My story
From multi-million dollar franchise development to getting maybe too worked up over punctuation, I put my heart into everything I create. For a number of years, I won piles of awards for top regional advertising agencies for my print, TV and radio work. Then I moved to Hallmark where I expanded my skillset even further, making movies and creating product in Asia. I also gained invaluable empathy and perspective on the challenges faced by the people we agency people had always called "clients."
All along the way, I've met a ton of incredible people. Since committing to freelance, I've been honored by how many former colleagues have approached me for collaboration. I bring together the depth of my agency and in-house experience to provide insightful solutions to each set of advertising and marketing circumstances that comes my way. If I can help you, just say the word.
Work
experience
Freelance Creative
2017 - Present
Concept, write and consult on a wide variety of categories and touchpoints. Work more than ever. Learn more than ever. Share more than ever.
Red Fuse, Creative Director
2015 - 2017
Concepted and directed consumer work for brands in the Colgate-Palmolive family. Played a key role in rebranding Tom's of Maine. Assembled and directed a social media creative team for Hill's Pet Nutrition, resulting in video views leaping from low thousands to millions.
Hallmark, Creative Director
2007 - 2015
Led and wrote branding and consumer campaigns, including extensive email marketing. Cracked the code on writing interactive "Storywriter" concept. Developed Northpole story world for Christmas omni-channel franchise, and was executive producer on the coordinating movies and animated short. Created and directed home decor lines.
Barkley, Senior Copywriter
2000 - 2007
Thrived in this competitive world of creative concept shoot-outs. Wrote and executed award-winning TV, radio and print campaigns for Payless Shoe Source, Lee Jeans, Sonic Drive-Ins, Blue Bunny and Kansas Lottery.
Y2KGrub.com, Co-owner
1999 - 2000
The perspective-building adventure of a lifetime. I learned the nuts and bolts of running a business and how to be extraordinarily adaptable. You're welcome to read my not-yet published book capturing this remarkable year.
NKH&W, Copywriter
1996 - 1999
Created successful advertising for clients including Sprint and Williams Seasoning. A TV spot I created for Williams led to a new award being introduced at the Addys to honor clients who support innovative marketing.
Sullivan Higdon & Sink, Copywriter
1993 - 1996
Developed POP and print for clients from Pizza Hut to Bank IV. SHS recruited me from another agency based on my time with them as an intern. I repaid them with a national Addy, won for a guerrilla marketing campaign promoting our distinguished client Scoop ‘n Doo.
Wichita State University
BA, Advertising/PR
Learned a ton from professor/ad man Bart Wilcox. He recommended me when a buddy asked him for a writer, and the result was even more hard work. I was a full-time copywriter for my last year of college and still graduated in four years.
Education
Clients
Bank of America, Humana, Johnson & Johnson, Merrill, United States Naval Academy, American Express, Water.org, Tom's of Maine, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Hallmark Cards, Sonic Drive-In, Payless Shoe Source, Paycom, Blue Bunny, Restless Spirits, Paramount Parks, Williams Chili, Sprint, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Yellow Freight, Parade of Shoes, Lee, Kansas Lottery, First National Bank, Pizza Hut and more.
Awards
I've won enough to make me legit. Some highlights:
-A Best of Show Print local Addy for work approved by a client who said, "I hate these posters. But I'm not the target audience."
-An AAF National Addy for yard signs about dog poop
-A special Addy award that was created just to celebrate my brave Williams chili clients and their support of our TV commercial, "The Patch"
-The year my work for Sonic Drive-In won Addy gold in TV, Radio AND print
-Being placed in the CA Ad Annual for the first time after I went client-side
Glowing referrals
Just ask around. Chances are good you know some of the great ad folks I know. I'm also happy to provide names for you if you throw a few specifics my way.