Award-winning filmmaker, advertiser and brand manager with over three decades of leadership experience in storytelling, creative execution and brand strategy development.
Brand Leadership
As the Corporate Brand Marketing Creative Manager, I was responsible for leading CUNA Mutual Group through the transition of its many brands to a clear, effective single brand: TruStage.
Creative Direction
Hired on at Arizona Public Service as a Video Producer, I had the opportunity to be groomed by Creative Director, Andy Brenits (Cella, Gap Brands, NFL rebrand) and eventually promoted to lead the branding and creative services efforts for one of Arizona's largest and most recognized brands.
Content Creation
Introduced innovative storytelling solutions at Banner Health (Top 5 health care organization) through advancements in motion design, live-streaming, client services and cinematography.
Craft and Commitment
This is a period of my career that I call "hunger". Knocking on doors of production companies, taking on low-budget graphic design projects and landing a handful of impactful clients, I learned to fail forward.
Customer Service
Before making the leap into full-time creative work, my first job at 16 years old turned into a great 10 year development opportunity where I learned that I was a leader who cared deeply for people.
Michael Beirut and More
Teaching and Facilitation
More than half of AIGA’s members are in-house creatives employed full-time by corporations and organizations. AIGA Arizona's In-House committee helps address the unique opportunities and challenges faced by this community offering a first-hand understanding of the needs of in-house designers.
As Director or In-House Design, I was responsible for expanding the pool of resources available to members including hosting workshops and developing and conducting presentations. This role improved my ability to inspire and inform the next generation of creative leaders.
Director, In-House Design
Leadership
Presenting
Knowledge-sharing
Design thinking
Community
Education
Certificate: Leading through Financial Excellence
Executive education program helped me improve proficiencies in analyzing, developing, and making the financial case for critical investments in the business. Acquired a framework for evaluating all incremental costs, identifying assumptions and areas of risk.
Certificate: Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders
One of 35 accepted out of hundreds across the globe to attend a week-long executive education program at Yale's prestigious School of Management.
Strengthened strategic thinking to better tackle high-impact opportunities and drive innovation for growth. Develop soft skills to better influence, persuade, and negotiate with colleagues and clients. In addition, learned how to lead change and learn the basics of accounting and finance to better communicate with their financial team.
Bachelor of Arts: Digital Filmmaking and Video Production
Learned the management and leadership of the creative profession including preproduction, planning, scripting, budgeting, casting, location scouting, scheduling, reporting, storyboarding, cinematography, editing, motion design and animation, sound design, producing and directing all with a foundation in design and branding.
Certificate: Life-planning and personal coaching
Participated in one year coaching program where I learned to create an effective life plan that includes a vision for the key areas of life and clarifies one’s purpose, plans and commitments to those areas.
Certified Life Coach
Certificate: Produce a Feature Film
Learned to write, direct and shoot, produce, finance and sell a feature film. Lessons included: Filmmaking basics, low budget strategies, creating and protecting ideas, writing, selling a script, directing, casting budget and scheduling, paperwork and planning, hiring crew, renting equipment, marketing a project, financing, understanding unions, agents, attorneys, festivals and distribution.