AHS adoption posters
Oreo  print, broadcast
Mighty Swell launch
Beyond Good posters
Planters superbowl, print 
Centennial Bank  brand re-launch 
5th & West sales enablement
Comedy Driving video, radio
Gevalia ooh, print
ShipWorks brand redesign
American Bank print, ooh, display
TEXpress Lanes video, transit

Since 2017, I've been the Executive Creative Director at an amazingly capable marketing agency in Austin, TX called Door No. 3. I started my career in New York City, as many Texas Creative ad grads do, spending 17+ years in agencies large and small, producing integrated work for large brands with household names. When Austin called again, I convinced my fiancé to move back with me, where we currently enjoy a happy life as free-range humans, surrounded by dogs and the entertaining distractions of our rapidly growing city.

I've been fortunate to have worked with a legion of folks smarter than me. Here are some nuggets I've stolen learned along the way.

We’re lucky. To spend a career surrounded by smart and funny people, solving problems in order to deliver persuasive entertainment. Beats filling potholes.

Metrics + Magic. Creative doesn't exist to pad portfolios. We have measurable problems to solve, measurable results to generate. Clicks and commerce are the metrics. The magic is in the brand building that carries long term meaning. Sprinkle some of each liberally on everything, and enjoy. (directly stolen from Tim Roan)

The "why" is everything. Culture doesn't care. "Out there" doesn't care. It can't possibly. We live in a world of exclamation points fighting for the same eyeballs, the same wallets. The path through starts with "why".  Why it matters. Why I should care. Why it's important. Why I need to know.  "What" is table stakes. "Why" moves needles.

Clients are allies. They know their business better than I ever will. They can help us remove the walls that they can't see past.

Account people are creatives. Ideas are the product of the whole agency, and can come from anywhere. Your account manager owns the business and knows it backwards. Use that.

Creatives are account people. Great client service means everyone owns the business problems that need solving, and everyone cares. Respect is two-way street. Don't expect it if you don't offer it.

Your presentation is the best meeting your client will have all day. Sharing creative work is fun, dynamic, challenging and interesting. They make TV shows about it. A morning of Zooms about budget shortfalls and sales forecasts can't compete. Go into presentations with that in mind. Bye-bye butterflies.

Dumb questions are essential. Their answers reveal more and are easier to assimilate than the deepest of research decks. Don't be afraid to ask them — you'll probably come off as smart.

If you don’t care, they won’t care. Apathy comes through loud and clear. Hearts, eyes and minds need to be earned, and that's hard work. If the reason why it's important isn't clear to you, look further. In fact, look further anyway.

Would you click on this? If no, keep going. It's a good philosophy to apply to your whole business. Our job is persuasive entertainment. You need both.

Current:

Door No. 3
Austin, TX
Executive Creative Director

Responsible for all agency creative product. Mediator, multitasker, overseer of creative machinery from concept to completion. Un-tangler of blurry objectives and other marketing vagaries; Translator of babble into truthiness; Team builder, team player; Deep commitment to strategy going in, quality going out; Quick distiller of problems into pathways; Maintains a full-time hands-on, brain-on approach. Loves his job.

Dn3 Client Experience: Texas.gov, BSW Health Plan, Pulse/Discover, First United Bank, Riverside Resources, Cava / Mighty Swell, Maine Root, American Bank, Centennial Bank, Northstar Financial, First Care Health Plan, ShipWorks/Shipping Easy, Austin Humane Society, Cintra/Texpress Lanes

Before that:

Swizzle Collective
Austin, TX
Co-owner, Co-creative director

Concept, creation and execution of traditional and digital advertising, marketing materials of every scale and scope, videos, content, social, freelance creative services and God knows what else for hard-working Austin creative marketing agency.

Before that:

Foote, Cone & Belding / DRAFTFCB
New York, NY
SVP / Art Director / Creative Director

Creative Director: Kraft Foods, Inc. Managed projects and personnel for many Kraft brands, with primary attention paid to Oreo and sub-brands. Acted as primary client contact, maintaining strong relationships with client-side personnel from brand managers to advertising directors. Reported directly to agency chief creative officer. Also contributed to other Kraft assignments for ECDs as needed, including Planter's, Wheat Thins, Chips Ahoy and others. 

Creative Director: Gevalia. Manage all day-to-day creative duties and personnel working on the American retail launch of the Swedish coffee brand. Led winning business pitch to reclaim the account.

Creative Director: Jamaica tourism. Oversaw creation and production of all creative executions including digital, out-of-home and broadcast television.

Other Accounts: U.S. Census, Starbucks, Nivea, Diet Coke, Samsung, AT&T, Dex Media, Qwest Communications, Trane, Milk-Bone, IRC.

Before that:

Partners & Shevack / The Wolf Group
New York, NY
Art Director

Accounts: Haagen Dazs, Aamco Transmissions, Cook’s Champagne, New York State Tourism, HSBC, Scott’s Lawn care.

Before that...

Grey Advertising
New York, NY
Junior Art Director

Accounts: Domino’s Pizza, Red Lobster, Dairy Queen, Kohler, Hasbro, Topps, Post Cereals, Topps, Bazooka gum.

Education

University of Texas at Austin
B.S., Advertising, Creative Sequence

Miami Ad School Digital Reboot
Digital Training
Miami Ad School, Brooklyn, NY

Recognition

Comm Arts Annual
One Show Annual
Lürzer's Archive
Cannes Press Lions Finalist
USA Today Superbowl top ten
Addy Gold (Multiple)
Creativity Platinum (TV & Print)