EXPERIENCE
Executive Creative Director — Axon Enterprise April 2019 – Present / Employee of the Year, 2022
R Brain — When I started at Axon, it was just known as "that taser company." Seven years later, it's an S&P 500 and Fortune Future 50 company — placing it among the world's highest potential growth businesses — with $2.8 billion in annual revenue, four consecutive years of 30%+ growth, and $14.4 billion in future contracted bookings. Wall Street holds a consensus Strong Buy. Keeping up has been, as the professionals say, fucking bonkers. But it's also a lot of fun.
I lead a team of 15 responsible for 90% of every brand element Axon puts into the world. Video, experiential design, social content, sales assets, commercials, trade show booths. If it has the Axon name on it, we probably made it.
My biggest creative responsibility has been owning the launch creative for Axon's most important products. The TASER 10 — the most revolutionary TASER ever built and the largest product launch in company history — came to life through a teaser campaign and a live event in Las Vegas that I creative directed from concept to stage. Draft One, the world's first AI-enabled report writing software, launched at Axon Accelerate, the world's largest public safety conference.
I led creative direction for seven global office environments, setting the theme, tone, and visual language for each space worldwide. I developed seven VR experiences designed to connect customers to our mission through story rather than product specs — including the Axon Era experience, a 20-minute journey through the history of human conflict built around a single idea: that weapons evolved from tools of mass destruction to technology designed to protect life. And I created Safe Journeys, a Webby Award-winning YouTube series that captures first responders in their most defining moments and has earned the respect of both our customers and the broader creative industry.
L Brain — Running a lean internal team at this volume and quality requires as much operational thinking as creative thinking. I oversee resourcing, workflow, and process across simultaneous campaigns, launches, and brand systems. I collaborate directly with product, marketing, and executive leadership to keep creative strategy locked to business goals. Seven years in, I haven't lost a single direct report. We keep it fun. We keep it humble. We keep the work unboring. Those are my only rules and they seem to work.
Creative Director / Manager / Advertising Ambassador — Amazon Seattle, WA · 2015 – 2019
R Brain — I joined Amazon the same year it launched Amazon Marketing Services — the formal start of what is now a $56 billion-per-year advertising business. My job was to work with third-party brands to develop world-class, customer-centric campaigns built to drive awareness all the way down to purchase. That meant co-branded partnerships across Alexa, Amazon Theatricals, Twitch, Prime, Go, Fresh, Whole Foods, Prime VR, Video, and Music.
I collaborated with Amazon Studios on branded content, including a first-ever integration with Michelin Tires and The Grand Tour, Season 1. I traveled with the Grand Tour team globally and worked directly with producer Andy Wilman to make sure the storytelling matched the culture of the series — not just the brand brief.
Before my focus shifted to third-party advertisers, I built Amazon's first volume video content team from scratch: 60 full-time and contract employees producing short-form editorial, unboxing, and how-to content across retail categories.
L Brain — I developed a 2019 Best Practices for Advertising initiative with the Amazon Advertising Sales team and led the pitch to CMOs and global marketing leads at flagship clients — making the case for why Amazon was the new land grab for advertising and how story drives ROAS. That work helped secure two of the largest advertising upfronts in Amazon's history. I also sat on the leadership team reviewing weekly, monthly, and quarterly revenue goals and building the processes that kept our teams aligned as a global entity.
Co-Creator & Lead Storyteller — Archibald's Next Big Thing 2014 – Present
R Brain — In 2015 I co-developed Archibald's Next Big Thing with Emmy Award-winning actor Tony Hale. The story follows Archibald, a chicken desperately trying to figure out what his "big thing" in life looks like. One night he receives a mysterious card that says, "Your next big thing is here!" What follows is a journey that teaches Archibald — and anyone watching — the importance of living in the present and appreciating what's right in front of you.
We developed it into a DreamWorks animated series that ran 2 seasons on Netflix and 4 seasons on Peacock (as Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here!) — 6 seasons and 50 episodes total.
L Brain — I worked with our publisher to develop the marketing strategy, which landed the book appearances on Conan O'Brien and Letterman and got us included in the 2016 Academy Award and Emmy nominee gift bags. Not bad for a chicken.
Content Director / Producer — Bruton Stroube Studios Saint Louis, MO · 2013 – 2014
R Brain — Bruton Stroube is one of the most respected commercial production houses in the country — 40+ years running, 55,000 square feet, and a client list that reads like a Fortune 500 roll call. I served as lead consultant with agency creatives on brand storytelling, developed and directed broadcast and short-form content, and led special projects building relationships with sports and entertainment influencers. Also served as internal marketing lead, keynote speaker, presentation lead, and — not listed on the org chart but equally important — kick-ass party thrower.
L Brain — Managed every nagging detail across commercial campaigns and still photography shoots, with budgets ranging from $90K to $500K. Constant pursuer of frugality for a happy, healthy bottom line.
Clients: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Sonic, ConAgra Foods, GermX, Ameren, Farmland Bacon, Monsanto, Purina, McDonald's
Creative Director — The Crossing Saint Louis, MO · 2009 – 2013
R Brain — The Crossing is one of St. Louis's largest and most influential churches — and the birthplace of Advent Conspiracy, a grassroots anti-consumerism movement I helped build into something that got away from us in the best possible way. What started with five churches conspiring to redirect Christmas spending toward clean water and sanitation eventually spread to 19+ countries, raised over $15 million in clean water well drilling, and became a worldwide movement that nobody fully owns and everybody feels.
I was the creative lead and communications director for it all — developing campaigns, directing on-field storytelling across India, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South America, and Nepal, and speaking at national nonprofit conferences on the power of creative to move people toward action.
L Brain — Member of the senior management team responsible for growth strategy, staff structure, and budget. Lead creative director for a $15 million capital campaign.
Senior Copywriter — Zipatoni Saint Louis, MO · 2004 – 2009
R Brain — Zipatoni was named Promo Magazine's Agency of the Year in 2000, acquired by Interpublic Group (IPG), and operated out of six cities with a national client roster that could make a copywriter cry happy tears. I was the conceptual lead and writer for regional and national promotional marketing programs — covering new business development, in-store, events, print, radio, web, outdoor, sweepstakes, retail promotions, and what I will stand by as the most bitchin' instantly redeemable coupons since the KISS Detroit Rock City tour, circa 1975.
L Brain — Deck presentation development, brainstorm lead, information management, peace treaty ambassador between account and creative, above-and-below-the-line jumper, brand icon-builder, and purveyor of big, hairy ideas that are rude to children.
Clients: Miller Brewing Company (High Life, MGD, Lite, Mickey's, Milwaukee's Best, Peroni), Nestlé, Purina, White Castle, Subway, Majesco Entertainment, Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble, Dreyer's, 7-Eleven, Borden, Energizer, Splenda, Starbucks Liquor, Jamba Juice, 7UP