In my own words
— Gordy<p><strong style="color: rgb(225, 80, 48);">CREATIVE DIRECTOR</strong> <strong style="color: rgb(80, 171, 216);">|</strong> <strong style="color: rgb(225, 80, 48);">BRAND Strategist</strong> with 25+ years driving success through strategic positioning, innovative campaigns, and collaborative leadership.
As an ideator, I uncover a brand’s purpose to create emotional connections with audiences. Anything can look great, but without strategic thinking, it has a short shelf life. I’m not the type who shows up to your birthday party and makes it all about me and nor do I believe brands should act like this either.</p>
Trajectory
Jan 2025 — Now
Senior Ceative Strategist · Sword Health
Leading concept development, creative strategy, and brand storytelling from business goal to execution for a $4B health tech startup.
Aug 2017 — Oct 2024
CREATIVE DIRECTOR · CAPITAL GOODS
Founded in 2017 with the belief there was a better (and way more fun) way of working that prioritizes collaboration and transparency throughout every step of the process. We were a team of 3 consisting of me and 2 account leads.
• Led the creative team, strategy, planning and execution for the following clients: Eddie Bauer and Taos Ski Valley.
• Developed a social media structure for Eddie Bauer. Specifically launched the #WhyIHike
campaign which resulted in 100k+ tags in the first month.
• Revamped Taos' brand position and launched a successful campaign, resulting in a 36% rise in Colorado visitors.
Jul 2022 — Dec 2023
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES · CAREREV
A tech startup in the healthcare industry, specializing in revolutionizing the flexible workforce model. I was a member of the Senior Leadership Team and reported to the Chief Strategy Officer.
• Developed a brand strategy and identity to reflect the company’s mission of empowering healthcare professionals and modernizing hospital staffing to both our key audiences (healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals).
• Created scalable brand systems, including messaging guides, visual toolkits, and campaign templates ensuring creative consistency and operational efficiency.
• Partnered cross-functionally with growth, product, and clinical teams to align brand storytelling with business goals, internal culture, and market trends.
• Directed and motivated a team of seasoned art directors, copywriters, designers and freelancers to help them achieve their full potential.
Apr 2018 — Aug 2022
CREATIVE DIRECTOR · HILL AEVIUM
Hill Aevium (now The Blackbird Agency) hired me to build an exceptional creative team for elevated campaign output.
• Modernized agency creative operations, introducing streamlined processes, brand guidelines, and creative briefs to improve clarity and delivery timelines.
• Acted as a strategic partner to clients, translating business objectives into breakthrough creative that strengthened brand equity and drove engagement.
• Additionally, served as the agency producer to estimate, triple bid, produce and deliver all deliverables regarding photography, video and radio. Responsible for pre and post-production.
Aug 2016 — Sep 2017
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING · SPEEDVAGEN
A collaboration between master fabricators, expert bicycle painters, wood, leather, fabric and metal workers. All working to build the best bicycle you will ever own.
• Developed and implemented a multi-channel marketing strategy spanning experiential campaigns, product launches, social media, email, and events fueling consistent growth in DTC engagement and sales.
• Increased traffic to speedvagen.com by 188%, resulting in 64% increase in sales.
Jan 2015 — Sep 2016
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR · PILGRIM
I was hired to differentiate and improve this health and wellness-focussed-boutique agency.
• Co-led with the Creative Director the strategy, planning and execution for the following
clients: Eating Recovery Center, Connect For Health Colorado, AAA Colorado, The Colorado
Wildlife Council, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, P2Bi Investors and The Fifty (Award show).
Mar 2014 — Dec 2014
CREATIVE DIRECTOR · SCHOOL
An agency, specializing in experiential marketing that used AOR contracts to build schools in countries of need with sole purpose of winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Led the creative team, strategy, planning and execution for Microsoft.
Sep 2009 — Mar 2014
CREATIVE DIRECTOR · AMÉLIE COMPANY
I was hired specifically to differentiate and elevate this boutique agency. In my nearly 5 years we
boosted agency awareness with a 150% increase in agency awards that lead to client satisfaction
and agency brand positioning.
• Boosted the agency's productivity by implementing a new creative brief process, strategy
and planning phase and raised the creative bar as a whole - resulting in increased client
satisfaction and securing $5.3MM in revenue growth.
• Led and motivated a team of experienced art directors, copywriters, designers, and creative
professionals. Simultaneously served as the agency producer, overseeing the estimation,
triple bidding, production, and delivery of all photography, video, and radio deliverables,
spanning pre and post-production phases.
Feb 2006 — May 2007
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR · MCCLAIN FINLON
Mar 2003 — Feb 2006
ART DIRECTOR · THE MANDALA AGENCY
May 2002 — Feb 2003
JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR · GREY DIRECT
Dec 2000 — Sep 2001
ART DIRECTOR INTERN · FITZGERALD
Activity
Projects
Education history
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
BA | 1994 - 1998
THE CREATIVE CIRCUS
ART DIRECTION | 1999 - 2001



