I’m a multi-disciplinary creative director and strategist with a focus on branding and rebranding living near Atlanta with my wife and son. In my spare time I enjoy learning about most anything, cooking, hosting, and the outdoors.
I’m the founding director of Referent, a rebranding-focused agency.
When I was a tween, I learned that during the Renaissance people like Leonardo DaVinci pursued their curiosities in art, science, philosophy and whatever else they found interesting. Many of their contributions to the world naturally drew from the intersection between these disciplines. My little (self-diagnosed) ADHD brain felt deeply excited about this career path. “I want to be a Renaissance man,” I told my grandfather.
Years later at the ripe age of 21, he helped me start a design business with a friend. I wanted to understand how design decisions impacted our clients and discovered the practice of branding, and then brand strategy. Finally, a discipline where science and art work together! A true Renaissance career in the modern age.
I white-knuckled my way through the frustratingly inefficient process of getting a design degree, continuing freelance and entrepreneurial work on the side to maintain sanity.
After graduation, I was intent on learning everything I could about creative and strategic work. So I worked as a contractor on small teams for 6 years. In these contexts roles were fluid and I jumped on the chance to try not only design but copywriting, research, strategy, and more. 2 years as the Director of Creative Services for an innovation startup gave me the chance to learn broader business principles and creative processes.
Eventually I found my way to Vigor, a branding and marketing agency focused on restaurants. I was the the first hire and came on as “Designer / Strategist.” As the agency grew, I became Creative Director. Then Vigor was purchased by Pavone Group. After a year there, I was promoted from CD on the Vigor team to Branding and Design Director across Pavone Group’s agencies.