“The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking
as funny as possible.”
About me
They say there's nothing like loving what you do for a living. Well, I surely can attest to that. I've been a creative all my life — from building lego spaceships to award-winning advertising campaigns. Each day is a new challenge and adventure, allowing me to push my creative abilities to their limits.
I've always thought when you stop listening you stop learning. Having the privilege to work with great mentors and passionate colleagues throughout my career has allowed me to gain a tremendous amount of knowledge and perspective. There's always a new way to look at things, that's part of what makes being creative so much fun.
2015 -
Present
Freelance
Creative Director
I am an advertising Creative Director. I believe good ideas can come from anywhere, belief is greater than need, and nurturing is an accelerant for success. In business, everyone is still human—regardless of profession. Sticking to that core principle allows the work to be more than creative—it allows it to inspire and persuade to produce the behavior change needed to move the needle.
From big agencies to independent firms I’ve led, assisted and crafted in just about every category, medium and channel.
So, how can I help you? Let’s find out.
Dec 2017 -
Sept 2019
DiD Agency
Associate Creative Director
Lead all creative work on multiple accounts of varying size—from OTC and consumer to RX—all while inspiring team members to consistently produce exceptional work as well as nurture and propel individual growth.
Responsibilities at a glance:
Uphold the creative integrity of the work and ensure its anchored in brand strategy
Develop and own client relationships; attend client meetings and work independently with them
Inform the creative brief to provide core direction to internal and external creative teams
Lead creative presentations, internally and externally
Navigate med/legal objections to maintain messaging effectiveness and alignment to strategic imperatives
Manage, mentor and develop team members, while being hands-on with project execution
Maintain team profitability (staffing, resourcing, capacity)
Oversee 1-3 direct reports in the creative department
Partner with team pillars from client service, production and strategy to assist in all aspects of team decision-making
Mar 2016 -
Dec 2017
DiD Agency
Senior Art Director
Partnered with Creative Director in leading, executing and managing creative development of all team projects—from campaign concepting to website creation. Worked hand-in-hand with project management throughout the lifespan of each project to ensure informed creative decisions included timing and budget.
Day to day activities include, but are not limited to:
Honing expertise in usability, information architecture, typography, composition, and photo manipulation
Creating and developing campaign concepts
Directing internal and external team members, including copy, in the development of creative
Assisting with client meetings: presenting, brainstorming and problem solving
Helping creative team members prioritize and manage project deadlines
Participation in brief writing and assessment
Sept 2007 -
Mar 2016
HSG
Advertising
Senior Art Director
Being the Senior Art Director of a small suburban Philadelphia agency demands being well versed in all areas of the creative process — from strategic concept creation to layout, design and brand implementation. I worked closely with all staff, including clients, to create award-winning advertising for both B2B and B2C. I was also 1/3rd of a core team that organized a new account and turned it into the agency's largest source of income for multiple years.
Mediums and experience include but not limited to:
Advertising and marketing campaigns (traditional and non-traditional)
UX/UI design
Front-end web development
Digital and interactive media
Photography and photography shoots
TV, video and video shoots,
Video editing and flash animation.
In addition to creative responsibilities, daily managerial responsibilities include:
Manage and guide a team of 8-10 art directors and graphic designers
Manage and synchronize multiple projects from start to finish to ensure profitability, creative quality, strategic accuracy, and timeline delivery
Create and uphold internal efficiencies
Manage and direct outside resources including vendors, photographers, printers and freelancers
Proofing, reviewing, and evaluating project process(es).
Accounts include(d):
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, ACNB Bank, Ballard Spahr, Capital Health, Clean Earth, Comcast, Cottman Transmission, Cox Cable, Cozen O'Connor, Crozer Health System, Deloitte, Easter Seals, FirsTrust, Gexa Energy, Herr's, Harleysville National Bank, Houston Pest Management, Kreischer Miller, Lee Hecht Harrison, Liberty Insurance Brokers, ManpowerGroup, Main Line Health, Matcor, NextEra Energy, The National Constitution Center, National Museum of American Jewish History, Operation Ava, Parente Beard, Pepper Hamilton, Radian, Reliance Standard, Right Management, Rosenberg & Parker, Time Warner Cable, Vulcan Spring, Worldwide Stereo and more.
Jan 2004 -
Sept 2007
HSG
Advertising
Art Director
As an Art Director at HSG, mastery of communication is essential.
A high level of understanding of design and typography is required. Just as important, working closely with all staff, to create a team environment proved to be an accelerant for better creative products, efficiencies
and growth.
Jun 2002 -
Jan 2004
Domsky & Simon
Graphic Designer / Production Artist
This role began my foray into B2B. While at the agency I was responsible for directing photo shoots as well as designing and producing: 200+ page catalogs, newspaper and magazine ads, weekly sales blasts, marketing brochures, flyers and trade show materials.