run, Run, RUN, RUNNNNNNN - Designer Cepia Employee Review

- constant innovation and exposure to new ideas and designs - working with a talented, dedicated group of people - fast-paced environment full of opportunity to "think outside the box"

in most jobs, an employee can be a "B" or "C" player and still get by... at Cepia if you're not an "A" player - you won't last very long.

Some of the creative work itself could have been interesting. There are capable, hardworking people at the company who are doing their best under difficult circumstances.

The culture is toxic. Cepia is a small company, which means the behavior of leadership affects every employee, every day. There is no buffer. The toxicity comes from the top. Russ Hornsby, the owner, runs the company in a volatile and emotionally driven way. Decisions are made impulsively, reversed without warning, and rarely thought through. The stress and fallout from those decisions are pushed directly onto employees. Joe McGowan, Russ Hornsby’s right-hand executive, reinforces this dynamic. Communication is often abrasive, dismissive, and confrontational. Creatives are not treated as collaborators or professionals. Direction changes constantly, expectations are unclear, and when things go wrong, blame flows downward instead of problems being addressed. There is no sense of stability or trust. Work that is approved one day can be criticized the next. Feedback is frequently condescending or hostile. Over time, this environment wears down your confidence and mental health. If you value professionalism, stability, or your sanity, this is not the place to be.