Seattle native Rachel Omiliak joins our team as an Online Marketing Specialist. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Rachel lends her expertise to all of our search optimization projects, including work for the Applied Systems, CSG Systems. Quaero, Meydenbauer Conference Center and QuickMedical accounts.

While in college, Rachel expanded her worldview through the Semester at Sea program, where she traveled to 11 countries in 108 days. Among her adventures during the trip were holding a crocodile, hugging a seal, being attacked by a pelican larger than most people and—get this—catching three piranhas while fishing the Amazon River in Brazil.

As for Gonzaga grad Erin McNiff, she comes to us from Cole & Weber United. While there she helped manage the Washington Lottery, Livingston Cellars and TiVo accounts. Among her many accomplishments was directing the Lottery’s Dream Agents campaign that broke sales records by $1 million dollars. As one of our project managers, Erin will bring her talents to the Clark Nuber, CSG Systems and ISIS accounts.

Erin’s animal connections? She finds that wrangling her long-haired mini-Dachshund is good training for keeping creative types on task. And having sung as a waitress at a Red Robin Restaurant, she may well have been destined to work for us. After all, our CEO is a woodpecker named Spike. And from red-breasted robin to red-crested woodpecker is not that far a flight.

While our clients are sure to appreciate Rachel and Erin’s contributions to the marketing cause, we feel secure in knowing that we’re in good hands should we ever be attacked by crocodiles, piranhas or wiener dogs.

Agencies were judged on criteria such as marketing capabilities, revenue, revenue growth, client list, geographic expansion, and creative awards.

Capabilities-wise, we’ve built some progressive digital and Web-based marketing programs around Search, Analytics, and Behavioral Targeting that we’re stoked about.

A big, huge, colossal, monstrous, gargantuan, mondo thank you to our current clients for helping us achieve this prestigious honor — again. Applied Systems, Avanade, Clark Nuber, CSG Systems, Douglass Interior Products, Fluke Corporation, HomeStreet Bank, ISIS, Meydenbauer Conference Center, NetMotion Wireless, Northland Services, PhysioControl, Russell Investments, UC4, WatchGuard Technologies, Webasto NA, Windstream Communications –– you all rock. You are our raison d’être.

Fluke Corporation is the world leader in the manufacture, distribution and service of electronic test tools and software. Since its founding in 1948, Fluke has achieved the number one or number two position in every market in which it competes.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, Fluke is a multi-national corporation headquartered in Everett, Washington, USA. Manufacturing centers are located in the USA, the UK, Asia and The Netherlands. Sales and service subsidiaries are located in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia. Fluke Corporation has authorized distributor and manufacturer representative channels in more than 100 countries and employs approximately 2,400.

But it feels manipulative, manufactured, opportunistic and disingenuous.

What do you think? Please send us your comments.

Do you dig woodpeckers? Of course you do.

Get your FREE stick-on tattoo of Spike, our Chairman of the Board and Aviary Magazine’s 2009 “Sexiest Woodpecker Alive.”

Tattoos fully guaranteed for an entire week, unless you bathe. Or sweat.

Send us a photo of you with your new tattoo and we’ll post our favorites here.

How do you hang onto sides of trees?
I have special feet. They have sharp claws of course. But I also have two toes that go forward and two that go back. It’s like having a couple of thumbs to help me grip with. My tail feathers help me too. They are very stiff, and I lean on them for support, like a tripod.

How do you find food?
When I hear an insect under tree bark I peck a hole into the bark with my beak, which being long, straight, and pointy is good for making holes. My tongue is extremely long and sticky and sharp, perfect for impaling bugs, grabbing ants, and licking sap. Because my bill is straight, it is also good for collecting nuts and berries.

How fast is your beak moving when you’re drumming?
Typically between 14.5-16.8 beats per second.

Doesn’t all that hard pecking give you a headache?
I have an extra-thick skull, so it doesn’t hurt.

What’s your favorite food?
From trees – beetles and carpenter ants. From birdfeeders – peanut butter. Love that stuff!

Questions for Spike? Ask here.

Spikers tore it up last week at Seattle’s hippest, swankiest steak joint, El Gaucho.

Along with a fabulous dinner and ample lubricants, the H/M Holiday Party featured:

• A killer rap by senior writer Grandmaster Grafdog

• A white elephant gift exchange/contest, with the best (worst?) gift brought by Search guru Robert Coats with his giant fishing bobber/drink cooler.

• Special recognition to Webmeister Craig Labenz, Senior Designer Charlie Worcestor, and Senior Account Director Jason Frummet for their outstanding work in 2009.

• And, not least, the annual appearance of the incredible albino smoking monkey. Every December the monkey descends from his temple to predict what the next year will hold for us (outlook for 2010 is good!).

We’ve posted more photos from the event on H/M’s Facebook Page.

Have a rockin’ happy holiday!

Cheers,