In 2007, two events happened almost simultaneously that changed both my life and my career.

I learned that my father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease—at nearly the same moment I walked away from a toxic agency job. That led to a decision: I would take on work that allowed me to support myself while also being available for my father, until it was no longer necessary to do so.

But I wasn’t operating behind the scenes or pasting up someone else’s ideas. I already had a strong reputation as a conceptual Art Director, and I was brought in at that level—leading teams, guiding projects, and shaping creative. That model caught traction. For over a decade, I continued working that way: independently, but at a high level—producing the work you see on this site.

Over the years, I delivered in a wide range of environments—from ad agencies to in-house corporate communications teams—from healthcare to fintech, from pharma to federal. I led brand identity and campaign work, producing strategic, high-profile creative for commercial banks, government agencies, financial markets, SaaS platforms, and more. No matter the assignment, I was counted on to deliver work that moved the brand forward—and to do it with clarity, consistency, and results.

Now, I’m bringing that full body of work forward. I’ve built a career that blends creative independence with sleeves-rolled-up leadership. I’ve worked with federal agencies, startups, legacy brands, and global banks. I helped reintroduce Capital One to more than a million customers during a time of corporate transition. I partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice to evolve its brand messaging around social impact—supporting initiatives that strengthen community trust and reinforce the role of structured, relationship-based policing.

My company, FMB+D, became the foundation for that work. Over the years, I’ve partnered with organizations like Alpha Lab Creative, Capital One, and Discovery Communications (The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel). The through-line has always been the same: clarity, ego-free mentorship, and work that moves brands.

My work is backed by experience—and by the people who’ve trusted me to lead it. You’ll find their testimonials throughout this site.

Curriculum vitae, part two

I’ve seen and done a lot of amazing things in this lifetime. And with that comes some amazing stories. I’ve served my country. I’ve fought spectacular fires. I’ve saved lives, and witnessed occasions where that was not possible. On the other side of that, I taught graphic design at a very fine state college—preparing students for the realities of working in this business by walking them through real-world scenarios. And I’ve done so much more, like my work as a Creative Director, which I love doing. That isn’t saving lives, but it does save brands.

My experiences taught me to stay calm, focus on what matters, and move the work forward without confusing noise for urgency.

What I enjoy most is moving brands in a meaningful way—by building a vision, guiding a team, and watching the work take shape. I don’t believe in magic, but the feeling of success is magical. And when everyone on the team sees themselves in the result—knowing their work mattered—that’s kind of magical, too.

I also want to give credit and thanks to my design skills, which were taught to me by Rob Roy Kelly while I learned Swiss Graphic Design at Carnegie Mellon University.