What drew you to working at Willow Marketing?

I have known Brad Gillum for many years, and I know a lot of people who have worked for him. I trust Brad, and I have a great deal of respect for him and the team he has built. Willow’s 30-year legacy in this market was a big factor, as well as the client base and the work. I think there is a huge opportunity for growth at Willow, and I am really excited to be able to contribute to the organization.

Favorite type of music/genre/artist

Funk and Fusion from the mid to late 1970’s

Favorite Indy restaurant

Bakersfield / anywhere that serves tacos

What would you do if you could do anything for free?

I’d be a full-time musician (I play drums), ideally with an A-list artist with a history of hiring amazing drummers like Sting or Steely Dan, or with a funk band like Tower of Power or the Headhunters. Stevie Wonder would be a great gig as well (he is one of my favorite drummers).

What is the biggest misconception about your job?

The biggest misconception about being a strategist is that we don’t “do” anything – in other words, the deliverable in many cases is an insight or a concept or an idea that guides future work, not a :30 TV spot or a mobile app or in many cases, even a plan. Many people don’t understand that good strategy is a force multiplier – it makes everything work better. Good strategy work maximizes all of your resources – time, money, energy – as efficiently as possible for the best outcomes possible. Great strategy work enables you to forecast into the future and make well-informed tactical decisions, so you can skate to where the puck is going to be, not just where it is right now.