About

Why a Strategic Sniper?

I’ve spent my entire career in small advertising agencies. Trained as an account executive (if you call “Here, figure this out,” training), at an early phase in this profession, I found myself thirsting for more. More knowledge and understanding. More depth.

So, I asked questions. Lots of them. And I still do.

Eventually, I found an agency home where they got fed up with my questions and told me to take on an account planning role. At the end of that four-year stint, I launched my own agency — 8th Idea — where I am bent on helping those in the “care” businesses (healthcare, animal health, hospitality/tourism and not-for-profit) as well as small- to mid-size advertising and public relations agencies define and refine marketing strategy and tactics.

With or without title, I have been a strategic brand planner for 15 years trying to change the world for small agencies.

In addition to working for these boutique agencies, I have also served as an adjunct professor in the Scheiffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University. There, I tried to get undergraduate students to understand not just the “how” of marketing communications, but the “why.” Create more questioners and more questions.

I have extended my formal education with graduate classes, strategic planning seminars and AAAA’s Planning Conferences.

There have even been clients and conferences that have asked me to speak, moderate groups and even impersonate the SNL cheerleading skit from a few years back.

Do you care about awards? I’ve been part of many teams which have won many accolades. Awards are great, but I’d rather work on projects where I can help make a difference for a client.

I’ve had to ply my trade in fits and spurts. Go in. Strike. Leave.

A strategic sniper.

Through it all, I have learned how to initiate conversations between brands and buyers through the power of meaningful, authentic relationships. And that’s what keeps me coming back day after day.