CREATIVE DIRECTOR COPYWRITER CONTENT CREATOR
My job is to help other people succeed. I use creativity to solve complex business problems. I provide conceptual thinking and creative leadership to guide, support and shape ideas into solutions that stand out, cut through the clutter and most importantly, produce results.
CORE COMPETENCIES
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Creative Leadership
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Client Presentations
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Social Media
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Conceptual Thinking
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Mentoring
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Digital Content
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New Business Pitches
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Brand Activations
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Copywriting
EXPERIENCE
FREELANCE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/COPYWRITER — 2019 - PRESENT
Partners in Crime-San Francisco
MRM- Detroit
Campbell Ewald- Detroit
DCX- New York
Jon Bond- New York
Havas Republica- Miami
BAM!- Indianapolis
BLUTUI- New Zealand
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LUDWIG+, DETROIT, MI — 2019 - 2021
As part of the leadership team on the Loan Simple account I created and helped launch Loan Simple's first national branding campaign and their retail and wholesale websites. I also handled their CRM and consistently achieved an open rate of 20% or higher.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, DONER ADVERTISING, DETROIT, MI — 2013 - 2019
As part of the leadership team, I was instrumental in growing the Smithfield business from a single regional brand to over a dozen brands in markets all over the country. In three years we made Smithfield the second largest account in the agency in billings and largest in terms of social and digital output. We also won more awards for our work on this account than any other account in the building.
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Awarded two Clios and short-listed at Cannes for social media work on Farmland
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Created a Jay and Duke video game for Bush Bros. with over 300,000 downloads
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Managed a team of 12 art directors, copywriters and graphic designers
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Led content creation for multiple brands on social and digital platforms
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Worked directly with the CEO, CMO and key client stakeholders on annual sales meetings
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NOBLE COMMUNICATIONS, CHICAGO, IL — 2012 - 2013
At Noble, I was tasked with creating and branding the agency’s digital services department from the ground up. Additionally, I oversaw all creative output for the Chicago and Springfield, MO offices. During my time at Noble we achieved organic growth on three of the agency’s largest accounts through our newly created digital services.
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Recruited and hired talent to build digital services department
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Managed two creative departments in two different cities
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Built new agency website to better showcase agency offerings
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Helped to successfully defend and retain key account under review
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARLIN, SPRINGFIELD, MO — 2010 - 2012
Marlin is a B2B agency that specializes in foodservice and CPG accounts. I led creative on Starbucks, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Bush’s Beans and Mission Tortillas. Working in this channel really helped me to understand the sales funnel for CPG brands and how marketing support is critical to a sales team’s success. I was instrumental in helping the agency win new business from Unilever.
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Developed, sold and produced new branding campaign for Bush Bros. FoodService
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Presented work directly to Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz. Yes, it sold.
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Lead development of creative for successful new business pitch
SENIOR WRITER, MCCANN LOS ANGELES, CA — 2007 - 2010
I was transferred to the Los Angeles office from Detroit to focus on the Nestle business but I also became the lead writer on the IHOP account. It was fast paced, high volume and results driven. Additionally, I did work that was instrumental on two new business wins for the agency.
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Developed a new voice for the iconic Nesquik Bunny that was modern but true to brand
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Managed copy and production on high volume retail IHOP account
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Participated and presented in two successful new business pitches
SENIOR WRITER, MCCANN DETROIT, MI — 2001 - 2007
At McCann Detroit I was the lead writer on the Buick Retail Account. This was an exciting time for the brand as it sought to redefine its voice and resonate with a younger audience. I concepted and produced a Memorial Day Sales Event campaign that drove massive traffic to dealerships across the country and exceeded its projected sales goals.
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Worked on the iconic Keep America Rolling campaign for GM post 9/11
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Produced two commercials for Buick featuring Tiger Woods. He was great to work with.
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Two-time winner of the $100 “Bengy” award for agency hustle.
SENIOR WRITER, DONER ADVERTISING, DETROIT, MI — 2000 - 2001
This was my first stint at Doner. I worked on the Arby’s account and helped to launch a new brand campaign that focused on fast food for adults. I also had the opportunity to work on the launch of the Simply Orange brand which is still the most successful new product launch in Coca Cola history.
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Handled most of the radio writing and production for nationwide Arby’s account
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Contributed work on the Blockbuster account. Netflix was just starting.
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Also worked on CoolSavings.com. One of the biggest busts in the Dotcom crash.
COPYWRITER, D’ARCY, DETROIT, MI — 1998 - 2000
I was working on Cadillac when Frank Sinatra died. At lunch I came up with an idea for a tribute ad and sketched it on a napkin. When we came back to the agency that napkin turned into a comp that was sold to the client that day and published in the New York Times two days later on the day of the funeral. We received a thank you letter from the Sinatra family and the ad became a piece of Sinatra memorabilia that collectors seek to this day.
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Interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for my work on the Sinatra piece
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Concepted and produced for work for Pontiac, Cadillac and GM Goodwrench
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Worked for the man who wrote: Is it live or is it Memorex?
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Also worked for the man who invented the Budweiser Frogs. Different guy.
ASSOCIATE COPYWRITER, LEO BURNETT, CHICAGO, IL — 1995 - 1998
I started at Leo Burnett one week after graduation. Beginning your career at Leo Burnett is an amazing experience filled with lots of mentoring, special training and the chance to work on a wide variety of accounts. Part of that training was an improv and presentation skills workshop at Second City that was instrumental in helping me learn to be a compelling presenter. These skills have proved invaluable through-out my career.
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Young Cannes Creative Finalist
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Winner of Leo Burnett’s ad of the month award for work on Dewar’s
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Winner of New York Festival award for work on Reebok
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Promoted from Associate Copywriter to Copywriter
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN — BACHELORS IN ADVERTISING + UT CREATIVE
The education that I received at UT not only gave me a strong academic foundation in the advertising industry but the prestigious and highly competitive UT Creative program allowed me to put together my portfolio as an undergraduate and got me started in the business within a week of graduation.