Summary:

Award-winning senior-level creative leader. Extensive experience creating acclaimed campaigns, content, and executions for global and national brands. Managed large teams, from ideation through production, for major marketing initiatives across digital, social, and traditional media. Expert presenter.

 

Experience: 

American College of Surgeons – Chicago

Digital Creative Lead, 2021 – present

  • As the most senior ACS creative leader, oversee the brand across all internal and external communications, and promote creative best practices across the College.

  • Responsible for the College’s first-ever comprehensive rebrand, including development of a new logo, visual identity, and style guide—creating a unified system from over 100 independent program logos and identities.

  • Manage multimedia in-house creative group, producing branding, design, digital, social, advertising, publishing, and video projects.

  • Develop all promotional and onsite materials for multiple annual conferences.

  • Work with agencies, vendors, and freelance partners to promote ACS initiatives and priorities.

 

John Hart Creative, LLC – Boston, Chicago, New York

Creative Consultant, Group Creative Director, Creative Director, and Writer, 2011 – 2021

  • Oversaw and guided all aspects of integrated creative projects for McDonald’s, including development, presentation, and production, via agencies DDB and We Are Unlimited.

  • Concepted and collaborated with large interdisciplinary teams to develop strategic brand ideas.

  • Created insightful and motivating new campaigns and content for major national and international brands.

  • Consulted with international advertiser and agency in adapting global platform for US-market campaigns.

 

DDB – Chicago

Creative Director, 2009 – 2011

  • Established vision for my teams; guided creative process; oversaw presentations and productions.

  • Led national programs for McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign, contributing to overall same-store sales growth.

  • Oversaw all creative for McDonald’s Monopoly promotion, including brand partnerships with Ford and Walmart, contributing to reversal of prior-year negative participation trend.

  • Guided Morton Salt through a major campaign relaunch, reimagining brand while consolidating disparate product lines—from table salt to ice melt—into a cohesive, unified brand platform.

 

John Hart Creative – Amsterdam, Chicago, New York

Creative Director and Writer, 2006 – 2009

  • Created insightful and motivating new campaigns and content for major national and international brands.

  • Crafted language and structure for global multilingual advertising campaign for Air France/KLM Cargo.

  • Created website and original digital content, including multiple Cannes Lions finalists.

DDB – Chicago

Associate Creative Director, 2004 – 2006

  • Collaborated with creative leadership, supervised mid-level creatives, oversaw productions, and created advertising for Alltel Wireless.

  • Created content and advertising for Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Select, Capital One, Dell, and McDonald’s.

 

Hill Holliday – Boston

Senior Copywriter, 2000 – 2004

  • Created broadcast, print, outdoor, and point-of-purchase advertising for Dunkin’ Donuts, maintaining primary internal, client, and production contact for projects.

  • Created campaigns and advertising for Cisco Brewers, Citizens Energy, Fleet Bank, Lycos, Marshalls, Michelob Light, and Syneture.

 

DDB – Chicago

Copywriter, 1999 – 2000

  • Created content and advertising for Budweiser, Bud Light, McDonald’s, OnMoney.com, and Volkswagen/Germany (via DDB Berlin). 

 

Hill Holliday – Boston

Copywriter, 1994 – 1999

  • Created advertising and communications materials for AutoNation USA, Bay Networks, Budget Rent a Car, Dunkin’ Donuts, Shields MRI, Top Flite Golf, and several pro bono clients.

  • Composed brand style guide, produced first-ever consumer brand brochure, and created retail advertising for Fidelity Investments.

  • Wrote collateral, event, advertising and sales materials for John Hancock Financial Services.

  • Edited monthly newsletter for John Hancock field associates and agents, addressing all retail lines of business.

 

SPY Magazine – New York

Marketing and Advertising Assistant (Internship), 1993

 

Recognition:

Awards, annuals, and press include: AICP top ten/comedy, British D&AD, Cannes Film and Cyber Lions, Clio, Communication Arts Advertising Annuals, Creativity top creatives, OMMA, The One Show, and Radio Mercury.

 

Teaching:

Loyola University Chicago

Adjunct Faculty, School of Communication, 2015

 

Miami Ad School

Teacher in Residence, 2008

 

Education:

Parsons School of Design | The New School

Graphic and Digital Design

 

Boston College

B.A. Philosophy, magna cum laude