1First, tell us about yourself, your company, job profile, etc.
As the co-founder of DonorDrive, my role in the company is to set strategy, lead our teams to serve our clients to meet their organization’s mission. I’m responsible for all facets of our success ranging from Product, Services, Operations, and leadership. My background was formally in marketing as began my career at Procter & Gamble food products, which led me Chicago largest advertising agencies leading marketing communication strategy for clients such as Kraft, Kelloggs, S.C. Johnson Wax, Canada Dry, Chiquita, and many others. I was involved in early in the commercial internet by creating the first website for Saab Cars. I founded my first company TSL Group in 1995 and then Global Cloud in 1997.
2Tell us a bit about your business and what you do.
We initially began as a website and custom internet programming company. We worked with many Fortune 500 clients including Procter & Gamble, News Corp, Fox Studios and many to large organizations. In 2001, we began work for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International where custom created among the first Peer to Peer fundraising solutions with social media integration along with a dozen other custom applications to support juvenile diabetes. This work led to our development of the DonorDrive peer-to-peer fundraising platform in 2007. Today, we serve hundreds of clients with our platform and services.
3Congratulations! As the winner of the 2018 Muse Creative Awards, what does winning this award mean to you and your team?
Since our founding, design solutions were based on solid strategic insights and leadership. We are most proud that in our 20+ years of business because our designs continue to be relevant and best serve our clients communication needs. I am so proud of the dedicated, hard-working design team for their creativity to best serve our client’s needs. I’m thrilled that others outside of our organization give our designers the recognition they deserve.
4Where do you see the evolution of creative industry going over the next 5-10 years?
I believe that while our tools will evolve, the ability of the individual designer to create award winning, business building work is paramount by continuing to connect with individuals. Machines cannot replace the personal connection that designers create. I believe there will continue to be trends that many follow, but good design will continue to solve strategic communication challenges.
5What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
1. We are helping our clients heal the world.
2. Our industry embraces innovation.
3. We facilitate personal connections in the tech-heavy world.
6What makes your country specifically, unique in the creative industry?
I believe that the U.S. has been and will to be the leader in innovation and creativity. Our dedication to design and problem solving will remain our point of difference in the world. Others my out-manufacture us, but the U.S. will continue to lead innovation and design leadership.
7If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering a career in creative industry, what would it be?
Be passionate about your work and a student of everything around you. You’ll find new solutions to problems that others never dreamed of.
8Finally, what is your key to success?
Passion, persistence and most importantly, an insatiable desire to learn how things work.
