Experience

November 2002 to present

Manager of Creative Services, University of Texas at Austin

Create direct marketing communications and print advertising for the Office of the Vice President for Development. Direct a creative team responsible for the design and production of marketing and institutional communication messages. Supervise two full-time staff, including a graphic designer and print production coordinator. Write creative advertising concepts, engaging and customized messages, and compelling calls to action for various target audiences across all forms of media, including the web. Manage advertising and marketing projects and web content for UT's Alumni and Friends web site on a full-time basis.

Accomplishments:
  • Expanded OVPD’s direct marketing capacity using the web, direct mail, print, and other direct response media programs.
  • Collaborated with an in house art director and web designer to create an email-based marketing program that drove recipients to a specially created web-based flash video and donor web site.
  • Led the team’s activities to meet long-term Development Office branding and marketing goals including a re-launch of UT’s Alumni and Friends web site in a six-month window.
  • Implemented a strategic communications and marketing agenda for OVPD’s giving programs including President's Associates and Planned Giving.

December 1998 to Present

Freelance Writer, Write Brain Works — Austin, Texas

Wrote and produced print, newspaper, and broadcast advertising for Driskill Hotel Grill, Earful of Books, Southwest Airlines, Southwestern Bell Wireless, Texas Monthly, Mirage Resorts, And wrote web content for The Steel Alliance, www.chuys.com, and www.lennox.com.

Accomplishments:
  • Partnered with an account service and creative team at GSD&M that led The Steel Alliance to revamp its Web site with information about the environmental benefits of steel and its role in consumers’ lives.

February 1998 to November 1998

Associate Creative Director, Tocquigny Advertising — Austin, Texas

Co-managed the creative department; responsible for writing, assigning, overseeing and approving creative for Hoover’s Online, Dell Computer, Origin, Faulkner Construction, and Nickelodeon.

Accomplishments:
  • Part of a team that guided Hoover’s Online in determining its advertising and marketing objectives; created the company’s first print advertising campaign to communicate its business services.

January 1997 to January 1998

Senior Writer, GSD&M Advertising — Austin, Texas.

Created print and broadcast for Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Lennox, MTV’s Rock the Vote, and Ballet Austin.

Accomplishments:
  • Collaborated with a team of creative staffers, a Los Angeles-based commercial editorial company, and L.A. TV directors to produce TV PSAs featuring well-known musicians who delivered a voter registration message to an 18-24 television audience. See TV spots in my portfolio section of this site.

November 1994 to December 1997

Writer, GSD&M Advertising — Austin, Texas.

Created print and broadcast for Southwestern Bell CallNotes, Houston Rockets, Texas Lottery, Texas Tourism, Chili’s Restaurants, AIDS Services of Austin and more.

Accomplishments:
  • Part of a team that helped launch the advertising/marketing program behind CallNotes and boosted subscriptions to the service by 24%; also received Addy awards for my CallNotes radio commercials

February 1991 to October 1994

Junior Writer, GSD&M Advertising — Austin, Texas.

Created print and broadcast for Southwest Airlines, Sea World of Texas, Wal-Mart, PGA TOUR and others.

Accomplishments:
  • Expanded the charitable arm of the PGA TOUR’s public service program with advertising, which featured real people who were helped by the charities PGA TOUR supports, and PGA TOUR golfers as spokespersons.

December 1989 to January 1991

Broadcast Production Coordinator, GSD&M Advertising — Austin, Texas.

Worked with producers/production companies to create estimates for TV and radio projects. Also simultaneously began working with GSD&M’s Creative Department on Wal-Mart and Southwest Airlines.

Accomplishments:
  • Developed a database of television directors, music companies, and talent agencies, which producers and their assistants used to help them select the best resource for their projects.

February 1988 to November 1989

Junior Writer, Robert Miller Advertising — Austin, Texas

Created print and radio for WDSI-TV (Chattanooga, TN), Cattleman’s State Bank, and Capstone Management.

Accomplishments:
  • Wrote and co-produced more than 90 radio commercials for WDSI-TV’s fall and spring programming; also created outdoor billboard messaging which won a Regional Addy award

Education

The University of Texas at Austin; B.S., Advertising, May 1987. Completed creative sequence under the supervision of Dr. Leonard Ruben.

Achievements

  • Austin Addy Awards, 2001 Bronze Award for self-promo category for this web site
  • Clio Awards, 1996—Radio Finalist, (CallNotes)
  • Dallas Tops, 1996—Two Silvers, (Rock The Vote TV)
  • Regional Addy, 1990—Gold, (WDSI-TV Outdoor)

Personal

I enjoy photography, the blues, old sit-coms and pre-sweetened cereal. In that order.