Allow me to reintroduce myself
The reason I work
While I had no idea when I went to design school, my crew is what gets me out of bed most mornings. They’ve pushed me to maximize my gifts throughout my career. They also eat a lot of eggs.
My family has also been key in teaching me about working with different types of people, building trust, and developing accountability. Before I had a brood of my own, I recognized an ability to quickly build trust, being able to work together with diverse groups of people, and use my creative abilities to solve problems.
“... an unwavering ability to listen thoughtfully, valuing the creative input of individuals and new ideas shared by the team. He made time to ensure that everyone’s voice was heard, creating an environment where innovation was possible.”
After studying Graphic Design at Iowa State University, I’ve worked in nearly every aspect of the creative field — from branding, editorial, print, OOH, event, tradeshow, activation, video, motion, and web. And in the last few years, I’ve realized I think more like a writer*.
Early in my career, this “Jack of all, master of …” approach left me feeling envious of designers carving out a niche in poster design, custom typography, and film. But my creative and professional appetite was always moving onto “what’s next?”
As I progressed in my career, what I formerly saw as a weakness had turned into a strength. I found I knew enough about numerous disciplines and trades that I not only understood what they do, but I could direct and position feedback in a manner that understands their needs and pain points. It’s a switch I can’t turn off.
“...a true people person who is built on trust and relationships. His empathetic nature fostered an atmosphere of sincerity and collaboration, making him not only an excellent creative leader but also a trusted mentor and advocate for career development.”
From my youth I was always involved with conflict management, building interpersonal relational bridges, and creating art. My leadership capacity was always highlighted, but I had not seized the opportunity to officially exercise that potential. At the mid-point of my career my creative problem solving began to shift to those more related to organizational, team, and strategic.
After experiencing various working environments I began to see what worked and what didn’t. I was curious on the why. Was it just the people, or were there underlying principles at play? I sought answers. Found some. And when these theories were put to the test I learned that knowledge is not the same as application. I gathered myself, retooled, and tried again.
The core of my leadership philosophy is trust and win-win outcomes. The 5 dysfunctions of a team and the X model of engagement were things I drew heavily from. I’m also a big believer in farmer wisdom and generally not being an asshole.
“A natural creative problem solver ... always ready to face challenges with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. A true creative visionary”
My family is what gets me out of bed. My faith is the core of all I am. I’m pretty transparent. I’m passionate about people, stories, and solutions. If you think there may be value in working together, I’d love to connect.