Inside a 100-year-old, renovated church in Maplewood, about 65 marketing professionals work at an agency called “Moosylvania.â€
Norty Cohen, the founder and CEO, started the agency in 2003. He bought the church in 2006, and renamed it the “Embassy of the Republic of Moosylvania.†(The name derives from an incident involving the producer of the animated TV show, “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.â€)
Cohen said he set out to create a business where employees feel like their ideas are valid, and where they’re trusted to make the best choices for their own work.
“When you treat everyone as though they’re all independent thinkers, and able to solve their own problems… by and large, they can aspire to that,†Cohen said. “We trust them to do what they need to do.â€
The agency’s clients include big names in adult beverages, entertainment, beauty, plus PayPal and Venmo, in the financial services category.
People are also reading…
Andrew Cohen, the chief strategy officer, said surveying and listening to workers has helped create a good environment. Sometimes multiple times per month, employees receive surveys with queries about things that could help the office operate better, or ways to improve work-from-home.
“We do a ton of surveying,†said Andrew Cohen.
Recently, one asked about how the agency could improve around sustainability, or things employees would be willing to give up to make the office more environmentally friendly.
The agency has committees for sustainability, culture, and diversity, equity and inclusion. It also has a book club, and a softball team.
More traditionally, companies might focus more on big events and parties, Andrew Cohen said. Moosylvania has seen success with smaller circles, like the book club, which offer people different forms of connection.
In 2022 the company started a student loan forgiveness program that offers more than $5,000 per person, Cohen said. And the company increased its parental leave offering last year.
Once a month the agency holds an “All Moose,†where everyone is in the office together. Once a quarter, it has a full, three-day gathering that includes the company’s few employees who live outside the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.
The company adopted hybrid work during the pandemic, and its employees are still only expected to come to the office one day a week. (Some choose to work at the office full-time, and when people are being trained, they and their managers typically spend more time in the office.) And at the Moosylvania offices, employees are welcome to bring their dogs.
“We’re in a creative business. And creativity comes from a lot of places,†said Mary Delano, chief marketing officer. “It’s still important for us to get together. And some people also work well when they have quiet… I think that’s part of why hybrid’s working.â€
Top Workplaces, small category
Rank | Name | Founded | Ownership | Sector | Headquarters | Area employees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2019 | Private | Service contracts | Wentzville | 76 | |
2 | Compass Realty Group | 2012 | Private | Real estate | New York | 125 |
3 | 2015 | Private | Fenton | 103 | ||
4 | 2013 | Partnership | Financial services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 89 | |
5 | CC3 Solutions | 2017 | Private | Telecommunications and cybersecurity | Des Peres | 51 |
6 | 2006 | Private | Title insurance and escrow company | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 56 | |
7 | 1960 | Private | Hotels | New York | 71 | |
8 | 1962 | Private | Wholesale | Hazelwood | 54 | |
9 | 1947 | Private | Health care industry | St. Charles | 54 | |
10 | 2015 | Private | Health care industry | Chesterfield | 104 | |
11 | 1972 | Private | Electricity | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 61 | |
12 | 1995 | Private | Industrial launderer | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 | |
13 | Moosylvania | 2003 | Private | Marketing and branding | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 64 |
14 | 2009 | Private | Financial services | Creve Coeur | 61 | |
15 | 1976 | Private | HVAC industry | Chesterfield | 70 | |
16 | Midas Enterprises | 2006 | Partnership | Hospitality | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 93 |
17 | 2002 | Private | Mortgage lending | Williamston, Mich. | 92 | |
18 | 1999 | Private | Health care consulting | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 | |
19 | 1996 | Private | Mortgage | Madison, Wis. | 138 | |
20 | 1902 | Private | Moving and storage | Earth City | 86 | |
21 | CCIMW, LLC | 2011 | Private | Commercial/industrial painting and coatings | St. Charles | 98 |
22 | 2006 | Partnership | Logistics | O'Fallon, Mo. | 114 | |
23 | 1990 | Private | Technology software | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 | |
24 | 1953 | Private | Engineering | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 95 | |
25 | 1985 | Private | Landscaping and lawn care | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 84 | |
26 | 1996 | Private | Painting | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 | |
27 | 1938 | Private | General contractor | East Alton | 52 | |
28 | 1983 | Private | General contractor | Chesterfield | 53 | |
29 | 2009 | Private | HVAC industry | St. Peters | 55 | |
30 | 2007 | Private | HVAC industry | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 63 | |
31 | Spirtas Wrecking Company | 1954 | Private | Heavy construction and civil engineering | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 57 |
32 | 1849 | Private | Building products | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 105 | |
33 | 1968 | Private | Pool construction and service | Chesterfield | 58 | |
34 | 1999 | Private | Trucking | Troy | 133 | |
35 | 1994 | Private | Information technology | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 | |
36 | 1904 | Private | HVAC industry | Maryland Heights | 80 | |
37 | 1966 | Private | Mortgage | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 124 | |
38 | Air Comfort Service, Inc. Heating & Cooling | 1969 | Private | HVAC industry | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 65 |
39 | 1998 | Private | Mortgage | Chesterfield | 87 | |
40 | 2007 | Private | Call centers | St. Charles | 64 | |
41 | 1994 | Private | Franchise | Maryland Heights | 61 | |
42 | 1917 | Nonprofit | Education | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 52 | |
43 | Better Life Maids | 2008 | Private | Cleaning/maintenance | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 50 |
44 | 2008 | Private | Financial services | Clayton | 95 | |
45 | 2006 | Private | Solar design and installation | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 87 | |
46 | 1990 | Private | Home Improvement | Wentzville | 96 | |
47 | 1975 | Private | Industrial automation | Chesterfield | 94 | |
48 | STL Design and Build | 2016 | Partnership | Residential remodeler | Maryland Heights | 54 |
49 | 1998 | Private | Information technology | Reston, Va. | 66 | |
50 | 2013 | Private | HVAC industry | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 125 | |
51 | 1933 | Private | Engineering design consultant | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 108 | |
52 | 1920 | Cooperative/Mutual | Insurance | Edwardsville | 52 | |
53 | 1967 | Private | Pool construction and service | Maryland Heights | 83 | |
54 | 2007 | Private | Security and protection | Earth City | 50 | |
55 | Confluence Discoveries Technologies | 2012 | Public | Biotechnology | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 55 |
56 | 2000 | Private | Legal services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 60 | |
57 | 2016 | Private | Software and data engineering | St Louis | 80 | |
58 | 1952 | Public | Education | De Soto | 60 | |
59 | 1957 | Nonprofit | Education | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 72 | |
60 | 1948 | Private | Gas and welding supply distributor | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 140 | |
61 | Cass Commercial Bank | 1906 | Public | Financial services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 70 |
62 | 1974 | Private | Wholesale | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 145 | |
63 | 2015 | Private | Insurance | Wentzville | 124 | |
64 | 2006 | Public | Marketing and branding | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 106 | |
65 | 1984 | Private | Engineering | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 92 | |
66 | 2012 | Private | Legal services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 79 | |
67 | 1995 | Private | Engineering solutions for manufacturing | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 55 | |
68 | 1860 | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 137 | |
69 | Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition | 1989 | Human and social services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 96 | |
70 | Animal Protective Association of Missouri | Nonprofit | Animal welfare | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 78 | |
71 | Watchtower Security | 2004 | Private | Information technology | Maryland Heights | 66 |
72 | 1947 | Private | Design build remodeling | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 120 | |
73 | Tri-National, Inc. | 2004 | Private | Logistics | St. Charles | 124 |
74 | G&G Anesthesia PLLC | 2009 | Partnership | Health care industry | Maryville, Ill. | 53 |
75 | 1994 | Private | Wholesale distribution | Bridgeton | 95 | |
76 | 1992 | Private | Health care industry | Skokie, Ill. | 54 | |
77 | 1997 | Private | Logistics | Cincinnati | 60 | |
78 | 1986 | Public | Health care staffing | Boca Raton, Fla. | 50 | |
79 | 1993 | Private | Plumbing, HVAC and electrical | Collinsville | 113 | |
80 | 2008 | Private | Restaurant | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 90 | |
81 | 1976 | Public | IT consulting | Fairfax, Va. | 50 | |
82 | 1997 | Public | Rental | Stamford, Conn. | 101 | |
83 | 1946 | Private | General contracting/construction management | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 99 | |
84 | 1990 | Private | Legal services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 62 | |
85 | 2011 | Government | Nonprofit | Edwardsville | 92 | |
86 | 1986 | Private | Human and social services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 114 | |
87 | 1994 | Private | Health care industry | Miami | 79 | |
88 | 1913 | Private | Architecture | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 102 | |
89 | 2001 | Private | Management and IT consulting | Blue Bell, Pa. | 59 | |
90 | 1948 | Private | Retail | Columbus, Ohio | 50 | |
91 | Chenega MIOS | 2010 | Parent company | Professional services | Lorton, Va. | 59 |
92 | 1981 | Private | Restaurant | Farmington, Mich. | 50 | |
93 | 1980 | Private | Design and build firm | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 65 | |
94 | US Cloud | 2017 | Private | Managed services and outsourcing | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 77 |
95 | 2015 | Private | Auto service contract companies | O'Fallon, Mo. | 97 | |
96 | 2002 | Private | Service contract administrator | Lakewood, Colo. | 50 | |
97 | 1984 | Public | Information technology | Centreville, Va. | 115 | |
98 | 1919 | Private | HVAC industry | O'Fallon, Mo. | 143 | |
99 | 1941 | Non-profit | Financial services | ºüÀêÊÓƵ | 57 |