About Me
Creative Strategy Director with 15+ years building brands and leading design teams
Creative Strategy Director with 15+ years building brands and leading design teams
I'm a Creative Strategy Director who bridges the gap between creative vision and business results. Over 15 years, I've led design teams for global heritage brands like Levi's, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger while also building an in-house brand from scratch and scaling it to national retail.
What sets me apart is my ability to see the whole picture - from market trends and brand positioning to strategic alignment across departments. I partner with VPs, directors, and senior leaders in merchandising, product development, and operations to drive company-wide goals. I don't just direct creative work; I build the systems, processes, and cross-functional relationships that enable great design to happen consistently.
Great creative work requires three things: strategic clarity (knowing what we're solving for), collaborative culture (bringing the best out of teams), and operational excellence (executing flawlessly under real-world constraints). I focus on all three.
Lead strategic brand portfolio management for global heritage brands including Levi's, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Cole Haan, Dockers, Columbia Sportswear, and Tommy Bahama. Direct holistic creative direction for seasonal launches, ensuring cohesive visual language from product concept to consumer touchpoints. Collaborate with merchandising, sales, and sourcing teams to ensure creative assets drive commercial results.
Translated high-level brand guidelines from partners into actionable creative strategies for the US market. Directed visual narratives for global photo campaigns, showroom presentations, and e-commerce assets. Spearheaded AI implementation pilot to modernize design process, utilizing generative tools to accelerate speed-to-market.
Rapidly promoted through multiple design levels based on consistent delivery of best-in-class product and creative strategy. Led transition to 3D prototyping, cutting sample timelines by 35% and reducing material waste by 30%. Developed private label strategies for mass and club retailers including Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Macy's, and Costco.
Served as Watch Designer for Relic, Private Label, and Fossil Special Markets. Developed technical packages and hardware specifications for complex watch components. Communicated daily with overseas vendors to ensure sample accuracy and maintain quality standards during pre-production.
Foundational Art & Industrial Design
When I'm not designing, you'll find me exploring Chicago with my Fujifilm camera in hand. Photography has become a passion-I love capturing the city's architecture, street scenes, and hidden corners. That camera comes with me on every trip, whether I'm hiking through national parks or wandering new cities.
I'm a die-hard Detroit sports fan-Red Wings, Lions, Tigers, and Pistons. There's nothing quite like the energy of game day, whether I'm watching from home or lucky enough to be in the stands.
Most importantly, I love spending time with family and friends, especially when we can get outdoors. Give me a beautiful location-mountains, lakes, coastline-and I'm there. I'm always on the lookout for the next adventure, whether it's a weekend camping trip or an ambitious international journey.
"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union."
Frank Lloyd Wright