Playing In The Biggs League

What can you say about a boss who paid you double during vacations? Or called a staff meeting the morning after a late-night agency party and passed out $100 bills to everyone who showed up?
You could say he’s Bill Biggs, the founder of Biggs/Gilmore Communications in Kalamazoo, Mich.
He even went so far as to install an ice cream fountain in the agency lobby. And he’s chronicled these and other tales of his 15 years as head of the western Michigan full-service agency in a new book: Random Thoughts on Business and Life and Lots of Stuff.
Despite the book’s lighthearted tone, Biggs takes a serious stab at what he thinks is wrong with American management. Biggs believes it is possible to have fun but still make money in the advertising business.
During his 15 years at Biggs/Gilmore, the business grew from $1.2 million in capitalized billings to $62 million, making it the largest agency between Detroit and Chicago.
Biggs is donating proceeds from the book, available only by mail, to a scholarship fund at Albion College and Hope College, both in Michigan. Recipients will be students who overcome tremendous odds to attend college. -Tanya Gazdik