I believe in a fearless pursuit of knowledge and the power of communicating something real and true.

I strive to work from a place of wisdom, spirit and empathy, developing big-picture visions and mold-breaking insights with an unwavering dedication to doing things the right way. I value innovation, authentic expression and bold ideation, savoring any opportunity to build vehicles for visions with a goal of crafting and communicating solutions for the greatest challenges faced by companies and communities alike.

I want to be purpose-driven in these pursuits, inspired and empowered to be an agent of virtue and value while guiding power towards progress, realizing a better future for a society full of stakeholders.

(I also have a sense of humor.)

Scroll down for a vocational history and reach out if I can help you make something... or make something better.

When “trying something new” means selling something old, half the job is polishing the product. 

After 10 years on the production side of Switch’s project workflow, I asked to be reassigned and wound up in business development. My versatility allowed for immediate impact in standardizing presentation templates, assembling RFP responses and developing case studies. Beyond identifying prospects, I also helped refine and implement an overall prospecting strategy for new business.

When new creative leadership warranted a brand repositioning, I presented a direction that sought to unite the company identity under one simple, universal vision.

Falling out of this were primary contributions to new brand systems, including refined standards, collateral and presentation templates. This evolved into project management over a website redesign and product management of a proprietary software application.

My interest in strategic planning was tapped for primary and secondary research around the aforementioned projects, as well as research and strategy for client branding projects and content strategy for Switch thought leadership initiatives. 

Accomplishments:

• Development of new corporate brand positioning, updated corporate brand identity, creation of look & feel for new capabilities presentations and proposal decks
• Development of survey content for primary research to support agency thought leadership white paper on collegiate marketing
• 72% increase in lead nurturing emails sent, 104% increase in open rate, 1267% increase in CTR

RECOMMENDATIONS

Defining a brand’s identity is a prime opportunity for reflection and renovation.

After years of getting freelance design requests for “a logo," I began to find the exercises rather deflating—my carefully crafted marks were invariably thrust into a melee of confused usage and messaging.

Trying to embody the vision and essence of an organization in a little text-flanked icon felt like putting together a single outfit when they really needed an entire wardrobe, expertly tailored and carefully coordinated with a look and style built around who they are and what they stand for. 

Thus began an interest in aligning organizational purpose with perceptual personification to create a unique vehicle that expresses a leader’s equally unique vision. 

From leadership coaches and financial advisors to faith organizations and NPOs, what my clientele has lacked in prominence it makes up for in a consonance that contrasts the brand/business dissonance epidemic among larger corporations. Smaller, purpose-driven organizations are uniquely positioned to have near-perfect alignment: Their behind-the-scenes operations often are refreshingly just as advertised. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Rebranding of a 114-year-old non-profit organization
• Equipping an old church in need of a fresh start with a new identity
• Positioning a financial planning startup for immediate post-launch success

RECOMMENDATIONS

Heavy is the head that wears too many hats.

There’s no reconciling the part-time position of “Media Coordinator” I held at The Gathering and what I spent 30+ hours a week accomplishing in a year and a half. Rather than what the title might imply, I was tasked with managing the following laundry list:

• Design, launch and administration of website
• Technical prep, launch & operation of “video venue” satellite site
• Individual branding for multiple ministries
• Creation of motion graphics for promotional videos
• Concept & production of ministry and event promotion video 
• Volunteer design, copywriting, video, photo & IT teams
• Title, copy & artwork for sermon series
• Online congregational community network
• Weekly sermon videos and podcast publishing
• Design layout of all print collateral
• Content for owned social channels

Maintaining a high quality of work against the sheer volume was tough, but a vision runs poorly when its vehicle is fueled with impurities.

In the end, it was an unsustainable workload on top of my pre-existing full-time job, but the experience gained was invaluable, and the work produced remains a hard-won component of my professional portfolio.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

• 25% annual increase in average weekly attendance (2011-2013)
• In-service video content highlighting missions efforts resulted in cumulative donations nearing $500,000
• Executed the workload of a full-time position in a part-time role

RECOMMENDATIONS

In the beginning, there was a large-format printer, a laminator and no one to run them.

A coworker and I were hired simultaneously, and we spent the next 10+ years leveraging our design backgrounds and general whip-smarts to realize the original vision for it as a full-fledged production resource.

We produced graphics for stadium-filling business meetings, towering trade show exhibits, multi-million dollar mobile tours and the World’s Largest Cereal Box.

Beyond the everyday print production workload, prepress responsibilities included: 

• Preparing disordered design work for print
• Anticipating issues and implementing solutions
• Developing strategies in the absence of technical specifics

In addition to assuring consistent quality in print output, I frequently offered cost-effective alternatives and innovative production techniques to enhance final output.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Personally responsible for printing over $2 million in large-format graphics
• Helping to grow a brand new department to almost $1 million in annual revenue at its peak

The verb/noun duality of “record” denotes the thrilling process of realizing the once ethereal.  

My fascination with creative mediums has been a slow progression of disposable cameras, tape decks, camcorders, microphones, 4-track demos, campus radio shows, HD cameras, editing softwares, slates and 18K lights.

I spent a decade directing scenes, framing shots, rigging lights, animating type, splicing clips and wrangling waveforms for anyone seeking to realize their vision with something that looks and sounds better than good enough.

When media culture moved from “just push play” to “just hit record,” media production was largely democratized with message appropriately trumping medium. My focus has largely followed suit.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Director, Best Music Video - 2009 Crossroads Film Festival - “The Book of Matches” - Gentleman Auction House
• Director, Audience Choice, Group B - 2005 48 Hr Film Festival - "I'm Sorry, Mr. Reeves"

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you have a vision to move an audience, what better than motion pictures?

When I was a junior in high school, I sat down with Ryan Fitzpatrick’s future mother-in-law to figure out where I wanted to go to college (yes, really). First, she needed to know what I wanted to major in, and when I didn’t have an answer for that, she asked me what I liked to do.

My interests in art, photography, video, music and writing seemed to naturally converge in filmmaking, and my increasing affinity for the burgeoning independent cinema of the late 90’s cemented the appeal.

I had a handful of schools with reputable Film Production departments laid out as options, and I applied to the one in the biggest city closest to home (Des Moines, IA), Webster University in St. Louis. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Co-Director, Best in Central Time Zone - 2003 National Film Challenge - "The Return of the Rival Guns of Fortune
• Director, Webbies Award Show Segments “Mission Tuition”, “Dormz”, “Inside the Sound”
• Best Digital Short "Webbie" Award - "The Truth"
• Best Original Music Recording "Webbie" Award - "When You Roll Off", Drop Dynasty

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