Twenty-five years. Hard to believe. That number feels both surreal and deeply satisfying to type.
In 2000, Mission was just two people, a dog called Floyd, a Mac, a PC, and an idea we were naïve enough to think might actually work. No investors. No playbook. Just hustle, caffeine, stubborn optimism, and a shared belief that creativity could take us places.
Somehow, that scrappy little idea grew into a full-fledged agency filled with brilliant leaders, designers, writers, developers, planners, and thinkers. We’ve been lucky to surround ourselves with geniuses across every discipline—people who are far smarter and push the work further than we ever could have on our own.
Turns out, naïveté plus persistence plus time equals something pretty awesome.
We Grew Up—And Figured Out How to Survive
A lot happens in 25 years. In 2001, our original version of Mission was dubbed “Baltimore’s Best Creative Hive” by the City Paper (R.I.P.)—complete with a recording studio, gallery, a home-grown ticketing app, and a performance space. We were hell-bent on contributing to Baltimore’s scene. As we grew up and learned how to read a P&L statement, our focus narrowed to what we now call “the agency.”
We survived three economic downturns. We navigated the screeching halt of the pandemic and two years of remote work. We’ve watched entire industries implode and reinvent themselves. But survival isn’t the story. How we survived is.
Experience isn’t ownable. Talent isn’t ownable. Maturity isn’t ownable. And anxiety certainly isn’t ownable. What is ownable is how you navigate uncertainty—and that starts with who you are at your core.
As kids, we found ways around obstacles. We acted first and asked forgiveness later. We got purposefully lost on the beach. We stuck up for each other (I’m looking at you Ned from Arbutus). We fell down, got back up, and tried the trick again. Those instincts never left us; they became the engine of our business sense. They shaped the kinds of people we hired—resilient, curious, allergic to stagnation. They shaped the kind of work we do—loud, smart, inventive. And they shaped the kind of clients we’re drawn to—partners who thrive on possibility, not predictability.
That’s what has kept Mission thriving in a chaotic, unpredictable world: we’ve never depended on certainty. We’ve always just found our own way.
Baltimore—Our Beautiful Contradiction
We’ve also always flown a little under the radar. Maybe that’s a Baltimore thing.
But Baltimore isn’t just a backdrop. It’s our secret weapon. This city is a study in juxtapositions—historic and ornery, elegant and rough-around-the-edges, close-knit and full of wildcards. It’s a place where creativity and grit collide daily. And that blend has seeped into our DNA.
We chose to stay local not out of limitation, but out of opportunity. We were born in Mount Vernon, went through puberty at Power Plant Live, and started adulting on the Jones Falls. Baltimore’s size and proximity give us room to experiment, play, and grow without getting lost in the noise. We’ve aligned ourselves with its ideals: underdog determination, unpolished brilliance, and a willingness to keep adapting.
We’ve never felt the need to define ourselves too rigidly, and that’s by design. Like Baltimore itself, we embrace contradictions—they make us nimble. Our chimera-like disposition lets us shapeshift when the industry does, without losing our heart.
Heart, Mind & Gut in an Evolving World
When we launched, websites were our whole world. Since then, we’ve ridden the waves of social media, streaming, hyper-targeting, personalization, AI, and data analytics intense enough to make your head spin.
The industry evolves at breakneck speed, and so do we—but not blindly. We use our heart, mind, and gut as our compass:
- Heart: We stay human. New platforms and technologies don’t change the fact that creativity is about emotion and connection. We don’t chase every social trend; we choose the ones that align with our values and our clients’ stories.
- Mind: We stay sharp. We embrace new tools but always run them through a human filter. Technology amplifies ideas; it doesn’t replace them.
- Gut: We trust our instincts. We’ve been doing this long enough to know when to leap, when to sprint, and when to hold steady. Not every shiny new thing is right for every brand, and knowing the difference is part of our craft.
People don’t come to us with projects anymore; they come with problems and opportunities. And our job is to bring perspective—to use heart, mind, and gut to navigate complexity and shape solutions that move people.
This Doesn’t Happen Alone
Twenty-five years in this business means crossing paths with a wild variety of industries—each with its own quirks, challenges, and unexpected lessons.
We’ve helped legacy institutions reimagine themselves for new generations, and we’ve helped startups punch above their weight. We’ve worked with nonprofits fighting for meaningful change, and with global brands shaping culture at scale. We’ve navigated the structured worlds of healthcare and education, and thrived in the beautifully unpredictable landscapes of sports, arts, and entertainment.
In every case, it’s been a two-way street. We’ve brought fresh perspective, creative bravery, and strategic clarity. In return, we’ve absorbed their wisdom and grounded our perspectives on resilience, complexity, and what it really takes to move people. These exchanges have shaped who we are just as much as the work we’ve done has shaped them.
Twenty-five years isn’t just about endurance. It’s about evolution through constant conversation—between industries, ideas, and people willing to push each other forward.
Here’s to heart, mind, gut, and the next chapter.
Onward. Always.
Cheers to 25 years,
Todd & Joe