“So, what are you going to do with an advertising degree?”
If I had a crystal ball at the time, I would’ve reassured my Dad with a very thoughtful answer:
“Well, Dad, my plan is to move to Chicago. Start out in-house. Way before it becomes the trendy thing to do. Then I’ll go to an agency, like J. Walter Thompson. I’ll pay my dues there. Learn from really smart people. I’ll write about everything from tourism and ice cream bars to Canadian coffee and frozen dinners. I’ll start out doing digital (banners, websites), then I’ll expand to print, radio, tv, you name it. I’ll get a little restless there and head across town to FCB. On the first day, they’ll talk about rallying around big ideas. So I’ll create and champion some big, purpose-driven work. Stuff like an audio series that features tiny Infusionauts zooming through the bloodstream. And a record album that treats the emotional toll of hemophilia. I’ll also flip the tropes on pharma work. Some of that work will be so outside the pharma category that it will win mainstream awards. At FCB, I’ll also work on Michelob Ultra, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Clear Eyes… stuff you’ve heard of. Along the way, maybe I’ll even meet my wife in an elevator at work. And write an ad congratulating the Cubs on winning the World Series. Not quite sure yet. Gotta work out the details. But it’s going to be a fantastic ride.”
But the answer I gave my Dad at the time was more like, “I dunno… do some cool stuff. Meet cool people.” Which is also pretty much spot on.
EXPERIENCE
FCB Chicago
VP, Creative Director
2021 - Present
FCB Chicago
Creative Director / Copywriter
2018 - 2021
FCB Chicago
ACD / Copywriter
2017 - 2018
J. Walter Thompson
Creative Director / Copywriter
2015 - 2017
J. Walter Thompson
Senior Copywriter
2007 - 2015
Freelance
Senior Copywriter
2005 - 2007
CLIENTS
Clear Eyes, Sanofi, Michelob ULTRA, Illinois Office of Tourism, DenTek, McDonald’s, Pfizer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GE Healthcare, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Lunchables, The Skinny Cow, HSBC, Tim Hortons, Nestlé, Western Union, Stouffer's, McGraw-Hill, Dryer's Ice Cream, Bally Total Fitness
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Cannes Lions - Shortlist
Clio Award - 2 Bronze
Effie - Bronze
Effie - Finalist
OBIE - Bronze
Webby Award - People's Voice Award
Chicago Addy - 2 Silver
Creative Floor - Best Use of Technology
New York Festivals - Finalist Copywriting
New York Festivals - Finalist Sound Design
Regional Addy - Gold
Webby Award - Honoree
National Addy - Silver
My work has been featured in Adweek, The New York Times, Fox News, Chicago Tribune, The Drum, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Post, and my Mom's emails.
EDUCATION
Purdue University
Bachelor of Arts