2020 – present

CONSULTANT  |  Creative, Branding & Strategic Marketing

Contract-based consulting to clients in various industries, providing expertise in creative direction, brand identity/perception and strategic marketing/media. Clients include: 

• EY (Ernst & Young):  Hybrid role as Art Director/Project Manager. Liaised with clients, determined needs/goals, created campaign plans to meet goals, executed or directed creative work, planned events, managed logistics/budgets/timelines, supervised junior teams and external agencies, engaged with executives, measured and reported on project results. Creative work included print collateral, signage, digital media, presentations, speech/script writing, interior asset design and internal communications messaging.

• Field Trip:  Creative and Marketing director, providing expertise, planning and execution of creative work, marketing plans, client pitches, media spends, brand identity/positioning, launch strategy. Creative work included initial brand identity, website creation, sales collateral, sizzle reels, pitches/presentations and scripts. I also served as the primary pitch person and point of contact for potential investors.

• Unified Communications:  Marketing Director, oversaw an in-house team of five plus external vendors, worked closely with other internal department leads and executives. My team, under my direction, provided creative work including brand perception, marketing plans, sales collateral, social media and product education. My role included managing people, projects and results. As a senior leader, I also served as a sounding board for executives, helping to unify priorities and foster collaboration.

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2017 – 2020

MICROSOFT  |  Creative Director

• Established and led an in-house creative studio specializing in innovative experience development and digital storytelling.

• Orchestrated multi-disciplinary processes involving audience targeting, industry benchmarking, problem-solving, and creative direction.

• Pioneered strategies that achieved breakthrough solutions, resulting in enhanced user experiences and increased brand loyalty.

• Managed a diverse team of creative professionals, fostering a collaborative environment that fueled creative excellence.

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2016 – 2017

MICROSOFT  |  Product Marketing Manager

• Spearheaded brand development for Cortana service/products, aligning with the broader Microsoft brand.

• Directed brand guidelines, co-branding efforts, photo/video shoots, and marketing materials.

• Played a vital role in product launches, ensuring seamless integration of brand messaging and product features.

• Collaborated closely with engineering/dev teams, bridging the gap between technical innovation and consumer resonance.

2014  –  2017 

STATE FARM  |  Global Lead, Brand & Strategy

• Introduced the first branding department in the company's history, revitalizing the brand, optimizing processes and improving content efficiency.

• Leveraged strategic insights to create and champion cohesive brand experiences.

• Spearheaded enterprise-wide branding initiatives that transformed State Farm's brand perception and drove customer engagement.

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2013 – 2014  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANK  |  Director, Brand Marketing, Strategy & Events

• Managed multi-state banking group's marketing department, including branding and corporate relations, to drive brand recognition and increase revenue.

• Implemented comprehensive branding strategies that successfully positioned the bank as a leading financial institution.

• Orchestrated successful rebranding initiatives for acquired branches, resulting in a 10% increase in online and walk-in traffic.

• Developed marketing strategies and promotional campaigns that enhanced the bank's market presence and customer outreach.

 

2011 – 2012  

ALLSCRIPTS  |  Director, Marketing, Branding & Public Relations

• Unified company/product branding, launched healthcare technology products, and contributed to acquisition success.

• Strategically aligned product branding with customer needs, resulting in increased market share and brand visibility.

• Created B2B instructional videos and online class content to maximize client engagement and feature utilization.

• Provided instrumental brand, UX, and UI direction to development teams, ensuring product alignment with market demand.​

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2007 – 2011

MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM  |  Dept. Lead, Brand Marketing & Facility Design

• Led branding, marketing campaigns, and facility design for multi-hospital health system, achieving substantial volume increases and improving patient/visitor experiences across ten statewide locations.

• Spearheaded branding efforts that elevated the health system's visibility, leading to significant patient volume growth.

• Directed facility design initiatives that harmonized with brand identity, resulting in improved patient satisfaction scores and enhanced operational efficiency.

• Managed interdisciplinary teams, both internal and external, to ensure seamless collaboration between branding and facility design efforts.

 

2007 – 2009

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY  |  Adjunct Professor

•  Instructed college classes in the Fine Arts Department, including general skills, specific techniques and related art history.

• Provided guidance to students related to class activities and career aspirations on an as-needed basis.

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2005 – 2007  

WALT DISNEY WORLD, PARKS & RESORTS  |  Art Director 

• Directed creative work for Disney brands, collaborating with licensed partners and equity brands.

• Crafted compelling visual narratives that resonated with diverse audiences and strengthened brand loyalty.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure the seamless execution of marketing campaigns across various media channels.

• Contributed creative expertise to high-profile marketing initiatives, including partnerships with iconic brands and media entities.

• Part of contract creative team designing and pitching ride-and-show concepts.

2003 – 2005  

HIGHER ADVERTISING  |  Principal Creative Director

• Developed and directed advertising campaigns, client communication and creative pitches for clients in industries including: financial, real estate, education, healthcare, travel/tourism and recreational marine.

• Specialized in photo/video shoot direction (interior, model, product, aerial, marine) and managed creative resources.

 

2004 – 2005

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA  |  Art Director

• Served as Art Director for high-profile UCF creative projects.

• Led the team handling the inaugural print and digital collateral surrounding the opening of UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

• Other internal clients included UCF Athletics Programs and Fraternity Organizations.

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2002 – 2006  

ADVERTISING AGENCIES (various)  |  Art Director/Creative Director

• Provided contract work for various ad agencies in the Orlando area.

• Managed print and web design, copywriting, photo/video shoots, commercial direction, executive presentations, product design and ride-and-show.

• Client industries included healthcare, entertainment, tech, education, banking and finance.

2000 – 2002  

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS  |  Art Director

• Worked on teams creating new themed attractions for Universal Studios theme parks, including: storyline development; storyboarding; scripting; research; timing; and traffic flow/guest capacity.

• Created advertising materials for various Universal brands and product lines.

• Managed brand integrity, photo shoots, and inaugural campaigns.

• Participated on initial creative team for “Revenge of the Mummy” ride, including initial planning and creative pitches to greenlight project and budget.

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​EDUCATION​

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL (1998)

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