A: Okay, this will be a hundred-mile-an-hour, highlights-only tour.
In 1995, I cut my teeth at a small Oklahoma City agency called Fellers Marketing and Advertising. The focus of the company was client service, which I took to naturally and it helped me ascend to Associate Creative Director.
After almost seven years at Fellers, I moved
to Barkley in Kansas City. Their impeccable reputation for award-winning work
is what drew me to them and I spent four years leading a fantastic team.
From Barkley, I went to work at Hallmark (also
headquartered in Kansas City). Despite being the biggest “creative” brand in
the world, I had entered a realm where research and planning was every bit as
important. The work from there is some of the best in my career.
Q: Why Third Degree?
A: I’ve kept an eye on Third Degree since I left Oklahoma. It’s a company that works as smart as it is creative. So, the opportunity to be a leader here was a no brainer... it's the kind of job you just don't pass up.
Q: Now something not work related. You run, even when you’re not being chased. What’s that about?
A: My running shoes are one of the first things packed when I travel for work. I’ve found a healthy body makes a healthy mind. Since I ran cross-country in college, jogging is sort of the low-hanging fruit of working out. It's a "dance with the devil you know” kind of thing.
This year my goal is to do a half marathon in one hour and thirty minutes…right after I stop eating so much chocolate cake.
Q: So goals are important to
you?
A: Yes, it’s a holdover from my competitive athletic days and something I’ve found to be very important in my creative success. Just like a brand, it’s important to have a clear vision of where you want to go and what you want to achieve.
Q: Which is more important:
Creativity or Strategy?
A: I use a lot of sports analogies and here’s one now: In football you can’t win without solid play on both sides of the ball. Weakness on defense hurts the offense and vice versa. Essentially, it is a recipe for failure. Creativity and strategy have the same symbiotic relationship.
A: I’ve kept an eye on Third Degree since I left Oklahoma. It’s a company that works as smart as it is creative. So, the opportunity to be a leader here was a no brainer... it's the kind of job you just don't pass up.
Q: Now something not work related. You run, even when you’re not being chased. What’s that about?
A: My running shoes are one of the first things packed when I travel for work. I’ve found a healthy body makes a healthy mind. Since I ran cross-country in college, jogging is sort of the low-hanging fruit of working out. It's a "dance with the devil you know” kind of thing.
This year my goal is to do a half marathon in one hour and thirty minutes…right after I stop eating so much chocolate cake.
A: Yes, it’s a holdover from my competitive athletic days and something I’ve found to be very important in my creative success. Just like a brand, it’s important to have a clear vision of where you want to go and what you want to achieve.
A: I use a lot of sports analogies and here’s one now: In football you can’t win without solid play on both sides of the ball. Weakness on defense hurts the offense and vice versa. Essentially, it is a recipe for failure. Creativity and strategy have the same symbiotic relationship.
No concept, no matter how inspired,
can overcome a weak foundation. And no strategy can truly come to life if the
message isn’t well delivered and received. So to say one is more important to
the other, in my opinion, couldn't be more short sighted.
Q: Quick. Name your favorite movie, album and book.
A. Cool Hand Luke. The Smiths – Meat is Murder. Watership Down.
Q: Quick. Name your favorite movie, album and book.
A. Cool Hand Luke. The Smiths – Meat is Murder. Watership Down.
