Who we are
An Adrenaline Shot
for Your Creative
Clients come to us for big agency ideas. An infusion of fresh, of-the-moment, stunning, graphic and engaging “Kick Ass Creative.” New thinking. A fresh spin. Big agency branding, creative and execution. But what they love about us, is that while our campaigns are big in impact and stunning in production value, the experience is much more intimate. When we take on a project, we treat a client’s brand and budget as if it were our own. We internalize their objectives and do the “heavy lifting” – creating strong branded campaigns and assets that can be executed either by us, or by clients’ in-house team, across all media. Each client works with a lean, mean award-winning creative team, led closely by agency principals, who have created campaigns for products ranging from diamonds and mega-yacht marinas to beer and body spray. From hospitals to hedge funds. And from retail to real estate. If you’re Target, Apple or Coca Cola, we may not be big enough for you. But if you want to be, give us a call.
Key Personnel
Renée Mandis
Principal & Co-Creative Director
After getting fed up with the massive mergering of the New York City ad scene in the 1980’s, Renée Mandis founded the antithesis, WSAA, The World’s SMALLEST Ad Agency in 1989. The founding principle – to offer big agency caliber work of the highest creative standards with boutique service and greater budget control – still holds true today.
Prior to WSAA, Renée was a Sr. Copywriter at Ammirati & Puris and before that at Backer & Spielvogel, where she wrote Clio and One Show award-winning copy for clients including Miller Lite, Hyundai, Club Med, Schweppes, Chiquita and Coalition for the Homeless.
Renée is also a Co-Founder, Global VP-Branding & Marketing, and Founding Grants Chair of Pink Aid, a national 501c3 charity that provides compassionate and financial support to breast cancer patients. Founded in 2011, Pink Aid has currently granted over $10 million to help over 30,000 breast cancer patients.
Renée graduated Binghamton University with BA’s in English and Spanish Lit, with semesters abroad in Londan and Madrid, and studied copywriting at the School of Visual Arts. She considers her sons Jordan and Jackson to be her finest creations ever and spends her free time with her new-ish husband Dick Wingate and their many friends, cooking, travelling and enjoying all forms of the music, theatre and arts as self-proclaimed “culture junkies.”
Jennifer Olsen
Co-Creative Director
In the vibrant creative scene that is WSAA, Jennifer Olsen is Creative Director of all things Art & Visual. Her 4-year tenure at WSAA has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, supporting the agency’s founder across diverse projects with an unwavering focus on high design and photo art direction, shining in her collaboration on the prestigious Mitchells Stores account. With a keen eye honed by years in the luxury fashion arena, Jennifer crafts creative directions that challenge and further the aesthetics of the industry, ensuring each initiative resonates strongly with the client’s discerning clientele.
Jennifer’s journey through the worlds of fashion and creativity is punctuated by many transformative roles. Her tenure as Creative Director at Tommy Hilfiger is a testament to her visionary leadership. Tasked with re-envisioning the brand’s presentation and venturing into the luxury fashion market, Jennifer orchestrated a merge of creativity, collaborating with key stakeholders to expand the brand’s creative vision across emerging media platforms. Her role in launching the Tommy-branded print magazine showcased her talent for editorial storytelling.
Prior to WSAA, Jennifer lent her expertise to L.L. Bean Signature where she elevated the brand’s visual identity across print and digital platforms. As Creative Director, she led initiatives to distinguish Signature from the core brand, creating new catalog templates and ensuring consistency in brand vocabulary across all materials.
From her roles as Sr. Art Director at Bergdorf Goodman to her stint as VP Creative Director at The Shade Store, Jennifer has pushed the boundaries of creative expression, infusing each project with a distinct blend of artistry and strategic vision. Whether energizing her team to produce industry-leading designs or fostering a culture of innovation and excellence, Jennifer is a driving force in the ever-evolving landscape of fashion and interior design.
Jennifer is the proud wife of Chris and mother of Ava, Michael and Jonathan. Her hobbies include skiing and candle-making.
Amy Falk Gross
Advisor & Principal Emeritus
Amy Falk Gross joined WSAA as a partner in 1997. Prior, she was a VP/Creative Director at Bozell Worldwide on Mass Mutual Insurance, Elizabeth Arden and the Children’s Welfare League. Previous to that, she was the youngest VP/Associate Creative Director in McCaffrey McCall’s history, where she oversaw the blue box campaign, choosing the color that is synonymous with Tiffany’s today.
Amy is a Co-Founder and Global VP/Brand & Marketing of Pink Aid, a charity that provides compassionate and financial support to breast cancer patients. Pink Aid “went national” in 2020 and currently has raised over $10 million and helped over 30,000 breast cancer patients in 47 states.
Amy graduated from Parson’s School of Design with a BFA in Communication Design after spending her first 2 years at University of Michigan. She is the proud wife of Michael and mother of Will, Katie and Maggie. Her passions include working out to loud music, reading historical fiction, trying new recipes while sipping wine and spending time with her family.