About Me

I’m a South Side of Chicago Irish boy. One of seven kids. My Dad was a Chicago firefighter and later a chief. His job had him running into burning buildings without hesitation, rescuing people bloody and broken from twisted wrecks of auto accidents, facing walls of smoke, metal-twisting heat, and real-life Michael Bay-type explosions.

There’s even one time when my Dad had to go up to the then unfinished 98th floor of the John Hancock building.  A worker’s tarp had caught fire. My Dad had other firemen hold him by his belt while he leaned out of the open structure to put out the blaze. 

And he thought I was crazy when he found out I wanted to go into advertising.

Where I’ve Worked

Zwiren & Wagner (1 year) I cut my teeth here learning how to tighten up my copy and think more conceptually for clients like Beecham Cosmetics and Midway Airlines.

The Sturm Communication Group (4 years) This agency focused on healthcare, mostly hospital systems. I eventually became an ACD here. The place was small, perfect for giving me a lot of hands-on experience in all aspects of creative, including producing my own radio.

J. Walter Thompson (17 years) Over time, I worked on just about every client JWT had, from packaged goods to technology to retail and entertainment. I rose from being a senior writer there to Creative Director/Senior Partner.

Element 79 (5 years) This agency had great people and a great culture. And the work that was done there showed what a powerful combination that can be.

Freelance (currently) I have freelanced at a number of places including energyBBDO, VSA, Digitas, gyro, TBWA/Worldhealth, Geometry Global, HY Connect, and Edelman

Clients Include:

CPG-Food & Beverage:  Kraft Foods (Singles, Naturals, Philadelphia Cream Cheese), Oscar Mayer, Nabisco (Ritz, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, Toasted Chips), Nestle (Butterfinger, Toll House, Stouffer’s, Ice Cream), Kellogg’s (Frosted Bran, Bran Flakes), Tropicana Juices, Bear Creek Soups And Pastas, Golden Bison

CPG-Pet Food:  Quaker Oats Pet Foods (Kibbles ‘N Bits, Snausages, Pup-Peroni, Cycle, Pounce), Heinz Pet Foods (9-Lives, Reward), Eukanuba Dog Foods

CPG_Misc:  S.C. Johnson (Glade, Automotive Wax)

Financial Services:  BMO Commercial Bank, Harris Bank, GTCR, American Family Insurance, Northwestern Mutual Life, State Farm Insurance, Citibank (Costco Visa Credit Card) 

Travel & Leisure:  Illinois Board Of Tourism, LaQuinta Inns & Suites, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines (The Big Red Boat), Midway Airlines

Pharma/Healthcare:  Abraxane, Galderma Aesthetic Products (Restylane, Dysport, Sculptra), Johnson & Johnson (Biosense Webster, Mentor Breast Implants), Shire (Baxalta), Fluad, Gilead, Prolia, Santen-Ikervis, Xience Sierra, Advate, Adynovate, Ajovy, Dova, Bluebird Bio, Amikacin, Astellas, Clearside Xipere, Entyvio, Lynparza, Palforzia, Lentiglobin, Idorsia, Nexplanon, Vaxelis, Lumateperone, Amylyx, Caplyta, Entresto, Epclusa, Iptacopan, Pfizer, Repatha, Bayer (One-A-Day 50+ Vitamins, One-A-Day Prenatal Vitamins), Central DuPage Hospital, North Mississippi Medical Center, Riverside Health Systems, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center, Ohio State University Hospitals, Christian Health System, St. Joseph Medical Center

Retail:  7-Eleven, Safeway

Personal Care Products & Services:  Supercuts, Beecham Cosmetics (Jovan, Yardley Personal Care Products), Amway

Entertainment, Toys & Games:  Bandai Toys (Power Rangers, Beetleborgs, Sailor Moon, Tamagotchi, Yomega Yo-Yos), Blockbuster (Video Games)

Restaurant/Food Services:  McDonald’s

Technology:  Sprint, Cricket Wireless, Northern Telecom, Microsoft, Centel Mobile Phone Systems

B2B:  Samsung, USG Ceilings, McDonnell-Douglas

Beer/Liquor:  Miller Brewing (Foster’s, Miller Reserve)

Professional Services:  IFMA (International Facility Management Association)

Awards I’ve Won

One Show, Effies, New York Festivals, Addy, Tellys, Golden Marbles & others

Where I Went To College

Northern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts in Communications