this is for the left-brained:
In almost two decades, I’ve been fortunate to lead talented and hilarious people in a multitude of disciplines, working with smart and driven CMOs to create messaging, films and experiences – and yes, ads – across a variety of media channels. All while garnering press, gaining followers and, crucially, delivering on business goals – if not blowing ‘em out of the water. I love craft, I love collaboration, I love coaching up-and-coming talent, and I love a good dry gin martini. And over said martini, I’d love to tell you about all those aforementioned people who have helped me along the way. My brand experience ranges from insurance to tech, finance to QSRs, beverages to big retail, pets to shoes to golf and many others in between.
In short, I create big ideas that win hearts and ring registers.
(AS OF NOW)
FREELANCE
Let’s do big, successful things and have some fun.
(AS OF THEN)
MCGARRAH JESSEE, Austin, 10.5 years
Joined an independent shop and crafted ideas for banks, beer and burgers – as well as every other client in the building. Pitched and won Lyft North America, coordinated national work across 40 local markets, led efforts to launch their scooter line at SXSW, and oversaw campaign work for their entry into Canada. My partner Michael Anderson and I led omnichannel work for Whataburger, a regional burger chain with media spend upwards of $50M, growing the brand from over 700 stores in 10 states to over 1000 in 14 states and garnering a 33% sales increase in three years. During my tenure, we also created an award-winning launch of Shiner Beer into New York City, and spearheaded additional product launches as the brewery expanded nationally into 49 states (sorry Hawaii.)
GSD&M, Austin, 2.5 years
Pitched and won Petsmart with an idea that celebrated “pet parenthood” (it’s a thing – just ask my 80-pound golden retriever and good boy, Russell) and managed a complete rebranding of their entire North America footprint, from retail to online – resulting in over 100 earned media stories and a huge uptick in sales and store traffic. My partner Ross Aboud and I also put RadioShack back into national conversation (Rolling Stone, CNN, TIME, USA Today) with a song co-written with Weird Al Yankovic who is, no surprise, a truly lovely human. While on Capital One, I heard Charles Barkley and Samuel L. Jackson swear a poetic blue streak better than anything I could put on paper.
MONO, Minneapolis, 6 months
Journeyed north to work on Tillamook and Apple Retail before a family situation brought us back to Texas. My partner Dustin Black and founders/CCOs Michael Hart and Chris Lange gave me a warm welcome. As for the city, well, I never knew eyelashes could freeze.
THE MARTIN AGENCY, Richmond, 4.5 years
Started my career under Danny Robinson, Mike Lear, Wade Alger and other creative leaders who gave me the opportunity to grow on a bunch of great clients. Not to mention, the opportunity to shamelessly namedrop in my resumé. I had the privilege to work on the launch of Walmart’s “Save money, live better” campaign, dive into logistics, shipping and race car driving with UPS, and develop a GEICO Gecko campaign modeled on Warren Buffet which earned spotlights in the New York Times, Communication Arts and on the Daily Show.
VCU BRANDCENTER, class of 2006
Emerged with a Masters in Communication, a portfolio, and a mission.
CREATIVE CIRCUS, 3 quarters
Taught scriptwriting to hungry, hopeful students.
this is for the right-brained:
It all began many moons ago when I won first place in a swimming race against millions of other competitors. Today, I write things, occasionally draw things, and steer others towards making great things. Along the way I’ve spent time at the Martin Agency in Richmond, mono in Minneapolis, and GSD&M and McGarrah Jessee in Austin. Not to mention, the occasional fun side project or three with good people. I have some awards. I need to exercise more. I believe it’s important to work hard and have a laugh, to be honest in everything, and that somewhere in America – at any given point in time – a Peter Frampton song is playing on the radio.
this is not just me:
I’ve been pretty lucky to work with a lot of incredibly talented humans.
My partner in things Lyft, Whataburger, Shiner, and much more was: Michael Anderson
My partner in things Shiner, Radioshack, Petsmart, and more was: Ross Aboud
Danny Burke, Karl Hebert, Dustin Black, Pat Wittich, Dave Padgett, Dave Grindon, Kristi Flango, Kat Lam, Craig Crutchfield and countless other art director/designer partners have made me look way cool. Buy me a gin martini (dry) and I will gladly rattle off many more names of writers, directors, producers, editors, account people, planners, media buyers, project managers, admin assistants, and – of course – clients who greatly pushed me along the way.
this is some more about me:
My life is a stacks of books I’ve been meaning to read. I like a good cup of coffee. I love bad movies made in earnest. I think we should always open the good wine. I know a little too much about the Grateful Dead. I will only karaoke to Lou Reed. I have a problem where I buy any used Blue Note jazz vinyl, in opposition to my kid’s college fund. I make a stellar Caesar salad. I will see any live show with you. On rare occasions, I will break 90 on a muni golf course.
CLIENT EXPERIENCE: TONAL || GEICO || LYFT || PETSMART || WHATABURGER || UPS + UPS NASCAR || CAPITAL ONE || SHINER BEERS || WALMART || YETI || FENDER || BROOKS RUNNING || RADIOSHACK || PING GOLF || FROST BANK || HEY DUDE SHOES || ARIAT || APPLE RETAIL || GUITAR CENTER || TILLAMOOK || COSTA SUNGLASSES || PGA TOUR || GUITAR CENTER || MERRICK DOG FOOD || HAGGAR || DOCKERS || GENWORTH FINANCIAL || HARRAH’S || THE ONION || SIRIUS XM || POPEYES || DISCOVER CARD // THE NEWSEUM
