Langley Meets Tech: Odigo

By Grace Swanson

Christine and Eddie Mulcahy embody the meaning of “work hard, play hard.”

As owners of the Odigo Group, a marketing agency in Langley, WA, they bring work-life balance to their business.

The Mulcahys started their own business so they could raise their 12 year-old son and 10-year-old daughter. Both Christine and Eddie Mulcahy grew up on the island and they wanted the same experience for their children.

Their careers allow them to work from anywhere meaning they can work from anywhere whether it’s a remote location or from the road while traveling.

The Mulcahy’s aspire to give their employees this same flexibility.

“Eddie and I preach work-life balance to our team a lot, but we preach it because we practice it” said Christine Mulcahy.

Odigo has grown to 15 employees since its launch in 2005. The team provides well-known clients with services in marketing, communications, and event planning.

“We put all of the pieces together to make one solid plan that’s ready to launch,” Eddie Mulcahy said. “We’re the glue.”

The office’s modern interior design and weekly yoga, massages, and team happy hour gives Odigo a start-up vibe. Flexible work schedules and telecommuting also sets Odigo apart from traditional marketing agencies.

“Work-life balance is key at Odigo,” said Kacy Johnson, a marketing consultant and social media marketing manager at Odigo. Her project-based work enables her to make her own schedule.

Odigo intern-lead Madi Boyd, a Gonzaga University senior and South Whidbey High School graduate says the office environment makes excited to come to work. She appreciates the flexibility her internship offers and is always able to find time to pursue her passions outside of work.

Langley’s technology, specifically Whidbey Telecom’s high-speed Gigabit internet, makes it possible for the Odigo Group to communicate with clients worldwide.

Introduced to Langley and select parts of South Whidbey this year, Gigabit internet is 1000 times faster than normal internet.

Since the installment of the Gigabit internet, the Mulcahys haven’t had a dropped conference call and can upload files more rapidly.

“The technology on the island enables small businesses to do global business,” said Eddie Mulcahy.

He explained businesses are shifting toward online conference rooms where people in different locations can meet. The use of digital communications, means that workers don’t need to be based in the same place.

“Running a business from Langley is no different than running a business from Seattle or LA or Silicon Valley,” he said.

As the Odigo team grows, the Mulcahys hope to continue to hire local tech-talent and draw from local resources. They appreciate the support of the island community.

Christine Mulcahy says that opening a business on Whidbey Island has given them the best of both the rural living and the business-oriented worlds.

“We live on this island because we don’t want to talk shop all day,” she said. “We just want to go home and hang out with our neighbors. We love having that whole island lifestyle thing, but still having that professional connection.”