Bio
Hello, and welcome.
Throughout my career I’ve been driven by a passion for crafting marketing platforms that define what brands stand for, injecting them into culture, and fueling engagement. I strive to create movements by using bold brand purpose to motivate consumer action, and I’ve had the fortune of shaping award winning work for brands large and small, regardless of budget.
From 2013-2023 I’ve had the honor of serving as the Associate Creative Director for the launch and year-after-year development of Visit California’s Dream Big campaign—its longest running and most successful. The launch included an international TV spot and debut of Visit California’s newly established Dream365 Network—a digital content hub featuring original video content and episodic video series for streaming on YouTube, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and China’s Youku. Dubbed “24 Hours, 24 Dreams” we released the hubs first 24 videos in 24 hours with a global one-day takeover of YouTube’s masthead. The campaign immediately lifted travel intent to California and California vacation search volume, to industry record highs. Surpassing click through rates for all industries the YouTube masthead racked up 136 million impressions and 2.5 years of content watched in a single day and became a featured case study of Google for years afterwards. But even more impressive than the stats was to hear the topic of conversation amongst kids at my daughter’s school that week were the “California videos.” Favorites included the documentation of a floating skate ramp on Lake Tahoe with Bob Burnquist and live performances by Band Of Horses and Edward Sharpe in Los Angeles. From there it was full steam ahead with our episodic content series including “California Dreameater,” “California Dreamers” and “Jonny Moseley’s Wildest Dreams” which racked up a half-billion views by 2018.
As the Creative Group Head for ASICS at Vitro Agency from 2007-2012 I helped propel the brand from niche to #2 running brand in the U.S.—second only to Nike, and with a fraction of their budget. Work highlights included first-in-kind creative that utilized original media placements and technology in inventive ways. “ASICS Run With Ryan,” a video projection wall in NYC enabled you to race an elite marathoner through a subway station. The “ASICS Support Your Marathoner” program utilized giant video screens placed along the marathon route paired with runner’s timing bands (RFID chip technology) enabling people around the world to cheer their friends and loved ones on during the race. These experiences including my work on the ASICS AMERICA “Stop At Never” and ASICS Global “Sound Mind Sound Body” campaign earned awards at Cannes and The One Show among others.
Above all these accolades shared, I am honored most to simply have the repeated opportunity to be able to create memorable work that puts a smile on a person’s face. Work that can make someone’s day a little better. And, work that can inspire one to improve their life in any way possible, no matter how small.
A brief history: I graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Advertising which instilled in me a broad understanding of the advertising business and a holistic, inclusive approach to my work. From there I was mentored under Mike Whitlow at his graduate advertising program, The Book Shop. There, classes were taught by working creative professionals in Los Angeles at agencies including Chiat Day, Deutsch and Dailey. My love for art and the outdoors have led me to pursue interests across a broad range of artistic disciplines including photography, fine art, film, music, editing and design—shaping my unique perspective on projects.
I’m a dad to two lovely daughters, an avid swimmer, surfer, dog lover, and more recently a dedicated pilates student. I love anything outdoors, especially when there’s a body of water involved. I set aside a little time each week to play some ukulele, guitar or piano—and am always up for way too much coffee.
Thank you for your interest and I look forward to connecting with you.
2025-2013
The Shipyard (Previously Mering), San Diego
Associate Creative Director
Visit California, San Diego Zoo, Snowbird Resort, Mammoth Lakes Tourism, San Diego Tourism, In-N-Out Burger, VSP Vision Care, Pacific Hospitality Group, Serengeti Eyewear, Disney Institute, Visit Yountville
2012
Sid Lee, Montreal
Senior Art Director
Adidas Running, Bacardi (Pitch)
2012-2007
Vitro Agency, San Diego
Creative Group Head ASICS, Senior Art Director
ASICS America, ASICS Global, Newcastle Brown Ale, Cobra Golf, PF Chang’s,
Kyocera Wireless, IHOP
2007-2002
O’Leary & Partners, Newport Beach
Art Director
Kawasaki Motors America, Oroweat (Bimbo Bakeries), In-N-Out Burger,
American Racing Vintage Wheels, DriveTime, The Bower’s Museum
2002-2000
KB Home, Los Angeles
Production Artist
In-House
2002-1999
The Book Shop, Los Angeles
Creative Advertising Portfolio School
1999-1995
Pepperdine University, Malibu
BA Advertising, Emphasis In Art, Magna Cum Laude
