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SAFETY KILLS.

Those two words pretty much sum up my philosophy of advertising. Because while typical, safe, comfortable advertising won’t raise any eyebrows, it won’t raise any profits either. In fact, it probably won’t get noticed at all. Which in my humble opinion makes safe, invisible advertising the most dangerous killer of all.

Just check out my work for a diverse range of local, regional and national clients, across every medium known to humankind. With many years of writing and creative direction under my belt, I’ve learned that it takes a lot more blood, sweat and tears than genius to get your work recognized in the International Graphis Advertising Annual for the past 15 years in a row…and counting. This includes being a nine-time winner of the coveted Graphis Platinum Award, which is only awarded to 10 agencies around the world each year for what Graphis judges to be the 10 best ads in the competition. And because of all my award-winning work, PPK was honored as a Graphis Advertising Master, joining a select list of 18 global creative powerhouse agencies who have earned this distinction, including Wieden & Kennedy; Goodby Silverstein & Partners; BBDO; Zulu Alpha Kilo; DM9DDB; and The Richards Group.

Over the years, I’ve taken some of the greatest pride in helping nonprofits like Big Cat Rescue, Metropolitan Ministries, ASPCA, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Jailhouse Fire Hot Sauce and the Florida Aquarium achieve national prominence and creative acclaim. All on very limited, shoe-string budgets.

For example, in 2016, my Big Cat Rescue Anti-Circus Campaign was featured as a full page spread in Lurzer’s International Archive Magazine (Vol. 6). This Campaign also won a prestigious Silver OBIE Award and my “Cruelest Show On Earth” radio spot was an International Radio Mercury Finalist. But most gratifying of all, this campaign raised awareness of the exploitation and mistreatment of animals at many circuses, which ultimately led them to have to change their ways or go out of business.

Last year, I had another radio spot for Big Cat Rescue, as well as the AWI (Animal Welfare Institute), that were Finalists for “Best Spot For A Cause” in the International 2021 Radio Mercury Awards. This marks the fifth year in a row that I’ve been a Finalist in the Radio Mercury Awards, including having two Finalists in 2020; one Finalist in 2019; three Finalists in 2018; and two Finalists in 2017.

I was very proud to win a 2020 International Bronze Kinsale Shark Award for a radio spot that I created for the Animal Welfare Institute to make people aware of the horrors of shark finning. This honor was especially noteworthy since PPK was the only U.S. agency to win this distinguished global award in 2020 and the only agency to win in the radio category for charities and trusts.

Other big achievements include winning seven International OBIE Awards – over the past four out of six years, most recently earning two 2020 International OBIE’s for the Florida Aquarium. What’s more, for seven straight years (from 2010 to 2017) I won top Flagler Tourism Awards for the Aquarium, as well as being a three-time winner of the global IAAPA (International Association Of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Brass Ring Award for Best Out Of Home Advertising and Best Radio Spots for them.

My perspiration and passion have led to multiple appearances in Communications Arts, Print Regional Design, HOW International Design and ADWEEK. Additionally, I’ve collected numerous National ADDY Awards (including six national winners in one year alone) and a pile of District Charlie Awards for the best work in the state of Florida. I’ve won too many local Tampa Bay Addy Awards to count, including over 100 in one year alone, and was honored to be a two-time recipient of a special Judges Award For Best Writing. I even helped PP+K win the prestigious AAAA O’Toole Award as one of the top three most creative agencies in the nation with under 100 employees. But I’d have to say my greatest joy of all has come from seeing my work help clients’ businesses grow and flourish.

HARD WORK WORKS.

I’ve always believed the best way to achieve success in anything is to OUTWORK everyone else.  My strong competitive drive and unmatched work ethic helped me rise to the top in tennis, as well as earn Valedictorian honors at my high school and take home the National Journalism Top Scholar Award for the highest senior class ranking in the University of Iowa School of Journalism.  Today, I’m still working just as long and hard to produce the most effective, award-winning creative possible.  And when I’m not writing, concepting or creating something, I’m probably spending time with my wonderful wife, Gisela.  I’m still a hard-core tennis fanatic and equally fanatical about my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Lakers and Oakland A’s.