Associate Creative Director, Art | Senior Art Director
Good creative begins with curiosity. With asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and looking beyond the obvious answer. I'm a hands-on art director and creative leader with 20+ years of experience exploring that space between a problem and its possibilities. I believe the strongest work comes from thoughtful experimentation, genuine collaboration, and the willingness to question what we think we know. I bring that philosophy to developing concepts, shaping visual stories, mentoring creatives, and making work that is as purposeful as it is compelling.
Professional Experience
Merkle / Dentsu (formerly New Control)
Associate Creative Director, Art
Chicago, IL | June 2015–Present
(Growth from Art Director, Senior Art Director, and Art Supervisor roles into Associate Creative Director)
Creative Thinking & Craft:
Developed concepts, visual identities, and integrated campaigns for national consumer brands, challenging established conventions and translating complex briefs into purposeful, engaging creative.
Collaboration & Leadership:
Guided and mentored art directors while partnering with copywriters, strategists, account teams, and analysts to strengthen creative ideas, encourage experimentation, and connect the work to its intended audience.
Performance & Innovation:
Used campaign insights to inform creative experimentation, including a financial client concept that delivered a 21% lift over the existing control, while identifying opportunities to simplify workflows and improve creative production.
Aspex Solutions / Frontline Technologies
Graphic Designer → Creative Director
Chicago, IL | Approx. 2012–2014
Modernized the company's visual identity, including logo development, marketing collateral, and trade show communications.

Helped establish and expand the internal creative function, collaborating with another designer to strengthen brand consistency and creative quality.

Designed, developed, and tested a new public-facing website, integrating visual design, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and backend considerations.

Created cohesive visual systems supporting the company's marketing communications across digital and physical channels.
Lydon & Associates
Freelance Graphic Designer
Chicago, IL | 2011–2012 (3 mo.)

Supported agency creative and design production during a five-month freelance engagement.
BSCS (Biological Science Curriculum Study)
Graphic Designer
Colorado | 2008–2011

Designed marketing communications and collateral supporting a science education organization.

Developed print materials, including trade show publications and promotional calendars, for internal and external audiences.
Private Escapes / Ultimate Escapes
Web Developer
Colorado | 2005–2008

Developed and maintained digital experiences for a private destination club's member portal, working with C# and database-connected functionality.

Collaborated with a copywriter to establish the name, visual identity, editorial structure, and recurring design of a member magazine.
Core Capabilities
Creative
Art Direction · Concept Development · Visual Storytelling · Brand Identity · Integrated Campaigns · Typography · Digital and Print Design · Design Systems
Leadership & Strategy
Creative Mentorship · Cross-Functional Collaboration · Creative Problem-Solving · Performance-Informed Creative Development · Workflow Improvement
Tools
Photoshop · Illustrator · InDesign · Figma · Sketch · After Effects · Adobe Firefly · ChatGPT · Microsoft Copilot · Microsoft 360
Education
University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor of Arts in Design, 2005
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