LET’S TALK ABOUT ME (It’s one of my least favorite subjects.)
I have built Mars, blown up a Yugo, had a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, sat in a room ideating with Bob Odenkirk, watched Trump march off set in anger, been in Gary Coleman’s closet, seen Usher and Barry Sonnenfeld leg wrestle, made Seth Rogen laugh, and done some pretty good work along the way.
I have been an art director, a writer, a leader, a friend, a client whisperer, a cheerleader, played good cop, and a bad cop. I have a habit of telling the truth, which sometimes makes me unpopular with certain people. I love what I do.
I have worked at many of the best agencies in New York for more time than I’d like to admit.
I have had a number of creatives and other people follow me from job to job, which makes me happy, and either means I’m a good creative leader, or I’ve surrounded myself with idiots.
Some things I am proud of…
I helped more ALS/MND patients bank their voice with I Will Always Be Me. It won the Grand Prix at Cannes, but more importantly, it helped people suffering from the disease feel more human.
I created a 30-minute holiday special called Yes Virginia that aired in primetime on CBS for years. And the property was turned into merch, store windows and a Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.
A JetBlue campaign we did during the financial collapse of 2008, mocked the bankers that lost their private jets, and welcoming them aboard JetBlue. It was fast, fun and made the cover of the Wall Street Journal.
I survived working on Verizon and have some projects that I am really proud of. A Super Bowl campaign called The Team That Wouldn’t Be Here, where we found 11 NFL players and an NFL coach who would be dead if it wasn’t for a phone call. And Love Calls Back, where we gave people a second chance to come out to their families.
I’m also proud of my kids, but they will never read this, and you don’t care, so I will move on.
I have won all the ad prizes…
Cannes Lions, including Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, Bronze and dozens of shortlists.
One Show winner in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Including making the book over 30 times.
Radio Mercury, Gold prize winner, twice.
A dozen or so Clios, including the Grand Clio.
Yes, I have a few D&AD pencils.
Best of show at the Andy’s.
Many Art Director’s Club cubes, including the Black Cube for Best in Show.
I am involved in the advertising community…
Ad Council. Chair of the Creative Review Committee for years.
AAAA’s. Speaker on various panels.
Main stage at Cannes, Finding the heart in technology.
Mentor for the D&AD Shift program.
Host of That’s Debatable!, a panel discussion during Advertising Week in NYC.
Judged the Cannes Lions, One Show, Art Director’s Club and other shows.
Places I’m proud to say I’ve worked…
VML
CCO NYC, Global CCO Amazon, CCO Dell Technologies
McCann
Deputy CCO Verizon (No, I didn’t get a deputy badge.)
Cog NYC
My own agency. It was fun, but after a while I decided it was time to sell my soul to the holding companies.
TAXI NY
I helped build the NY office from scratch. We won small agency of the year both years I was there.
Fallon NY
ECD. We did crazy work, won awards, and had a blast.
Kirshenbaum+Bond
ECD. It was great when Richard and Jon were still there.
Wieden + Kennedy
CD. Dan Wieden would sometimes sit next to me. It really intimidated me. But in a good way.
Cliff Freeman
For those who know, you get it. The foundation of my career.
Ammarati & Puris
The most professional agency ever. And a great start for me.
Feel free to give me a call at 917-304-7123