Creative Leader / Designer / Entrepreneur / Founder of BrillCreative.com – Dad (2 boys), love of live music, travel, photography, great food & art
Creative Director and Graphic Designer with 25 years of hands-on experience in advertising and marketing, leading and supporting teams from concept to execution across both print and digital platforms.
Strategic, proactive, and solutions-driven with a proven ability to communicate effectively across creative, technical, executive, and corporate teams.
A dual background in design and leadership allows me to bridge vision and execution—driving high-impact creative work while ensuring exceptional client service and delivery.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2018 – Present: Founder / Creative Director – Brill Creative
Leading creative strategy, design, and execution for a diverse portfolio of regional, national, and global brands including Dewey’s Pizza, Busken Bakery, Wild Eggs, Anthem BCBS, LEBO Art Miami, Gorilla Glue, O’Keeffe’s Skincare, and Mike Albert Fleet Solutions.
Leading creative strategy, design, and execution for a diverse portfolio of regional, national, and global brands including Dewey’s Pizza, Busken Bakery, Wild Eggs, Anthem BCBS, LEBO Art Miami, Gorilla Glue, O’Keeffe’s Skincare, and Mike Albert Fleet Solutions.
In addition to direct client work, I frequently collaborate with top agencies—including GREY Midwest (VML, Rockfish, Possible), Barefoot Proximity, Tremor, and Department26—providing creative direction, art direction, design, and production support.
Project work spans:
• UI/UX and web design
• Integrated print and digital campaigns
• Environmental design, trade show & event displays
• Enterprise-level email marketing
• Advertising concepts and storyboarding
• Amazon EDC, landing pages, and digital advertising
• UI/UX and web design
• Integrated print and digital campaigns
• Environmental design, trade show & event displays
• Enterprise-level email marketing
• Advertising concepts and storyboarding
• Amazon EDC, landing pages, and digital advertising
If it’s creative, I’ve probably done it—and done it well.
2015 – 2018: HyperDrive Interactive – Art Director
Led creative direction at a data-driven digital agency serving a wide range of industries. Oversaw concept through execution for major accounts including U.S. Bank, LaRosa’s, Tyson Foods, Sysco, Dreamfields Pasta, Montgomery Inn, and CincyFavs.
Key contributions:
• Directed cross-functional teams of designers, developers, and strategists to deliver results-focused creative aligned with client KPIs
• Helped secure new business through strong creative leadership and pitch support
• Managed and sourced talent for photo/video shoots and built a reliable freelance network
• Developed integrated campaigns across digital, social, and traditional platforms
• Directed cross-functional teams of designers, developers, and strategists to deliver results-focused creative aligned with client KPIs
• Helped secure new business through strong creative leadership and pitch support
• Managed and sourced talent for photo/video shoots and built a reliable freelance network
• Developed integrated campaigns across digital, social, and traditional platforms
2007 – 2015: Brill Creative – Founder / Creative Director – Brill Creative
Founded and led Brill Creative, a full-service branding and design agency delivering concept-to-completion creative solutions. Oversaw all aspects of business operations for eight successful years, including strategy, client relationships, business development, accounting, and creative execution.
Key achievements:
• Built and led a team of top-tier contract talent to execute campaigns across print and digital platforms
• Delivered results-driven creative for clients such as Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, Cincinnati Bell, AAA Allied Group, Transitions Inc., and Hope for Justice
• Successfully balanced strategic thinking with hands-on design and day-to-day business operations
• Built and led a team of top-tier contract talent to execute campaigns across print and digital platforms
• Delivered results-driven creative for clients such as Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, Cincinnati Bell, AAA Allied Group, Transitions Inc., and Hope for Justice
• Successfully balanced strategic thinking with hands-on design and day-to-day business operations
2003 – 2007: U.S. Bank Corporate Marketing – Graphic Designer
Supported U.S. Bank’s in-house marketing team by designing a wide range of creative assets used across 2,400+ branches nationwide. Collaborated closely with the internal art department to execute high-impact campaigns and essential marketing materials.
Key contributions:
• Designed national advertising campaigns, direct mail, brochures, flyers, posters, and promotional materials
• Developed creative for large-scale initiatives including a mobile branch and branded environmental spaces in U.S. Bank-affiliated arenas
• Played an active role in U.S. Bank’s rebranding effort, gaining valuable large-scale brand experience
• Designed national advertising campaigns, direct mail, brochures, flyers, posters, and promotional materials
• Developed creative for large-scale initiatives including a mobile branch and branded environmental spaces in U.S. Bank-affiliated arenas
• Played an active role in U.S. Bank’s rebranding effort, gaining valuable large-scale brand experience
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
> Proficiency in Adobe CC/Mac
> Keen understanding of digital marketing and data-driven strategies
> Concept and ideation relevant to current trends,
process and workflow
> Creative messaging and client partnering to
develop brand vision
> Contract drafting/review/negotiation
> Vendor and talent collaboration and management
> Keen understanding of digital marketing and data-driven strategies
> Concept and ideation relevant to current trends,
process and workflow
> Creative messaging and client partnering to
develop brand vision
> Contract drafting/review/negotiation
> Vendor and talent collaboration and management
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Cincinnati (Central) Academy of Design – Cincinnati, Ohio, Associate of Arts:
Advertising & Commercial Art
Entrepreneur/Business Owner – Cincinnati, Ohio
Successfully managed all aspects of Brill Creative for eight years, providing a wide range of print and digital deliverables for local start-ups as well as Fortune 500 brands; acquired by HyperDrive in 2015
Successfully managed all aspects of Brill Creative for eight years, providing a wide range of print and digital deliverables for local start-ups as well as Fortune 500 brands; acquired by HyperDrive in 2015
HONORS
AMA Pinnacle Award Finalist – Best Integrated
Marketing Campaign June 2017
Presented by: Cincinnati American Marketing Association (AMA)
Marketing Campaign June 2017
Presented by: Cincinnati American Marketing Association (AMA)
AMA Pinnacle Award Finalist – Best Marketing
Effectiveness Campaign April 2017
Presented by: Cincinnati American Marketing Association (AMA)
Effectiveness Campaign April 2017
Presented by: Cincinnati American Marketing Association (AMA)
Communicator Award – Best Integrated
Marketing Campaign May 2010
Presented by: The Communicator Awards
Marketing Campaign May 2010
Presented by: The Communicator Awards
SOCIAL CAUSES
Arthritis Foundation
BSP Movements, Lawrenceburg IN
Celebrate Recovery Greendale
Gateway Community Outreach
Madeira Farmers Market
Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition
Transitions Global (Hope for Justice)
Transitions, Inc. (Addiction Recovery)
Veteran’s PATH
YES Home for Children
BSP Movements, Lawrenceburg IN
Celebrate Recovery Greendale
Gateway Community Outreach
Madeira Farmers Market
Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition
Transitions Global (Hope for Justice)
Transitions, Inc. (Addiction Recovery)
Veteran’s PATH
YES Home for Children