Those moments on every project, even after almost twenty years as a Creative Director, where I can’t believe the talent and creativity that I’m working with. I’ve been very blessed over the years to have been surrounded by the funniest, most passionate and dedicated writers, producers and artists. And every project no matter big or small takes me back to the days when I was running around the basement filming animated Super 8 movies. Or producing, directing and acting in all those college projects. A real “Jack of all trades” is what my Auburn communications professor labeled it .

After school I paid the dues on corporate videos and short films, all the while maintaining a handle on post production training so that I could edit anything that I made. That led to a job on the overnight shift at one of Atlanta’s first editorial companies, which led to working with Cartoon Network employees who were feverishly cutting the next great Scooby Doo promo until 3 in the morning. From them I connected with the internal On-Air Creative agency and worked both as a producer and then as a writer, leaning how to write for animated characters and kids television. And most importantly, I worked in a department that allowed me to grow as a creative and learn to direct live action spots and content. In 1999, I directed the Scooby Doo Blair Witch parody, The Scooby Doo project. It went viral before there was viral.

In 2000 I took a job as Senior Writer at SyFy channel working on promos and launching Steven Spielberg’s UFO mini-series TAKEN. Followed by stints at Nickelodeon and the N. My favorite assignment. Directing Master P and SNL’s Victoria Jackson in promos for the ‘lil Romeo show. In 2003 I was hired as Creative Director at IFC during their time of transition in the Bravo split with NBC. And then VOOM HD networks launched and I also oversaw the Animania HD branding and launch package at the same time as my IFC work.

In 2004 I had the unique opportunity to return to Cartoon Network and begin a 12 year stretch as Creative Director for the same On-Air group I began in. From live program production to Sponsored promotion, Comic-con and the rise of Social media, we had our hands full. The Cartoon Creative group had to adapt to our audience and the rise of streaming media. We created an app so that kids could film themselves and submit the videos to us legally. Along with a robust live action and animated style guide toolkit we developed, TV had become social and the audience was part of the Brand. We took the network to number one in kids ratings for the first time in seven years. And along with successful launches of Teen Titans Go!, Adventure Time and the Powerpuff Girls, I felt that it was time to move on from Kids and Animation.

In 2016 I took a job at TNT and TBS and produced Promo and Trailer Campaigns for Animal Kingdom, The SAG awards, Charles Barkley’, and Michael Moore. But I also directed more behind the scenes and creative content than ever before. The work had returned to Live Action direction and a great creative balance that I was looking for.

Where the best ideas from great creative teams still have those magic moments.