Staff Spotlight: Caliber Managing Director Scott Paer.

Is a hot dog a sandwich? Ask Scott Paer, and you’ll get a definitive answer. He’s regimented enough to have Taco Tuesday locked in every week, yet flexible enough to thrive in a remote-first company. Two stints at Caliber since 2018 have given Scott a unique vantage point on the agency’s evolution. Step inside his mindset, motivations and a few unexpected stories — including a Bar Mitzvah date you won’t see coming — in this month’s spotlight.

Kate: What is your favorite nickname and how did you get it?

Scott: The Moosh. It originated when I was in middle school. My friends and I went to a Chinese restaurant every Friday after school. I would always order Mu Shu Chicken every week. Soon enough, I became The Moosh.

Kate: Where do you consider “home”? What is special about it?

Scott: That is an ironic question for me. Home was New York City for 17 years until the summer of 2025, when we bought a house in New Jersey. Home is where my wife and son are, wherever that may be today and in the future, but today, it is the great state of New Jersey.

Kate: What non-work activities inspire you?

Scott: Staying active through exercise and sports really motivates me — it keeps me energized and constantly pushing myself to improve. I’m in the gym regularly, so I can bring my best to the men’s basketball league I play in.

Kate: If you had to include one ingredient in every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Scott: I could name three dozen ingredients and condiments, but for now, Bachan’s Original Japanese BBQ Sauce and Trader Joe’s Aglio Olio seasoning are my go-tos.

Kate: What’s a book, podcast or creator that’s shaping your thinking right now?

Scott: One podcast that’s really shaping my thinking right now is Peter Renton’s Fintech One-On-One Podcast. Peter has been a pioneer in fintech since 2010 — he’s been running the podcast since 2013 and has built it into one of the most prominent platforms for long-form conversations with fintech leaders (not to mention, the longest-running fintech podcast, with over 600 episodes and counting). 

What really stands out to me about the Fintech One-On-One Podcast is how focused the show is on the real builders in the space — mostly CEOs and founders — and how it surfaces practical insights on scaling organizations and navigating financial services and fintech. It’s not just trend commentary; it’s firsthand perspective from people actively shaping the industry. Getting these direct perspectives on where the industry is heading is extremely valuable to me, as a strategic communicator, and helps my team and I best support the fintech leaders we work with every day. 

We were also lucky enough to have Peter join us for a virtual fireside chat back in February — where he gave our team insight into what makes a pitch most compelling to him, topics that are top of mind for him in 2026, and how we can be the best possible PR partners to journalists and podcasters. This kind of first-hand insight was invaluable, as I and the Caliber team are constantly evolving our outreach strategies in today’s dynamic media landscape.

Kate: What’s one accomplishment from your childhood that you still brag about?

Scott: Lea Michele, best known as Rachel Berry on Glee, was my Bar-Mitzvah date! Hard to top that.

Kate: What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?

Scott: I think most of my colleagues know I am very regimented. But for those who don’t, every Tuesday night is Taco night in the Paer household, and every Friday is sandwich day. And for the record, hot dogs are not a sandwich. And it is a crime to say they are.

Kate: When you think about your time at Caliber, what career accomplishment or milestone makes you feel most proud?

Scott: How much Caliber has grown as an agency. Being fortunate enough to have ‘two stints’ at the company since 2018, I am impressed by how our agency has evolved, as well as by how all our practitioners continue to impress each and every year.

Kate: Name one thing that amazes you about fintech or innovation in financial services.

Scott: The only acceptable answer here is how AI is changing the game, especially in fintech and financial services. It’s accelerating everything from decision-making to personalization in ways we’re just starting to understand.

Kate: When you think about the future of PR and communications, what are you most excited about?

Scott: Speaking of AI, there is no question that certain industries and roles will be eliminated as AI gets smarter. Another fact is that boards and CEOs want communications executives at the table. There is no greater threat to a company than the demise of its reputation and lack of trust amongst its customers. Communications sits at the heart of reputation management, and I’m excited to see how our industry works with AI.

Kate: What’s your favorite Caliber Perk?

Scott: Our monthly wellness stipend, hands down. The company uses ThrivePass to deliver it, and like our value of flexibility, it actually lives up to that. Some months it’s the gym, other months it’s travel to reset and spend time with my wife and son. Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all, and this perk reflects that. It’s simple, useful, and actually gets used.

Kate: What’s your favorite thing about working at Caliber?

Scott: THE PEOPLE! We’re intentional about hiring for both culture fit and culture add, and it shows. For a remote company, we prioritize staying connected — and it works. I genuinely enjoy the team I work with.

Want to join Scott Paer at Caliber? Check out our Careers page for open positions.

The Staff Spotlight Q&A series highlights Caliber team members for the stellar work they do each day and the important part we all play in the company. Read more Staff Spotlight Q&A posts to learn more about our top-tier team.