, regardless of accounts. We champion each other — always,” explained one associate. Water & Wall is “deeply committed to every employee’s happiness, professional growth and long-term success,” noted another. Staffers commented that team-building starts immediately, with cohesive onboarding that encourages contact with all other staff members.

It’s no surprise the agency’s team-building efforts were highly rated by employees and noted by this year’s judges. This agency works hard at keeping its team connected. Monthly outings for the New York City and Boston teams and bimonthly collaboration between both offices ensure long-term team cohesiveness and the company continues to add new bonding experiences. 

Last year, Water & Wall launched monthly Lunch & Learns, where team members and guest speakers share insights over lunch — fostering learning, collaboration and cross-functional connection.

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