How Tug Does

What He Does

skills

  • Creative Direction

  • Copywriting

  • Email marketing

  • Branding & Positioning

  • Cross-functional collaboration

  • Brand Messaging

  • Video Content ideation, execution & production

  • Commerce content & design leadership

  • Social content development

If you think it, I can help you make it.

More stuff

I am good at.

  • People mentorship & management

  • Resource management & project coordination

  • Client relationships & leadership

  • Growing creative and strategy teams

  • Developing process for moving work from client to ideation to development to deployment

I can help you do a lot of the things that you need done.

TUGLOSOPHIES™

Over the years I have distilled my thoughts about how to do really good work that moves the needle for clients to a few key tenets. They are how I try to approach every client, every project and every person I interact with or lead. They are my Tuglosophies™.

Fret Less. You can do this, you will do this, you have done this.

Tell more stories. Humankind’s number one communication method.

Make it better than it has to be. Do one thing better than the other guy.

Resist the kitchen sink. Simplify everything.

Stop thinking about it. Take a break, let your subconscious take a turn.

Trust your crazy ideas. Genius always seems crazy to someone.

Solve problems with relevance and novelty. This is what creativity is.

Embrace your impostor syndrome. The more you think you know, the less you do. Never stop learning.

“I am an exceptional people leader that knows how to provide priority, perspective and hope.”

Tug @ Work

As an Executive Creative Director with over 30 years of experience in advertising and digital marketing, I possess extensive expertise in branding, video content development and production, copywriting, digital marketing, email, social media, and commerce website development. I am also an accomplished people leader.

I am an expert at creating compelling marketing ideas that drive business growth and have done just that for hundreds of clients over thousands of campaigns and projects over the years. I am a strategic thinker who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering exceptional results.

My goal is to win the hearts and minds of creatives, clients, peers and leaders by being honest, open, transparent and energetic. I do this by leading with humor and heart.

In short: I love making stuff for clients that moves their business forward.

Tug not @ work

Hudson the dog

My wife’s name is Sarah. She and I have been married for 26 years. We have two sons.

Sean is 21 and will be a senior engineering student at Milwaukee School of Engineering in the fall of 2023. He is also a NCAA soccer player at MSOE and won the team’s leadership award after his junior season. He is super smart and even funnier.

Nick is 18 and is going to be a student-athlete ad Johnson County Community College in the fall of 2023. He is also a soccer player. He is very tall. Also smart and funny.

Hudson is a 5-year-old mini–Australian Shepherd. He is a distinct pain in my ass. But I love him too.

They say a lot of things.

Some of those things are about me.

  • Paul Diamond - Partner, Diamond Merckens Hogan

    I had the privilege of working alongside Tug as a creative partner when we were both learning the business and then grew up together as advertising creatives. As a creative, he was thorough in his approach, exhaustive in his craft, and detail-oriented in his execution.

    In seeing him become the ECD he has become, he has put in the time to learn strong management skills, allocating resources in a manner that served his client's interests to their fullest while being responsible to his agency. Tug is one of a kind. He is a person I would trust to come into a room, listen, speak his mind, and then direct the work in a very meaningful, creative, and effective manner.

    Oh, and he’s a blast to work with.

  • Elena Owens - Associate Creative Director, Merkle

    Having worked with Tug several times over the last 25 years, I can confidently say that he is a rare breed of creative. The flow of creative ideas from this guy is non stop, as is the kindness and genuine care he has for his team. No one has more passion or enthusiasm for this crazy business we all work in. As a writer, he helped me hone my craft and push my ideas further. As a leader, he showed how powerful two little words can be: Rock On!

  • David Rappe - Associate Creative Director, Merkle

    I've never worked with someone who has as much energy as Tug. He bring a spark and an energy that can lighten up even the heaviest situations. His ability to manage upwards and downwards while staying honest and empathetic is second to none. And he's never above rolling up his sleeves to get a job done or make a concept shine. And, if you need a hot take on Star Wars, the Muppets, or any other pop culture niche, he's got you covered.