As a creative director and writer, I’ve led teams at both traditional and digital agencies, developed campaigns, won new business, and have been lucky enough to work with some really smart people. My career goal? Keep doing all of the above.
WORK EXPERIENCE
FREELANCE, PORTLAND creative director | writer (11.18 - present)
Creative direction, strategy, and writing across all media for clients including the American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and Yaldi Marketing as well as narrative design and writing for Warner Bros. Games.
OPUS CREATIVE GROUP, PORTLAND associate creative director (10.20 – 11.22)
Developed multi-channel marketing campaigns (video, digital, social, sales enablement, web content) for a smattering of technology brands including Dell, Intel, and HP.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, ATLANTA managing creative director (6.15 – 11.18)
Dug into doing work that mattered – refreshing the American Cancer Society brand, making it relevant to today’s donors in order to fund the services and research that save so many lives.
Developed multi-channel campaigns (TV, print, social, digital, web content) for ACS initiatives including HPV vaccinations, smoking cessation, and cancer prevention
Created integrated fundraising campaigns to raise money for ACS mission work through properties like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay For Life
Built and managed a creative team of 11 (art directors, writers, designers, UX architects)
Managed vendor relationships (including creative freelancers, producers, video production companies, and post houses)
Worked with cross-functional teams to develop strategy and creative briefs
Broke down walls between departments (metaphorically), resulting in more effective and impactful work
BRUNNER, ATLANTA vp | digital creative director (7.12 – 5.15)
Hired to lead the agency’s digital creative work including all GSK brands, for which Brunner was the agency of record. As a passion project, led the work on Brunner’s non-profit client, CARE.
Worked across Atlanta and Pittsburgh offices leading the creative team on website design, social experiences, and national advertising campaigns
Managed a creative team of 8 (ACDs, art directors, writers and UX) focused on GSK wellness brands including Aquafresh, Tums, Nicorette, NicoDerm CQ, Abreva, and Sensodyne
Refreshed the CARE brand with award-winning campaign re-introducing the care package
FREELANCE writer | creative director (8.11 – 8.12)
Took a break between full-time gigs to put my skills to work for good, creating websites for Cure Childhood Cancer and YouthSpark, an organization committed to ending child exploitation and sex trafficking.
MOXIE INTERACTIVE, ATLANTA vp | creative director (3.07 – 9.11)
Hired to help bring big, conceptual thinking to a digital production agency.
Led Coke and L’Oreal creative groups in concepting, developing and executing national ad campaigns, websites, social campaigns, video content, immersive interactive experiences, and digital out-of-home displays
Managed team of 12 including ACDs, art directors, designers, and writers
Worked across agency accounts including Verizon, Home Depot, and new business
Grew and managed writing team
RED TETTEMER, PHILADELPHIA acd | senior writer (8.02 – 3.07)
Created integrated, multi-channel campaigns for Comcast, Pennsylvania Tourism, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Franklin Institute, and Adventure Aquarium.
Managed junior art director/writer team
COLE HENDERSON DRAKE, ATLANTA writer (12.99 – 8.02)
Created campaigns for Athens First Bank, Delta Apparel, Halekulani Resort, and the DIFF Film Festival with a focus on radio and print.
SCHOOL
Creative Circus | copywriting
Syracuse University | BS in advertising | minors in writing and history
NOTABLE BITS
Won One Show, Art Director’s Club, and Addy awards
Served as speed mentor for the 3% mini conference in Atlanta
Shared my brain as a teacher at the Creative Circus
Voted the least graceful bowler in the Philly Ad Club (with a trophy to prove it)
I started scribbling stories in wide-rule notebooks when I was a kid. I graduated to college-rule paper and became a bona fide advertising copywriter. I learned how to turn a nugget of an idea into a full-fledged campaign. I put campaigns into presentations and sold the bejesus out of them. I wrote TV and radio and print. I unleashed guerrilla tactics so unexpected some people didn't believe they were real. I helped win new business. I became a sucker for strategy. I drafted creative strategies, digital strategies, strategies for seeing a band 200 miles away and still getting to work on time the next day. I fell in love with technology. I was all digital, all the time. I helped brands develop their voice in the social space and nonprofits win over new donors. I became fascinated with branded entertainment because it opens the door to bigger stories. Just like the ones I scribbled in my wide-rule notebook back in the day. I love when things come full circle. Don’t you?