My career began at age 9, as a door-to-door salesman peddling Cub Scout chocolate turtles. Some other kid had already hit up the neighborhood, so my poor mom got stuck buying 30 boxes. Equally terrible was my next marketing experience, a summer job in college trying to sell New Zealand game meats to chefs. 

Wisely, I switched to a role more behind-the-scenes: Advertising Copywriter. 

I had a surprise success right out of the gate at Campbell-Mithun, writing the Change Your Whole Latitude tagline for Corona beer and creating some of the original spots for that campaign. We took objects that represented corporate enslavement (like a desktop In/Out box), and gave them a new, mellower context on the beach. Since then, I’ve worked on pretty much everything, cars to condiments. A few years back, my creative partner Kurt Riemersma and I wrote the work for DDB’s successful US Army pitch—the agency’s largest win ever. 

When writing or creative directing, I do tend to like humor. But I’m also happy to go for heartfelt, heartfelt-funny, oozing sophisticated luxury, or, when necessary, Hurry Sale Ends Monday! 

As for life outside of work, hobbies include running, golf, miniature golf, sports spectating and very thorough trip planning. Every year I get a little better at Scrabble. And, fun fact, I’m currently licensed by the Illinois Gaming Commission as a professional casino dealer in blackjack, roulette and craps. 

Clients

Google, Abbott, Walgreens, World of Hyatt, Capital One, Jeep, State Farm, Kohler, McDonalds, Alfa Romeo, US Army, La Quinta, Safeway, VMWare, Chicago Interational Film Festival, JCPenney, Miller Lite, H&R Block, Miracle Whip, Morton Salt, Bob Evans, Midas, Corona, Point Beer, cars.com, Fieldwork, Kroger, Boursin, Betty Crocker, Barilla, Butterball, Bayer, Bisquick. 

Recognition

The One Show, London International Advertising Award, Cannes Lion (well, short list) and Chicago Film Festival Silver Hugo.

Education

BBA, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.