I’m a branding and creative leader. And I’m good at what I do. I know this because I can’t have it any other way. My love and respect for the power of storytelling drives me to get better every single day. With more than 25 years under my belt, that’s a lot of getting better.

Most recently I’ve been putting my hard-won skills to work as the Senior Director of Brand and Creative at Paycom, a S&P 500 tech company where I lead strategy, brand, media and creative.

During my first year at Paycom, I built an in-house creative department from scratch. Attracting top talent to the Midwest required more effort and extra finesse, but that only tuned my radar further to focus on who was worth securing.

Today, I oversee a cross-functional team of 65+ talented marketers and creative professionals who craft award-winning national integrated marketing, digital media, and television campaigns. Last year, the Oklahoma chapter of the American Advertising Federation awarded me 'Advertising Person of the Year'. It was an unexpected honor that I deeply appreciate because, to me, it was recognition for the work the people I am privileged to lead create.

My team know I’m personally invested in their success. I hate to lose. I hate to see them lose. So as much as everyone loves a good pizza party, my tactics for building a strong culture depend more on establishing clear expectations, accountability all around, and a collaborative approach that brings out their best work. 

Every step in my career has cemented an aspect of my leadership philosophy.

I learned the motivational power of empathetic leadership at beloved legacy brand Hallmark Cards, where I led an in-house creative team responsible for everything from direct mail to national advertising.

At Barkley, one of the most creative advertising agencies in the country, I established taste levels that will always guide me, working on accounts including Sonic Drive-In, Payless Shoes, and Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

And by pursuing a passion project, I learned I have the fortitude to make the seemingly impossible happen. In 2009, I wrote the film Rudderless (starring Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne and Selena Gomez) which premiered at Sundance in 2013 and ultimately sold to Paramount Pictures.

I’ll never stop growing, and helping my teams reach their own highest potential. That’s how I know my best work is still ahead of me.