I help purpose-driven teams & organizations rise above

I work directly with brands & partner with agencies, serving as your go-to extension for creative teams.

Currently, I split my time between being...

An independent brand identity & visual designer

A fractional creative director for organizations

A husband and father of two

Recently read, watched, heard, & played

Up 'til now

While I didn't always know I wanted to work in branding, my first intentional branding experience was with the Hardball 3 video game (circa 1992). I spent more time creating logos and liveries for my team than playing baseball in the game.

Fast forward to 2004, I landed my first full-time design role as a junior web production designer. Since then, I’ve done my fair share of pixel pushing. Though I design less now than early in my career, I still enjoy getting pen to paper (and mouse to mousepad) to create and play.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in agencies, in-house, and freelance roles. I also co-founded a boutique branding studio for seven years. In 2020, I joined spark*advocacy, a first-of-its-kind public affairs advertising startup in Canada. This was a perfect fit, given my master's degree in political branding (you can read my thesis if interested).

After nearly 5 years at spark* guiding the creative team and conceptualizing and producing creative work for over 100 different public affairs clients, it was time to change gears. The birth of my daughter in May 2024 was the perfect opportunity to do a reset and look to the future and see what is the next steps for me and my family.

Beyond client work, I use my branding expertise to support worthwhile causes. I served on the advisory board of Hidden Harvest, guiding its transition from social enterprise to charity. I also mentored in-house designers at CHEO (Ottawa's children's hospital).

Since 2017, I’ve mentored for the Prince's (now King's) Trust, Operation Entrepreneur. This national program helps transitioning Canadian military personnel and veterans start their own businesses. Unfortunately, the program is ending in August 2024, so I’m seeking new mentoring opportunities. Reach out if interested in a potential mentoring relationship.

I've made numerous media appearances, guest lectures, and podcast invitations to share my insights on political branding, small business branding, and empowering brands through design.

I am a Canadian Army veteran, I completed two tours in Afghanistan and finished my service in 2013.

On Leadership

I have the experience and energy to lead projects from proposal to launch while guiding creative teams to take pride in their work.

My focus extends beyond crafting exceptional designs to shaping artful and effective creative teams.

My leadership style thrives at the intersection of business and design. To do this, I aim to see opportunities, show courage, look far ahead, and prepare myself and my teams for the future. Whether we're pushing pixels to get a project across the line or encouraging refinement of a concept until it's just right, I am dedicated to excellence.

Putting people first

As a servant leader, I prioritize collaboration, innovation, and growth within my creative teams. By putting the team's needs first, I foster open communication, nurture talent, and provide essential support.

This approach empowers creatives of all levels to take ownership of projects, enhancing motivation and the quality of work. Focusing on development and well-being ensures the team remains inspired and productive, resulting in exceptional creative output.