Problem solver. Creative. Creative director. What does that all mean? When I began my career in advertising, it meant being a copywriter. Starting with a blank piece of paper, a client brief and cold sweats. Then came the THINKING. The kind that leads to fresh solutions to problems. Creativity isn't some strange force. It isn't a "gift" from heaven. It's work. It takes Thought. Research. Understanding. It takes someone who can piece it all together. There are no real "new" ideas. Just two old ideas put together in a new and interesting way. I put that theory to work at Ogilvy NY as a Sr. VP, Copywriter. And years later, at the National Football League (every straight man’s dream job.) as a Creative Director were I created ads, ran a department of 19 and developed marketing programs and relationships with senior licensing and marketing executives.

In Chicago, I brought my East Coast work ethic to J.Walter Thompson as a Creative Director where I learned the importance of mentoring young creative teams. Then, off to Los Angeles where I moved to pursue an acting career. I freelanced at many agencies both large and small. All, while writing, producing and performing in a sketch comedy group I founded call “YO MEL”. After almost a year on the main stage at the Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip, I went long format and began writing screenplays. My first attempt led to a top 10 finalist award at the SLAMDACE film festival in Park City—one of only two comedies.