I attended the University of Missouri with every intention of becoming a broadcast journalist. Classes didn’t go so well. I had a habit of sensationalizing my stories to make them more interesting. The advertising sequence seemed like a better fit.

After receiving a 4-year degree, I began bartending at TGI Fridays in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the post-flair era, for the record. That means I wore a the black polo and name tag. Not the striped shirt, suspenders and buttons.

When my gap year concluded, I enrolled at the Chicago Portfolio School to hone my copywriting craft. Soon after, I started writing radio commercials for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and then got hired at an agency called Bagby + Co. to write ads for Sony Electronics and International Trucking. I valued my time here, learning from incredibly accomplished creative leaders while also discovering my own passion for creativity and storytelling.

When I left Bagby, I left Chicago entirely, moving to Kansas City for a job at the fiercely independent midwest ad agency, Barkley. They were already doing award-winning work on Sonic Drive-In. I wanted some of that, and got it, but also earned new recognition and accolades for work on Blue Bunny Ice Cream, UMB Bank, Missouri Lottery, Pennsylvania tourism and 24 Hour Fitness.

Professional growth took me across town to Bernstein-Rein where I led work on McDonald’s, Commerce Bank and probably one of the coolest brand re-launches ever — Hostess Twinkies. I left BR for an opportunity to lead creative on the Gatorade account at VML. After a year, my career took a turn. I received an offer to go brand side.

There was skepticism at first. Going brand side is riddled with stigmas of selling out, sacrificing your creative soul and pigeonholing yourself into working on one thing for the rest of your life. In reality, none of these stereotypes played out. Garmin’s portfolio of products touches an array of lifestyles. The creative opportunities are diverse and energizing. We travel the world to produce global creative that resonates emotionally with audiences that depend on Garmin to pursue their passions. The experience has been creatively fulfilling, but also balanced. I work really hard. But I never miss dinner at home with my family.

EMPLOYMENT

Garmin International
Olathe, KS
Global Creative Director
2015-Present

VML
Kansas City, MO
Group Creative Director
2014-2015