2010 BROWARD COUNTY CENSUS

Encouraging people to return their Census forms takes communication, cajoling, reassurance and (sometimes) a song. My creative director at Ambit Marketing asked me to write something that would grab attention and promote the importance of Census participation. I penned this parody of the beloved 1962 Token's hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" renamed "Let's Make Our Future Bright." (May the sacred song gods have mercy on my soul.)

UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY

The United Way of Broward County needed to overcome significant obstacles in rallying the community to contribute to its fundraising campaign. Prior feel-good campaigns were providing a diminishing base of contributors at the same time as competing charities were eroding the United Way brand. In response, our creative team at Ambit Marketing created a stark, hard-hitting campaign that positioned United Way as a leader in solving community problems that had reached disturbing new levels. The campaign boosted financial contributions and won a silver at the 2002 Addy Awards, 4th District.

NEXT DOOR COMPANY

Next Door Company, the only U.S. manufacturer exclusively dedicated to making stainless steel doors and frames, needed to grow residential and commercial sales. We created an ad campaign that used unexpected images to dramatize product and service strengths and convey educational messages about the benefits of stainless steel. The campaign, which won a gold at the 2004 Addy Awards, Fourth District, had a dramatic impact on sales and sharpened Next Door's brand identity as the premier source of stainless steel doors.

BOCA RESEARCH

Boca Research, Inc., a manufacturer of computer hardware products, needed an aggressive marketing campaign to gain exposure for leading-edge products like modems, video boards, memory boards and networking products. Positioning BRI as a high-tech, low-cost alternative to other hardware manufacturers, we helped the upstart company experience rapid growth in a highly competitive industry. The campaign won a silver at the 32nd Addy Awards, 4th District.

AERONAUTICAL SUPPORT

While freelancing for PDI Communications (now Boca-Raton-based BFW Advertising), I worked with their art director to develop a trade ad campaign for aircraft parts-supplier Aeronautical Support, Inc. With its bold but simple visuals and no-nonsense message about cutting operating costs, the campaign raised ASI's profile as a sophisticated and air-worthy supporting partner to new generation fleet operators. It won a gold at the 31st Addy Awards, 4th District.

CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

Hallandale Beach, a quiet coastal community in the heart of South Florida's boom, needed strategic economic development to attract quality developers, lenders and businesses to their city. Working for Fort Lauderdale-based Ambit Advertising and Public Relations, I helped create a successful two-year marketing campaign for the city urging those who thought they knew Hallandale Beach to take another look. Aggressively promoting development opportunities that were among the best in Florida, the campaign resulted in 14 major projects receiving city approval or beginning construction.

BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO

When is a help wanted sign more than a help wanted sign? When it's hanging in the window of home entertainment retailer Blockbuster Video. I co-concieved this piece with one of my favorite art directors, Steve Saley, during Blockbuster's early growth years. The copy captures the personality and allure of the entertainment industry while the casting call visual features actual Blockbuster employees.