# Mike Schaffer

> Mike Schaffer is the Pasadena-based founder and CEO of Echo-Factory, a marketing and advertising agency established in 2008. He began in commercial photography, recruited creative director Dea Goldsmith as his agency partner, and expanded into strategy, creative and media. His public work also includes organizing Friday Coffee Meetup, startup mentoring, and writing about branding and marketing.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Echo-Factory
- **Organizations:** Echo-Factory, Friday Coffee Meetup / Innovate Pasadena, USC Incubator (mentor, as described in public biographies), Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (advisor, as described in public biographies), Los Angeles Venture Association Private Equity Committee (reported January 2025), American Advertising Federation Inland Empire (past president, reported January 2025)
- **Education:** Mt. San Antonio College, AA in photography
- **Known for:** Built a photography practice into a marketing agency founded in 2008., Echo-Factory received two Best in Show ADDY awards, as reported in his CSQ biography., Helped organize Friday Coffee Meetup; his June 2016 article documented growth from an original 12-person gathering to 3,000 members.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2008** — Worked as a photo assistant, then operated his own commercial photography studio; early paid assignments included photographing bands.
- **2008** — Founded Echo-Factory with creative partner Dea Goldsmith, initially operating from an Upland industrial-park garage.
- **2014** — Moved Echo-Factory to Pasadena; LinkedIn lists the start of his Innovate Pasadena organizer role in this year.
- **2016** — Launched Echo-Studios as a division of Echo-Factory, offering unlimited usage rights for commissioned production work.
- **2018** — CSQ profile identifies him as a C-Suite Advisor since 2018.
- **2023** — Echo-Factory marked 15 years; appeared on The Leadership Puzzle in December to discuss the Selective Yes.
- **2025** — Participated in a Pasadena committee discussion of the city’s technology marketing campaign.
- **2026** — Pasadena’s Deep Tech: Create Futures, Not Fads campaign, developed with Echo-Factory, received an IEDC Gold Award.

## Achievements

- Built a photography practice into a marketing agency founded in 2008.
- Echo-Factory received two Best in Show ADDY awards, as reported in his CSQ biography.
- Helped organize Friday Coffee Meetup; his June 2016 article documented growth from an original 12-person gathering to 3,000 members.
- Echo-Factory helped develop the creative assets for Pasadena’s campaign recognized with a 2026 IEDC Gold Award; the recipient was the city’s Economic Development Division.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Pasadena’s Economic Development Division received a 2026 IEDC Gold Award for the Deep Tech: Create Futures, Not Fads campaign, with Echo-Factory credited for creative assets.
- **2025-03** — City committee minutes record Schaffer discussing airport and ride-share placements for Pasadena’s technology marketing campaign.
- **2025-01** — Discussed agency leadership, an early skate-deck career event and business transparency in Authority Magazine.

## Links

- Website: https://echo-factory.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schaffer-98518213

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mike-schaffer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25