An award-winning creative director with over 20 years of experience shaping campaigns for leading brands in advertising, non-profit, and government sectors. Recognized for elevating brand awareness, boosting engagement, and delivering measurable results across channels. Skilled at building and inspiring creative teams, managing budgets, and cultivating strong client partnerships. Successfully led high-impact campaigns for organizations, including AmeriCorps, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rally Health, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), UnitedHealthcare, The Seattle Times Co., and YWCA. I am a graduate of Creative Circus and the University of Idaho.
Group Creative Director: Fors Marsh, Arlington, VA 01/2024–08/2025
Built and scaled an award-winning creative division from a two- to a 40-person team over 8 years; mentored, led, and managed a core 15-person team, including designers, art directors, technical editors, a Section 508 compliance specialist, and freelancers.
Created a national advertising campaign for AmeriCorps, including messaging, a storytelling video series, and public service announcements, to raise brand awareness of the program. Efforts increased website traffic and applications to the program, and over 1,000 photos and 100 videos were captured across more than 20 locations in 3 years.
Led the creative strategy and execution of a bilingual, custom illustrated campaign for NHTSA to promote rural school bus safety by increasing public awareness among students, parents, and drivers.
Provided creative vision and direction for a multichannel HHS public health campaign, Risk Less. Do More. Leading a multidisciplinary team in the development of a trusted messenger video series, animations, social media campaigns, and partnership materials.
Led a cross-disciplinary team of designers, writers, and animators to produce testimonial and FAQ videos promoting the importance of blood donation, along with marketing collateral, fact sheets, and event materials for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Collaborated across internal teams to launch Fors Marsh’s rebrand by developing a refreshed visual identity and voice that reflected the company’s growth, reputation, and future direction.
Supported the adoption of AI tools within the creative team, guided the integration of generative AI tools and best practices, and educated clients on capabilities and limitations.
Creative Director: Fors Marsh, Arlington, VA 11/2019–12/2023
Led an agile creative team in delivering HHS’s three-year national COVID-19 public education campaign, We Can Do This. Directed collaborations with trusted messengers and influencers to produce educational video content, supported grassroot and community partnerships nationwide, and developed digital, social, and event-based promotions to drive engagement and behavior change.
Directed a comprehensive NIH Office of Human Resources recruitment campaign, targeting a wide range of roles and career levels; produced 13 staff interview videos (including NIH Institutes directors), event collateral, digital ads, and print materials to strengthen NIH’s employer brand and to attract talent across the country.
Contributed to company growth by supporting strategic pursuits, including new business development, and pitched creative.
Design Supervisor: Fors Marsh, Arlington, VA 10/2017–11/2019
Forged strong client and account relationships to understand audience needs and to deliver effective, custom-designed campaigns that drove measurable engagement and stakeholder satisfaction.
Directed creative operations across multiple government contracts, managing budgets, timelines, licensing, photo/video vendors, and freelance resources.
Senior Art Director: Westforth Communications, Arlington, VA 04/2011–09/2017
Worked on a two-person design team at a fast-paced marketing and public relations firm, managing multiple concurrent projects and delivering on tight deadlines.
Partnered directly with clients to design and production of reports, marketing collateral, direct mail, email, and social media campaigns that increased brand visibility and engagement.
Concepted and designed comprehensive trade show and conference experiences—including branding, pre-event promotion, booth environments, promotional items, VIP events, and post-event follow-ups—driving attendance and strengthening client positioning in competitive markets.
Contributed creative solutions that helped secure repeat business and long-term client partnerships.
Supported high-profile clients such as UnitedHealthcare, Empower Retirement, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), InMotion Technology, Rally Health, GoodRx, and YourEncore, ensuring brand consistency across diverse campaigns.
Graphic Designer: YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, Seattle, WA 12/2008–06/2010
Served as the sole in-house designer for a large non-profit maintaining brand consistency. Partnered with development and communication teams to align creative strategy with fundraising goals, contributing to increased donor participation and campaign success.
Led the agency-wide rebrand, developing a refreshed visual identity and system applied across print, digital, signage, and event collateral.
Designed and produced high-impact communication pieces—including annual reports, multi-year giving campaigns, fundraising event materials (serving 5,000+ attendees), direct mail, email campaigns, stationery, and digital assets—that strengthened donor engagement and visibility.
Managed external partners (print vendors, photographers, illustrators, freelance designers), ensuring projects were delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards.
Produced and art-directed photo shoots featuring clients, staff, and donors creating authentic visual storytelling that elevated the organization’s mission.
Freelance Art Director: Seattle, WA and Washington, D.C. 10/2006–04/2011
Concepted, designed, and produced print, online, out-of-home, collateral, and direct mail pieces for clients working on- and off-site with clients. Clients included The Seattle Times Company Corporate Sponsorships, Rack Room Shoes, Chick-fil-A, paintNpause, Taproot Foundation, and TUPAC.
Art Director: Erwin-Penland (Hill Holliday), Greenville, SC 10/2005–09/2006
Concepted, designed, and oversaw a group of designers to help execute print, out-of-home, collateral, trade show, and direct mail pieces. Clients included Wachovia, Uniroyal, Lennar Homes, and ScanSource.
Art Director: ComGroup, Atlanta, GA 05/2004–10/2005
Concepted and designed print, online, trade show, direct mail, and collateral pieces. Clients included ADT, Comcast, Hallmark Channel, Cox Communications, and EarthLink.
Freelance Art Director: Atlanta, GA 10/2003–05/2004
Concepted and designed ads and collateral pieces for clients. Clients included Caesars Entertainment, Southern Nevada Water Authority, The Giving Tree Adoption Agency, and USHA Insurance.
EDUCATION
Creative Circus, Art Direction.
University of Idaho, B.A., Advertising with a minor in Art.
AWARDS
American Advertising Awards 2023, Graphic Design USA Health and Wellness 2022, Graphic Design Web Awards 2021, Graphic Design Award Show 2016, GDUSA Health + Wellness Design Awards 2015, Graphic Design Award Show 2013, Addy 2004, and Boston Hatch Show 2003.