Ever since I was a tiny, towheaded kid, I wanted to be a lawyer. Maybe it was from watching The Cosby Show and seeing Clair Huxtable, the doting mother and powerful lady attorney that she was. Maybe it was from Matlock and his snazzy white suits. Who knows where it started. But I was obsessed. This lasted all through high school.
When I was applying for college, I was pre-law. Not even a second thought. I ended up at Drake University in the bustling metropolis of Des Moines, Iowa. My major was an English/Psychology/Rhetoric triple. Goodness, what was I thinking?
Well, needless to say, after a year or so on that ever so dry and stuffy academic track, I realized I was having no fun whatsoever. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I was dying a slow death of boredom, punctuated by an excessive urge to yawn. And that wasn’t ok with me. I scrapped that major and poked around in the curriculum booklet, looking for things that sounded fun. Poof, there it was. An advertising/graphic design degree.
Ever since then, I have realized that having fun is really important to me. This business can be stressful, hectic, and sometimes even soul-sucking. I mean, we all know we’re not saving lives. And this most certainly isn’t rocket science. But there are very few jobs that can compare to the creative opportunity, hilarious people, and sheer going-rogue-make-it-happen-cowboy-nature of advertising. That’s not to say it isn’t hard. It can be downright exhausting. But I believe that as long as you’re laughing your way through it, anything is tolerable. Shoot, if you do it right, tolerable becomes rewarding.
That’s when you’ve got it made.
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Group Creative Director - Campaigns / November 2021 — right now
Group Creative Director - Brand / February 2021 — November 2021
Senior Creative Director / March 2020 — February 2021
Sometimes an opportunity comes along that completely detours all those best-laid plans, upends that long-cultivated list of professional boxes to check, yet somehow perfectly aligns with everything you’re looking to do at this exact moment in your career. This is one of those opportunities. I feel extremely fortunate, and am so honored to be joining the innovative, world class brand that is the Mayo Clinic, and to contribute to all the good they are doing in the world. Especially right now. I was sad to say goodbye to the wonderfully smart and capable multi-agency team on the U.S. Army account at Team DDB in Chicago so soon, but Mayo Clinic called. And I gotta go.
SVP, Group Creative Director / July 2019 — February 2020
Acted as Group Creative Director and head of copy on Team DDB, the multi-agency conglomeration assembled by Omnicom to partner with the U.S. Army. Collaborated with creative leadership from all agencies to maintain a consistent, high quality work, and a productive, positive environment. Mentored creatives, helped to build and streamline processes, and managed to write a thing or two in the process. Learned the difference between good camo and bad camo. And will never forget it.
September 2018 — July 2019
Available for freelance on any brand, any project, anywhere. From long term to quick turn, specializing in conceptual speed and generating a lot of ideas and possible creative solutions. Capable of managing a hefty workload. Comfortable working remotely or on-site. Here to take anything off your to-make list.
VP, Group Creative Director / October 2017 — September 2018
Creative Director / July 2015 — October 2017
Associate Creative Director / July 2013 — July 2015
Senior Copywriter / May 2012 — July 2013
From Senior Copywriter to VP, Group Creative Director, these were some pretty productive years where I learned a lot, grew a lot, and expanded my leadership capabilities. Got experience on great brands like brands like Payless Shoes, P.F. Chang’s, the Syngenta Seeds group, Thrivent Mutual Funds, Hippo Sak, Mall of America, Marvin Windows, Finnegans Beer, Basilica Block Party, Turfco, and Prime Therapeutics. Managed half the creative department and half the client roster, mentored creatives and provided training programs for the agency, and continued to contribute to the creative output of the agency. Among many, many other things.
Senior Copywriter / February 2010 — May 2012
Thought I’d give the corporate side a go. The Bullseye was a great brand to work on, and my first client side gig was a great experience. There are some seriously smart and talented people at Target. Lots of them. I also made some stuff that I’m very proud of. And the discount was nice, too.
Copywriter + Creative Consultant / September 2009 — February 2010
Escaped Minnesota for a winter and freelanced out in Santa Monica at Secret Weapon. Worked on Jack in the Box, CLEAR Communications, and Honda of Southern California. Lived at a place called Hotel California. I don't think it was the inspiration for the song.
Art Director turned Copywriter / July 2002 — September 2009
I started here as a baby, fresh out of Miami Ad School. First, I was an Art Director. And then, I was a Copywriter. Turns out I like words better than Pantone swatches. Worked on great brands like Citibank, BMW, United Airlines, The NYSE, Travelers Insurance, Holiday Inn Express, and Subway, to name a few.
Art Direction & Copywriting
Creative Advertising and Graphic Design