It’s been a busy couple years. One of my freelance clients decided to bring me on full-time…in their strategy department. Doing competitive analysis, mission-vision-values, positioning, running workshops, writing guidelines, rolling up my sleeves for desk research. Without ever leaving my roles as a project lead and CD/writer behind.

Across it all, I remain a storyteller. I think that’s safe to say again, that I’m a storyteller. For a while there every agency was like, “We don’t make ads. We tell stories!” and anyway, I do both.

The ads take so many forms and some of those forms aren’t even ads. Apps. Products. Social. Earned media. Radio. Brand books. Catalogues. Naming. Tag lines. And yes, of course, blue sky concepts, attention-grabbing tv and razor sharp headlines.

I know it’s de rigueur to just chalk it all up to Content now, and I understand the reasons for that, but each thing is its own thing. And I feel lucky to know how they complement each other.

You’ve made it this far in the About section so here’s what I’m about: understanding the business problem and turning it into uniquely unboring work that connects with the fine people we call The Audience, while hopefully earning my clients a promotion sooner than later.

Stories are the sauce. They solve problems. They hold attention, reward interest, and lead to action. For me, that’s been true across apparel, tourism, finance, technology, travel, real estate, sports, outdoors, entertainment, and everything else.

My work has been recognized by peers at Cannes, the One Show, the Webbys, and the Effies, and has been featured in publications ranging from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fast Company, AdAge, Creativity-Online (many times), and the Fail Blog (for a win!). My favorite award was the time a client was so happy he had a cake made that looked just like our print ad, and brought it to the office with a bottle of champagne.

I love this business. Whether it’s at an agency, in-house, or more recently a stint on the production side. My greatest successes have been the result of true collaboration with my greatest coworkers. I look forward to meeting the next one, and making the next one. If that sounds like you, please get in touch.

When I’m not thinking up palatable About Me copy or finally updating my site, I tend to be working on one or both of the novels I have in the works, or better yet riding or running on the trails of my new hometown Minneapolis.

The photo below came with the template. I think it’s nice!