HELLO THERE!

I’m a Toronto-based creative person. Waaait, no pigeon hole? Though I have spent most of my working life as an AD/CD, I’ve also worked as a writer and designer. A good idea, after all, is a good idea. Sometimes you say it with an image and other times you express it with words. But no matter the role, I come with an unpoppable optimism-filled balloon. And smart thinking. Wouldn’t it be good to work together?

SHOWS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Cannes
The One Show
Communication Arts
The Clio Awards
Lürzer's Archive
Advertising & Design Club of Canada Awards
New York Festivals
The Epica Awards
London International Advertising Awards
Billies
Strategy
Marketing
Applied Arts
CMA Awards
AToMiC
SIA
The Crystals
The Cassies

And, in 2018, I was awarded 2017's 'Freelancer of the Year' by Freelancers Unite. That’s the only trophy I have on display at home. (Scroll to the bottom for a gander.)

EXPERIENCE

I have been happily freelancing since 2016 till right this minute, 2022.
Here’s where I’ve been:

Humanity January 2022

Jackman Reinvents permalance from October 2020 - December 2021 (15+ months)
Staples Canada, Wesson (a cooking oil brand in the USA).

BBDO permalance from 2018 - March 2020 (24+ months)
Mars (M&Ms), PepsiCo (7up), FedEx and Sobeys.

Before that, I was at:
Cossette
Grey Canada
Mackie Biernacki
Publicis
Innocean
Gravity
McCann
DentsuBos
Ray Creative Agency (St. John's NL)
Cundari
and Juniper Park.

Cossette (full time) 2015 - 2016
McDonald's, Kobo, M&M Meat Shops

Freelance 2013 - 2015
kbs+
Evidently
Grey
DentsuBos
Cossette

kbs+ 2012 (full time)
Target Canada

Saatchi & Saatchi 2006 - 2012 (full time)
Toyota, Tide USA, Scotts Lawn & Garden Care, Voltaren P&G (Venus Embrace, Herbal Essences, Olay)

BBDO Toronto 2004 - 2006 (full time)
Pepsi, FedEx, Shaw Cable (in Calgary), Frito Lay, Bayer, Cadillac Fairview, The Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Foundation (CCSIF), Sears, Aquafina

Freelance 2004 
Ogilvy
Bensimon Byrne
Zig
Downtown Partners
BBDO 

Flavour 2002 - 2004 (full time)
Cadillac Fairview, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Glaxo Wellcome, Ministry of Health, Boomer, Artsweek

Freelance 2001 - 2002
Saatchi & Saatchi
Toyota, Tide

Roche Macaulay & Partners 2001 (full time)
IKEA Germany, Toronto Zoo, Holt Renfrew, The Textiles Museum, Addecco

Ogilvy & Mather 1995 - 2000 (full time)
Unilever (Dove, QTips), IBM, KFC, WWF, Timex, Duracell, Mattel Fisher Price, Amex, Glaxo Wellcome, Bick’s Pickles, KRAFT, Maxwell House, Zellers, Kodak

And before all that just some babysitting, a paper route, a few retail jobs and serving at a golf course.

OTHER STUFF

Speaker at Coop’s Propellant event “Getting on in the Gig Economy” in Toronto - April 2019
Speaker for a crowd of advertising professionals/students of advertising in Halifax - May 2018
ICE Awards judge in NFLD, Canada and speaker at the after-event - May 2018
Judged shows including the ADDYs (Dallas Texas)
The Marketing Awards (2010, 2018, and this year, 2021)
Mobius and the National Advertising Awards - 2014
Appearances in Ad Age, US Ad Review, Creative Review (UK), AdWeek
Guest lecturer at Humber’s AdWeek - 2010
Taught Advertising Workshops/classes at OCAD 1997 - 2001
Mentored various students over the years.
Young Creatives Contest Winner (Grand Prix) with a trip to sunny Cannes - 2000 (back when there was only one contest like this).

EDUCATION

OCAD graduate - 1995, valedictorian

THEME SONG

”I Won’t Let You Down” by OK Go