John Surdakowski

Avex E-commerce

Leading eCommerce agency providing creative, development, email marketing & strategy for brands such as: Mondelez, Hugo Boss, KITH, O’Neil, HAUS, Undefeated, Marchesa, Balance Athletica, TomBoyX, Wolf & Shepherd, Badgley Mischka & Iconix Brand Group.

Founder & CEO

Agency-X Podcast

Agency X — Hosted by John Surdakowski, is a Podcast that takes a dive deep into the world of ecommerce, digital strategy, and the evolving landscape of marketing technology. From the challenges of building a brand to mastering the latest tools shaping the future of commerce, Agency X offers insights drawn from real experiences at Avex. Each week, we break down what works, what doesn’t, and the bold moves that drive growth for leading brands.

Host

Shogun

Shogun empowers brands and agencies to create unique ecommerce experiences by making it easy to build and optimize online stores. Shogun is seamlessly integrated with leading ecommerce platforms, and is trusted by over 12,000 eCommerce brands, including Leesa mattresses, MVMT watches, Gaiam yoga apparel, K-Swiss, and Chubbies shorts

Investor

GRIN

Grin is the #1 all-in-one influencer marketing platform designed to help brands own their influencer relationships. With our tools in your corner, you’ll build a pool of credible ambassadors and reap the financial and brand rewards that come with it. GRIN puts every aspect of your influencer marketing program at your fingertips, empowering you to own it every step of the way.

Inveterate, Inc

Govalo

Kinn

Consulting

Freelance creative direction, web design and development for various brands and agencies, including Google, Samsung, Havas, JWT, Campfire, USANetwork, Cinemax and Sony

Creative Contractor

Havas

Designed digital experiences such as: websites, mobile ads, video story boards and rich media campaigns.

Sr. Art Director Consultant

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Designed and developed digital campaigns for Estee Lauder’s online creative department.

Art Director Consultant

Founder & CEO at Avex, a New York City based creative, technology and e-commerce agency for fashion & lifestyle brands. 

With 20 years of experience creating for the web, I’ve seen the digital landscape evolve. From Web 1.0 and Flash animation, to the explosion of mobile and e-commerce. I utilize my vast experience in creative, technology and business to help DTC brands achieve rapid growth. 

Throughout the years I've consulted for JWT, Havas, Estee Lauder, BBDO, NBC, MRM Worldwide, Nickelodeon, MTV Networks and many other New York based companies.

In 2015 I started growing my freelance business into a boutique digital agency, with focus on fashion, lifestyle and premium products. 

Avex has partnered with major brands such as: Hugo Boss, KITH, O’Neill, Undefeated, Simmons Serta Bedding, Marchesa, Eugenia Kim, Badgley Mishka, Ports V, Reem Acra, Iconix Brand Group, Google, PONY, Starter, Rocawear, Shutterstock, 88Rising, USANetwork, HBO, UBISoft, Sony Music and many more. 

Today, I continue to act as CEO and Founder (among other titles) of Avex. I’ve applied my experience and ability to adapt to creating a business that I am immensely passionate about. I love working with other creatives, building my team and taking on new challenges.

In 2019 Avex was invited to become a Shopify Plus Partner. Our agency focuses on helping brands navigate eCommerce.

WeVideo

-Member of the Executive Leadership Team; report directly to CEO.
-Partner with ELT to drive company-wide operational strategies
-Grew eNPS from 30 to 60 in the first 7 months.
-Launched Quarterly Engagement, Pulse, & eNPS surveys.
-Rolled out new hire 90-day and 6-month check-ins.
-Introduced annual reviews & goal-setting process.
-Led company-wide Enneagram rollout to improve communication & collaboration.
-Implemented Rippling, consolidating global employees from TriNet.
-Built/maintained company handbook; created key policies including Parental Leave.
-Manage HR tech stack & vendor selection.
-Launched internal HR intranet with centralized resources.
-Own onboarding process & paperwork for all new hires.
-Lead offboarding process & exit interviews.
-Founded & led the global Culture Club; traveled to Romania to build team connections.
-Foster a positive, inclusive remote culture across time zones.
-Conducted global pay audit to align compensation with salary bands.
-Helped design and run the annual Leadership Development Program.
-Manage full HR function with a team based in Romania.
-Handle all internal employee relations & issue resolution.

Director of Global Human Resources

-Managed onboarding for U.S., Canadian, and international staff, ensuring compliance across employment types.
-Oversaw multiple HRIS platforms, maintaining global data accuracy & access.
-Led migration from Justworks & Deel to Rippling, improving efficiency & consolidation.
-Transitioned 401(k) provider from Slavic401k to Human Interest.
-Ran full-cycle recruiting in close partnership with stakeholders.
-Aligned HR strategy with business goals in partnership with Ops & CEO.
-Built & launched a performance management framework to support employee development.
-Strengthened culture through virtual & in-person events.
-Drove engagement through surveys, peer recognition & wellness initiatives.
-Created fair, consistent policies including parental leave, PIPs, referrals, & bereavement.
-Rolled out training on DEI, bias, & harassment prevention.
-Held quarterly check-ins with all employees to build trust & surface feedback.

HR Manager

Mission Solutions Group, Inc.

-Spearheaded comprehensive onboarding processes for all new employees, overseeing the issuance of offer letters, NDAs, and the completion of background checks, drug tests, and I9 forms
-Managing ADP/Costpoint profiles, benefits, timesheets, and eVerify documentation.
-Executed merit increases, and promotions, and managed wage garnishments, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies.
-Took charge of managing social media accounts, crafting engaging content, and fostering community engagement to enhance brand visibility and reputation.
-Led recruitment efforts for both CONUS and OCONUS roles, employing strategic sourcing techniques to attract top talent.
-Managed job postings and applications, optimizing recruitment platforms and processes to streamline candidate selection and enhance the efficiency of the hiring process.

Human Resources Generalist

Crunchy Data

Recruiting:
-Collaborated with hiring managers to define specific requirements for roles nationwide, including clearance levels, remote work possibilities, skill sets, and process flows.
-Utilized college portals such as Handshake to post job listings, enhancing outreach to potential candidates.
-Employed sourcing techniques on platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn to identify and attract qualified candidates.
-Orchestrated seamless interview processes by coordinating schedules between candidates and interviewers, serving as the primary liaison for candidates throughout the recruitment cycle.
-Conducted initial phone interviews, effectively screening candidates to assess their suitability for roles.

HR Administration:
-Managed the distribution of new hire paperwork, ensuring compliance with state-specific regulations.
-Facilitated the enrollment of new hires in benefits programs and provided timely confirmation, along with necessary insurance documentation.
-Utilized E-Verify to verify candidates' authorization to work in the United States, maintaining legal compliance.
-Collaborated with hiring managers to determine equipment and IT provisioning needs for new employees, ensuring readiness for their start dates.
-Enhanced the onboarding experience by sending welcome packages to remote new hires, fostering a sense of inclusion and engagement from day one.

Human Resources Administrator

Benefitfocus

-Evaluated resumes within the Jobvite applicant tracking system to identify top talent and ensure alignment with organizational needs.
-Orchestrated onsite interviews for prospective candidates, coordinating travel arrangements and leveraging scheduling tools like Outlook’s scheduling assistant and BlueJeans.
-Conducted informative campus tours for interviewees, offering valuable insights into company culture and fostering a positive candidate experience.
-Streamlined employee documentation processes and conducted audits of our filing system to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Recruiting Coordinator

The Select Group

-Consultant onboarding process - handling all aspects from offer letters and background checks to tax forms and benefits administration.
-Office Manager responsibilities - ensuring smooth day-to-day operations by managing office supplies, coordinating team functions, and orchestrating various internal and external events.
-Collaborated closely with the Lead Facility Security Officer (FSO) to validate consultants' clearances.
-Generated weekly revenue reports and meticulously maintained profit and loss records for multiple branches.
-Oversaw onboarding and offboarding procedures for cleared consultants, facilitating their addition or removal from our cage code under the guidance of the Lead FSO.
-Utilized Vendor Management Systems to verify timesheets and invoices, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
-Served as the primary point of contact for over one hundred consultants, addressing onboarding queries and general HR concerns promptly and effectively.
-Fostered client satisfaction by attending lunches with placed contractors and conducting customer service check-in calls to ensure consultants' seamless integration into their new roles and address any queries or concerns.

Human Resources Generalist/Assistant FSO

SkyePoint Decisions, Inc.

• Posted/updated job postings (Monster, Dice, ZipRecruiter, iCIMS, TheLadders, Indeed)
• Sourced/screened job portals for potential candidates
• Sent e-mails & held phone screens to talk to technical candidates about job openings
• Coordinated & scheduled interviews with hiring managers/technical leads
• Held in person interviews with the Director of Recruiting
• Created a potential wellness program for the company
• Pipelined qualified candidates' resumes in iCIMS for future reference

Recruiting Assistant

Iron Bow Technologies

• Created a Health and Wellness program 
• Screened resumes through ICIMS (ATS)  & CareerBuilder
• Shadowed the recruiter on both telephone and in person interviews
• Worked with hiring managers to update all Job Descriptions throughout organization
• Organized Intern fundraising initiative for American Red Cross
• Implemented a new filing system for background investigations to be comply with audit regulations

Human Resources Intern

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Re-organized filing system
Uploaded performance appraisals to their system
Brought performance appraisals from paper to electronic versions

Director of Global HR at WeVideo, with over a decade of Human Resources experience. I am dedicated to enhancing both the candidate & employee experience by promoting a positive environment. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies & Employment Relations with a Minor in Psychology from Penn State University.

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The Battle

John Surdakowski

Cassie Solaguren

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