I lead projects, brands, and humans.
I make advertising that entertains, engages, and moves people.
Together we can make work that works harder, going beyond the incremental gains to capture connections and headlines. The advertising my teams and I develop often becomes cultural moments, covered by media giants like the Today show, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The New York Times, Gothamist, Telemundo, CNN, and USA Today. I shape stories and experiences that influence the influencers and focus on the consumer experience.
I am deeply committed to the humanity of the creative process, adding tens of millions in organic and new revenue, and much more in earned media. During my 23 years working in and managing highly creative environments, I learned the humility of leadership by provoking excellence and promoting inclusion - with people of diversity making up 70% of new hires and 80% of promotions.
Writer + CD Freelance 2009- 2023
As a freelance writer and CD, I’ve done all of it. I do everything from manage pitches to writing scripts for the Super Bowl. A Fortune 500 client pronounced one script, “The best thing we’ve ever done,” which was great to hear. I also did a lot of work for what became a very famous film for a tech giant, winning tons of awards, and I totally didn’t get credit for it because that's just how freelance goes sometimes. I authored the wildly successful digital platform Toyota Sponsifier, allowing NASCAR fans to design their own cars. I helped support the launch with film and digital content that made the platform a “must-try” for NASCAR fans. At TBWA Chiat/Day NY, I wrote and developed a famous Cannes Gold campaign for Vonage, helping them compete with their much larger rivals. I also helped Miller Highlife Super Bowl campaign and the NY Lottery Holiday scratch-off campaign. In the past 14+ years I lead and made great and necessary things for Droga5, Wieden + Kennedy, FCB NY, RG/A,180 LA/Amsterdam, McCann NY, DDB NY, Publicis NY, CP+B, Terry & Sandy, Elephant NY, Saatchi & Saatch NY, Saatchi LA, BBDO NY, Barton F Graf, Fallon, and 215 McCann. Carmichael Lynch, and some other folks who made me sign NDA’s.
Writer + Chief Creative Officer Yamamoto 2019 - 2022
Yamamoto is a full-service brand shop with a proud history of iconic logo design. Over three years, I guided a small group of talented humans in our Minneapolis and Chicago offices, through the pandemic and the transition to remote culture all the way to the Agency A-list. The experience gave me a chance to focus on the humanity of our practice and our duty to one another. As a result, I initiated dramatic institutional changes in collaboration, creative resourcing, hiring, and strategy. And, despite all the financial and cultural distractions, I led the agency to big organic and new business growth , while generating more creative awards than at any other time in its history (including Yamamoto’s first Effie). My leadership directly impacted the volume of high-impact creative for Toro, Marmot, Analog Devices, Lineage Logistics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Stonyfield Organic, and Rust-Oleum.
Writer + EVP + ECD McCann NY 2015-2017
I wrote and ran the new business pitch that made McCann NY Chick-fil-A’s first new AOR in 20 years. I guided many of McCann's high-profile efforts, leading the New York Lottery in redesigning and relaunching their brand, generating $11M+ of earned media and double-didgit sales in just one quarter. I also guided Nat Go through its 2017 Fronts process, just as they were adding more scripted content. In addition, I rescued a critical digital project for Intel, resulting in engaging content and a much more productive relationship. I also stepped in to help with Feeding America, Microsoft, Nespresso, Lysol, and L'Oréal.
Writer + EVP + Sr CD BBDO NY 2011-2015
I was the creative lead for AT&T across the NYC, ATL, Chicago and SF offices, responsible for over $80 MM in agency revenue and over creative 40 total teams. I led the repositioning of AT&T’s consumer brand, including design, digital, social, and TVC with the “It’s not complicated,” campaign, featuring Beck Bennet from SNL. This effort ran well beyond my leadership and is often referred to as one of the most influential campaigns of the decade. I also created the tone and direction of VISA’s brand relaunch at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. In my spare time, I made famous award-winning work for FedEx, Snickers, Bud Light, Mountain Dew, Foot Locker, and The Guinness Book of World Records.
Writer + CD BBDO NY 2004-2009
This was my first “Big New York Agency” experience, where I learned how to work with legendary brands. As a writer and creative director at BBDO NY, I was responsible for the work that launched the FedEx Cup, as well as several other famous FedEx moments. I also made scroll-stopping, award-winning work for Direct TV, Guinness, Red Stripe, BBC, G4, and Monster.com.
Writer Cliff Freeman and Partners 1999-2004
This was where I learned that great creative gets great results. I wrote some attention-stealing content for Fox Sports that drove more viewers to original programming and NASCAR coverage. I hyped Hollywood Video’s biggest new releases. And I helped out with a Super Bowl spot for Quizno’s Subs that Cliff wrote and made me go shoot with Jeff Gorman. The spot wasn't great but that's where I met my wife so it worked out pretty well. I also made some crazy-effective work for Staples, The Sports Authority, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Budget
I'm not one of those people that talks about the very specific awards I've won and when I won them.
3 Pencils - TV & Cinema, D&AD, 2001. Radio Mercury - Radio Mercury Awards, 2001. Pencil - Radio, D&AD, 2003. Silver - One Show, 2003. Radio Mercury - Radio Mercury Awards, 2003. AICP Award - Copywriting, AICP 2005. Bronze - Merit - One Show, 2006. 3 Merit - One Show, 2006. Silver Lion - Cannes 2007. 2 Silver - The One Show, 2007. Bronze - The One Show, 2007. Merit - The One show, 2007. AICP Award - Cinematography, AICP 2007. Pencil - TV & Cinema, D&AD, 2007. Silver - London International Awards, 2007. Pencil - Ambient D&AD, 2008. 4 Bronze - The Andy Awards, 2008. 5 Merit - The One Show, 2008. 5 Finalist - London International Awards, 2008. Silver - London International Awards, 2008. Radio Mercury - Radio Mercury Awards, 2009. Gold Lion - Cannes, 2010. Silver - The One Show, 2010. Bronze - The One Show, 2011. 2 Merit - The One Show, 2011. Short List - Clio Awards 2011. Shortlist - Cannes, 2012. AICP Award - Branded Content, AICP 2012. 2 Bronze - The One Show, 2013. 3 Merit - The One Show, 2013. Shortlist - Clio Awards, 2013 .Finalist - London International Awards, 2013. Merit - The One Show, 2014.Published, Communication Arts 2014. Gold - London International Awards, 2015. Bronze Clio - Clio Awards 2015. 2 Silver - Clio Awards, 2015. 2 Bronze - Clio Awards, 2015. 2 Bronze Lion - Cannes, 2015. Silver Lion - Cannes, 2015. 5 Merit - The One Show, 2015. Pencil - Craft, D&AD, 2015. 3 Pencil - Outdoor, D&AD, 2015. Pencil - Film Craft, D&AD, 2015. 5 Shortlist - Cannes, 2015. 4 Shortlist - Clio Awards 2015. 3 Campaigns Published - Lurzer’s Int’l Archive 2015. Published - Communication Arts 2015. Silver Cube - Art Directors Club, 2016. Bronze Cube - Art Directors Club, 2016. 5 Merit - One Show, 2016. Pencil - Outdoor, D&AD, 2016. Silver - Effie Awards, 2016. Bronze - The Effie Awards, 2016. Bronze - The Effie Awards, 2017. Shortlist - Cannes, 2018. Silver Clio - Clio awards, 2019 (uncredited writer). Pencil - D&AD, 2020 (uncredited writer). Silver Pencil - One Show, 2020 (uncredited writer). 2 Gold Lions - Cannes, 2020 (uncredited writer).2 Silver Lions - Cannes, 2020 (uncredited writer). Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze, The Show Minneapolis, 2021. Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry, 2021. Effies 2022, 11 Telly’s 2022, Agency A-List 2023, and more Telly’s and other stuff but you get the point.
These are some of the schools where I was an unremarkable student:
Miami Ad School – Certificate of Advanced Advertising Knowledge
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago – MFA
Southwestern University – BA Studio Art / Psychology
Clear Lake High School – Graduated in the top 38% of my class. Go Falcons!