EXPERIENCE

FREELANCE CREATIVE DIRECTOR / COPYWRITER

October 2025 - current

Partnering with agencies to craft advertising campaigns. Past partners include: Highdive, FCB, DDB, Vitro, Pereira & O'Dell, Devito/Verdi, OKRP, M&C Saatchi, OH Partners, Good Giant.

THE HERSHEY COMPANY, Hershey, PA

Creative Lead, May 2022 - October 2025

• Led integrated campaigns across brand portfolio.

• Spearheaded in-house and external agency initiatives, while also partnering with executive leadership to elevate brand foundations, brief development, and packaging.

• Helped modernize operations through integration of generative AI workflows.

• Expanded the in-house agency’s responsibilities, moving key Reese’s projects to internal team.

• Delivered measurable business impact:

o Kit Kat campaign contributed +18% sales growth in first three months.

o Dot’s Pretzels grew to #1 in category, 2x market share in three years.

o Shaqalicious launch exceeded projections by 50%.

o $12MM in annual cost avoidance via in-house, winning three pitches vs. external agencies.

o Surpassed Kantar LINK concept test targets across seven brands.

DDB, Chicago, IL

Group Creative Director, August 2015 - March 2022

• Partnered with agency and client stakeholders to develop and execute campaigns.

• Led team of 20+ creatives on $400MM U.S. Army account, orchestrating ecosystem of video, organic/paid social, OLV, digital, direct, partnerships, influencer, creator, outdoor, print, audio, email, local, and events.

• Prior to Army role, directed campaigns on key accounts, including:

o State Farm Auto & Home insurance.

o Capital One March Madness and launch of Capital One Auto Navigator site.

o Jeep, including Jeep Gladiator’s first national TV work.

o MillerCoors Blue Moon beer, America’s No.1 craft beer.

o McDonald’s, including campaigns for Fresh Beef/Grand Mac/McPick2.

• Helped win and defend Army, Jeep, State Farm, McDonald’s, Barilla, and Norton.

Y&R, Chicago, IL

VP Creative Director, April 2013 - May 2015

• Led teams of 20+ creatives on Bel Brands, Butterball, Craftsman, CPG International, BMO, and Carfax:

o Launched Carfax’s car sales site, leading to record traffic, revenues, and increased investment.

o Directed organic social on Babybel, followers +400%.

o Created Bel Brands International 2014 Ad of the Year.

o Developed Butterball’s first broadcast campaign in seven years, surpassing sales targets.

o Led winning pitches for Carfax and Lavazza.

LEO BURNETT, Chicago, IL

Creative Director, October 2011 - April 2013

Led Allstate’s National Retail, Roadside Assistance, Motorcycle, and African-American work. Guided output of 20+ creatives across all channels, including Allstate’s highest-testing TV campaign, which ran for eight years.

DDB, Chicago, IL

Associate Creative Director, July 2009 - October 2011

Accounts: McDonald’s, Anheuser-Busch InBev, State Farm, and Wrigley.

GOODBY, SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS, San Francisco, CA

Copywriter, December 2007 - March 2009

Accounts: Anheuser-Busch, Sprint, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, NBA, Dreyer’s, and Comcast.

DDB, Chicago, IL

Copywriter, October 2005 - November 2007

Accounts: McDonald's, Capital One, and Anheuser-Busch.

R&R PARTNERS, Las Vegas, NV

Copywriter, April 2003 - October 2005

Accounts: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Wranglers hockey, and Paris Las Vegas.

FREELANCE COPYWRITER

June 2002 - April 2003

DDB, New York, NY

Copywriter, February 2000 - May 2002

Accounts: Hasbro, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hershey’s, Madame Tussaud’s, Westin Hotels.

SKILLS

Creative Leadership • Integrated Campaign Development • In-House Agency Leadership • External Agency Management • Team Building & Mentorship • Creative Operations • Cross-Functional Leadership • Creative Effectiveness • Production Oversight • Brand Storytelling • Pitch Leadership • Creative Optimization

AI & Creative Tools: Adobe Creative Cloud, Claude, ChatGPT, Runway, Flora, Higgsfield, Suno, Eleven Labs

CATEGORY EXPERIENCE

CPG, QSR, insurance, finance, SaaS, travel/tourism, hospitality, automotive, telecom, entertainment, retail, sports, home improvement, recruitment, gaming, non-profit

AWARDS

Cannes Lions

One Show

Communication Arts

Effies

Clios

LIAA

Art Directors Club

Webbys YouTube Ad of the Year

National Addys

Adweek Best Spots of the Year

AICP

Radio Mercury Awards

MPA Kelly Awards

Jay Chiat Awards

IHAF Awards

EDUCATION

MIAMI AD SCHOOL, Miami, Minneapolis, NYC - Certificate of Completion, copywriting focus 

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, Bloomington, IN -BS + BA, Business Marketing and Telecommunications