More about me. The Wingman Story.
Oh, where to begin!? Let’s set the dial back to 2007 – a year filled with sunburns, sandy beaches, and a sudden epiphany. Even though it feels like a distant memory, the events of that year remain vivid in my mind. It started like this: I embarked on a trip to Antigua for a friend’s wedding and to bask on the beach to turn my very pale Minnesota skin golden brown. It was then, like a sudden revelation, the realization hit me – “Holy crap, I quit my job!” and “Crap, SPF 15 doesn’t cut it!”
As I grappled with this newfound freedom and my sore, sunburnt skin, I couldn’t shake the responsibility looming over me. “Did you forget you have two little humans, aged seven and five, relying on you for everything, I mean EVERYTHING?” My thoughts nagged at me throughout that trip, to say the least.
Leaving the comfort of a stable paycheck requires courage and independence. Fueled by my creative spirit, I was confident I could always secure another ‘real’ job if things didn’t work out. I Kicked off my creative journey in 1998 at Carmichael Lynch, one of the country’s best creative agencies at the time. I started as a production artist, and with hard work, I became an Art Director after building my student portfolio at Brainco Portfolio School in Minneapolis. I worked on projects for iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Porsche, American Standard, and Rapala, to name a few. I learned from some of the BEST creatives – an experience that forever shaped my career. From there, I ventured into the realm of smaller Minnesota agencies, refining my skills and embracing my creative independence.
Post-vacation, I found myself staring at a blank screen, fingers poised over the keyboard, reaching out to my first prospect. And just like that, the freelance saga began – a 17-year-long whirlwind of emails, clients, and endless creativity. Creative Wingman was off and running.
As I sit here rewinding this journey, I can’t help but feel a surge of gratitude for this amazing adventure. It’s been thrilling every step of the way, from collaborating with amazing clients to the overpriced office furniture I had to assemble–for hours on end. Keep following along, as there’s still plenty more excitement ahead! 🚀
