I'm still surprised that my obsessive-compulsive nature has somehow manifested itself into an actual career. If I'm awake, I have to be making things, which has resulted in being an indecisive creative hybrid. Making brands relevant, iconic, personal. Creating & executing content with a sharp and sticky point of view. Local. Global. Functional. Shareable. Emotional. Social experiments. Products. Collaborations. Immersive Experiences. Inspired by raw human insights and fearless design. Tuned into women, men, kids, metrosexual, conservatives, liberals, millennials, makers. Giving brands a meaningful voice and an evocative look and feel. Building everything from a new product to a new business pitch. Moving brand and people to a better place.
AD STUFF: I'm currently a Senior Partner, Global Group Creative Director at Ogilvy Chicago. And have served as the Executive Director of Design for Ogilvy Experiential. Prior to my 15+ years at Ogilvy, I've had the opportunity of working at The Leap Partnership, freelancing at BBDO and a short stint for Primo Angeli (San Francisco). Over those years, I've been able to work on a ton of brands – from Dove, to Michelob, Glade, Miller, Craftsman, Kenmore, Mrs. Meyer's, Interface, Kotex, Caldrea, Suave, Pinnacle, Flor, O'Douls, and Sears. See more brands I've worked with here.
WRITE STUFF: My first three books were published by Hearst, Random House & Crown (Lit Agent: ICM Partners). I also have a good time contributing to a handful of national design, decor & lifestyle magazines.
DESIGN STUFF: Every odd thing imaginable from a theater space to an agency lobby, to a custom motorcycle for Ural, a limited edition holiday candle for Anthropologie and children's product lines for Crate & Barrel, and GANT.
BUILD STUFF: Built a business and brand out of a scary old abandoned Wisconsin camp (now ironically listed in Travel & Leisure "top hotels in the world." ) Also, GC'd our Chicago home on a shoestring budget which ended up becoming a Dwell cover story and a "Record House" in Architectural Record.
PERSONAL STUFF: Farmgirl from southern Illinois, now a 20 year Chicago veteran with my husband David, 7-year old daughter (named after Johnny Cash) & our overweight rescue mutt Frankie.
MENTOR & STUFF: Sometimes get to speak at film festivals like AICP and judge award shows like Ad Age Agency of the Year. Mentor design and ad students at UCA (University For The Creative Arts, Farnham, England), Chicago Portfolio School, SIUC school of Art & Design.