I’m a creative problem solver, always striving to generate work that moves mountains for the brands I work on. Business Insider named me one of the 25 most creative people in advertising. Ridiculous, but I tell everyone I meet anyway.
I grew up in the Washington DC area, where I return every year to visit with family and feast on Chesapeake Bay crabs. After climbing the local ladder of agencies there, I made my way to Detroit in 2003.
When I’m not slaving away at advertising, I’m hanging out with my four kids, trying to write the next great American novel (I’m currently procrastinating on unpublished manuscript #3), or continuing the never-ending, obsessive search for the next great indie band (suggestions welcome). I stay pretty busy.
EXPERIENCE
2011 – 2021
SVP Integrated Group Creative Director - Leo Burnett, Troy, MI
• Providing direction, mentorship and inspiration to 20 creatives
• Partnering with the agency’s top account and planning leads to provide strategic leadership
for multiple key accounts
• Managing the departmental and creative integration of traditional, digital and social media
• Creative Director on GMC during multiple successful vehicle launches including their flagship
vehicle, the GMC Sierra
• Clients included NCAA, General Motors, Envo Water, Alchemy Goods
• Notable mentions
- Won the pitch for NCAA
- Named a Leo Burnett Worldwide network All-Star
- Named one of the 25 Most Creative People in Advertising: 2012 by Business Insider
- Profiled alongside some guys named Droga and Bogusky by Adweek
- Responsible for the successful rebranding and relaunching of Certified Service,
GM’s largest and most profitable division
- Won multiple awards including Cannes, D&AD and The One Show
1994 – 2011
VP, Group Creative Director - Doner, Southfield, MI
• Managed a group of up to eight teams on some of the agency’s biggest accounts
• Provided creative and strategic leadership on Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Expedia,
Harman Kardon, Simply Orange, Great Wolf Lodge, Wilson Tennis
• Other client experience included Minute Maid, Blockbuster, Arby’s, Progressive,
Public Storage, The Food Network, Memorex, Sylvan Learning Center, Bally Total Fitness,
Del Taco
• Notable mentions:
- Won six pitches: Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Del Taco, Choice Hotels,
Great Wolf Lodge social media, Wilson Tennis
- Rebranded and relaunched Expedia, reestablishing category dominance
- Won multiple awards
1991 - 1994
Senior Art Director - Trahan Burden & Charles, Baltimore, MD
• Client experience included Baltimore Orioles, Harrah’s Casinos, Maryland Lottery,
Hershey, Mistral Surf & Snowboards, National Aquarium
AWARDS/HONORS
Cannes: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze
D&AD: 1 Pencil Slice
Andys: 1 Gold
One Show: 2 Silver, 1 Merit
London International: 1 Gold, 2 Silver
Clios: Gold Special Honor, 1 Gold, 4 Silver
New York Festivals: 1 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze
Shorty Awards: Best Twitter Campaign of the Year
Effies: 3 Gold
ADDYs: Numerous, including Best in Show
Obie Awards: Finalist
Adweek: Media Plan of the Year
Father of the Year: Numerous times