Q: What got you into this business in the first place?

A: When I was a kid, I would always draw boxes of my favorite cereal - Tony the Tiger, Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, you name it. So I guess design was in my blood - or bowl - at an early age.

Q: Who was a big influence in your career?

A: My first creative director. He was not only able to help me understand advertising, but he was able to show me what passion for advertising was. You can’t teach that in school.

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment in this business?

A: When I was at the St. Pete Times, I had a presentation to the board. It went perfect, except it was the wrong meeting, wrong time and wrong date. Nobody said a word. Other than that, it was perfect.

Q: What makes a great brand?

A: If you can get people to say “I want to be that” or “I am that” you are definitely heading in the right direction.

Q: If you had to live on a desert island, what would you miss most?

A: A/C and my morning café con leche.

Q: Is there any food that helps you think more creatively?

A: Beer and pizza, what else?

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?

A: FSU and The Bucs.

Q: What do you for a good time when you’re not working?

A: Spending time with my family, off-road bike riding, playing frisbie golf.

Q: What was college like for you?

A: Lots of fun. I was the guy with the old VW Van with a keg in the back.

Q: What are your favorite internet sites?

A: veryfunnyads.com, beerlabels.com, thesamba.com, espn.com, pitchfork.tv

Music of the moment:

MGMT - Time to Pretend
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
The Moldy Peaches – Anyone Else But You