EXPERIENCE:
iostudio Nashville, Executive Creative Director, 2022 - Present
Oversee all creative work across digital, social, and video. Manage a cross-functional team of writers, designers, and video. Clients include: Army National Guard, US Navy recruiting, American Health Partners
Freelance Creative Director Chicago & Remote, 2020-2022
Pavone Marketing Group, T-Mobile Studios, Energy BBDO, Cinemark Movie Theaters, McDonald’s In-house agency, Agency 123
Foodmix Marketing Communications Chicago, Executive Creative Director, 2018-2020
Managed a cross-functional team of designers, writers, and developers. Created, guided, and led the creative work for all the agency’s clients across B2B and B2C. Met with clients directly. Oversaw photo and video shoots. Mentored and evaluated staff. Pitched and won Brooklyn Bred and B&W Quality Foods. Member of the agency’s leadership team. Clients list included: Smithfield Culinary, Cargil, Red Diamond Coffee and Tea, Sunnyfresh eggs, Sterling Silver Meats, Columbus Oils, Brooklyn Bred, Upstate Niagara, B&W Quality Foods, TNT Burgers.
Freelance Creative Director Chicago/Cincinnati/Philadelphia/Red Bank, 2016-2018
Freelance creative director/art director/ copywriter. Brought in to help lead and mentor creative departments as well as pitch new business. Partnered with Northlich in Cincinnati leading all creative work on Ohio Lottery, Western & Southern Financial, Frisch’s Big Boy, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Our work for the Ohio Lottery was short-listed by the One Show. Helped to pitch and win Gold Star Chili. While working with Sawtooth Group in Red Bank, NJ, I was asked to manage and mentor the creative teams as well as being charged with leading the work on McCormick Spices and Finlandia Butter and Cheese. At Tierney in Philadelphia, I worked on TD Bank and American Public University and helped pitch new business.
Upshot Chicago, Sr. VP, Group Creative Director, 2014-2016
Recruited to help lead the agency creative department, raise the level of digital thinking and grow the shop beyond its shopper marketing specialty to increase revenue securing larger portions of client business. Directed a staff of twenty writers, designers, technologists, producers and thinkers. Credited with raising the overall aesthetic of the work during my tenure. Pitched and won Metronet Cable. Led the pitch-winning work for Starbuck’s Evolution Fresh Juices and Tazo Tea. Work for Core Power was awarded Marcom Platinum, Telly Bronze, Hermes Platinum, and Communicator Platinum. Clients included: Evolution Fresh, Core Power, Modelo, Casa Noble Tequila, Pacifico, Liftmaster, Omron, Nuveen.
Pavone Marketing Group Philadelphia & Harrisburgh, 2012-2014, Executive Creative Director. 2012-2014
Executive Creative Director in charge of leading, guiding and inspiring the creative work at two of PMG agencies. Pavone and Quench ( a food and beverage specialty agency). Created a collaborative approach that empowered the entire agency to take ownership and feel pride in the work. This approach has been credited to raising the overall creativity of the agency as well as changing the way the entire organization operates to this day. Re-Inspired a creative department that lost its mojo.
Took an agency not known for its digital thinking to winning “Best of Show / Digital” in the Philadelphia Addys in one year by creating what I believe to be the world’s first ever twitter activated tap for Yuengling Beer. Campaign for Starkist Tuna Creations raised sales by 45% in just six months. Campaign for Turkey Hill Ice Cream and Iced Tea raised sales by 8% and 10%. Managed a team of twenty writers, designers, editors, developers, UX/UI. Pitched and won Starkist and WXPN. Clients included: Starkist, Ortega, Cream of Wheat, Yuengling, Big Hill Cider, Fulton Bank, Orrstown Bank, Hershey’s, Holy Spirit Hospital, Mount Nittany Health
Agency Sacks New York, Executive Creative Director, 2011-2012
Creative lead at this boutique shop that focused on the affluent market with a heavy emphasis on luxury travel and hotels.
Helped to transform the agency from a primarily traditional shop in to one that
thought digital first. Managed a SWAT team of six writers and designers as well as the daily influx of
freelancers. Saved the Gramercy Park Hotel account with twenty-four-hours-notice. Pitched and won the Rosewood Hotel Group and The Fontainebleau, Miami. Collaborated with top level photographers and videographers.
Neiman (now part of A&G) Philadelphia, VP, Executive Creative Director, 2007-2011
Hired as a creative director, Promoted to ECD when the ECD who hired me got fired, and after leading the pitch to win the agency’s first national level piece of new business. I helped grow the agency into one that competed regularly for national level accounts.. Led a cross-functional team of eighteen UX/UI, storytellers, writers, designers, producers and strategists. Pitched and won Trex Decking and Railing, Sunoco, and Dietz & Watson. I also helped to save the agency's two largest accounts when they came up for review, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Capital Blue Cross. Our campaign for the state's Tax Amnesty program garnered so much attention it was talked about by the likes of Whoopi on "The View", Bill O'Reilly on Fox News as well as being featured in the Huffington Post, Bloomberg Business Week and Forbes. The campaign went on to raise $261 million dollars for the state. An amount that was $71 million over the goal set by Governor Rendell. The agency became so successful, I helped open a second office in Philadelphia and grow it to a staff of over 35. During my time with the agency we won Best of Show in the Philadelphia Addys three times as well as winning multiple national gold along with being featured in The FWA, CA, and the “I have an idea” website.
MARC USA Pittsburgh, Sr. Creative Director, 2o01-2007
Hired as an ACD quickly rising to senior creative director. Created and guided the work on Checkers/Rally’s fast food restaurants, Pennsylvania Lottery and Rite Aid Drug Stores. Work for lottery propelled the brand to an all-time sales record of over $1 billion cementing its status as one of the fastest growing lotteries in the nation.
New Business Pitched and Won
Trex Decking and Railing, Sunoco, Dietz & Watson, Capital Blue Cross, The Commonwealth of PA, Rosewood Hotel Group, Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami, Starkist, Brooklyn Bred, Evolution Fresh Juices, Tazo Tea, Metronet Cable, WXPN radio
Awards and Recognition:
One Show: Short List, National Addys: Gold, Philadelphia Addys: 4x Best of Show, Philadelphia Addys: Gold, Philadelphia Addys: Silver, Nashville Addys: Silver, Effies: Silver, Marcum Awards: Platinum, Hermes Awards: Platinum, Nation’s Restaurant News: Best Campaign, New York Festivals: Silver, London Festivals: Silver, The FWA: Website of the Day, CA Webpicks, Archive Magazine, Art Direction Magazine, Bronze, The Drum, Print’s Regional Design Annual, 2021 & 2022 District 2 (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA) Addy Awards Judge
Client Experience:
Food: Starkist, Sunny Fresh Eggs, Oscar Mayer, Kraft, Dietz & Watson, Red Diamond Coffee & Tea, Smithfield Foodservice, Hershey’s, Turkey Hill Ice Cream and Iced Tea, B&W Quality Foods, Columbus Oils, Cream of Wheat, Ortega, Checkers/Rally’s Fast Food, Core Power Protein Drink, Evolution Fresh Juices, Cargill Foodservice, TNT Burgers, Sterling Silver Meats, Wüsthof, McCormick Spices, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Rosina’s, 7-Eleven
Booze: Yuengling, Modelo, Casa Noble Tequila, Kentucky Owl, Big Hill Cider
Healthcare: Omron, UPMC, Capital Blue Cross, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Hospital, St Elizabeth Healthcare, Holy Spirit Hospital, Mt. Nittany Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Rite Aid Drug Stores
Gaming: Luxor Hotel and Casino, Flamingo Hilton, Excalibur, Ohio Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery
Travel/Hospitality: Rosewood Hotel Group, Gramercy Park Hotel, Fontainebleau Hotel, The Resort at Paws Up, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, Leading Hotels of the World
Home: Trex Decking & Railing, Liftmaster, Sherwin-Williams
Financial: Nuveen, Wester & Southern, Fulton Bank, Orrstown Bank
Automotive: Midas, Western Star Trucks, Havoline Motor Oil, Sunoco Gasoline
Government: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Transportation and Revenue.
Misc: 2K Sports, CSNPhilly.com, First Energy, Kelly Temp Services