Orville and Wilbur's Wings Just Right was a aviation themed chicken concept originally included in the newly renovated Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

It was unsuccessful and closed rather quickly. Discovering there was still contractual obligations several months later, it was decided to place the concept in McDonald Dining Center, one of the more out-dated facilities.

Instead of the usual fan fare to open a new facility I instructed staff to only provide minimal information, and only when asked.

Shown is the three week campaign for the opening. The first two weeks didn't mention the wings concept at all, the third week was opening week and the big reveal.

The atypical plan worked so well after three days Tyson food service Ohio was depleted of chicken and was trucking it in from other states to meet our and other customers needs.

Along with the legal sized flyers, newspaper ads and table tents were created.

I was given the task of rebranding the meat department. Upon doing my research I discovered more meat departments were old and outdated than not.

So spinning the negative into a positive I called the department "old fashioned" and equated quality, additive free meat and personal hands on service to "old fashioned." I then redesigned materials to have a old fashioned look to them.

The logo for the efforts is pictured here. Nicknamed "Chuck" he was used him as the spokesperson in our weekly circulars, educating and informing customers about different cuts of meats and services in the meat department.

Rebranding efforts also the circular, posters, ceiling dangers, case dividers, packaging, and uniforms for the meat department.

After the roll out of the program department sales increased 3% over prior year.

designed this logo for a local non-profit that collects used coats, launders them, then gives to the needy.

The logo needed to be very simple, yet seasonal.

Every year the village of McComb has a cookie festival to raise money to build a community center.

I redesigned the sponsorship brochure that is sent to local businesses, keeping the original Cookie Festival logo. The redesign helped make for a record fundraising year.

When BGSU Dining Services took over Athletic Concessions from the Athletic Department, this allowed meal plans to be used at concession stands for the first time.

The average college student has the remarkable ability to be oblivious to everything around them, and we needed a way to reach as many students attending athletic events as possible.

This fake dollar bill was designed to do just that. The outside featured the two ends of a five dollar bill, the inside contained the message. They were folded in half and dropped liberally at athletic events and across campus.

Most students couldn't resist picking one up. At worst, they were picked up and thrown back down for someone else to pick up. This was a very effective guerrilla marketing tactic.

The design also had to take into account the legal definition of counterfeiting.

Raise the Steaks

This was an advertisement in a magazine handed out to customers to coincide with the initial roll out of the Eat Local Food program.

This was a billboard I created for several markets to promote our Eat Local Food campaign.

BiG Event

I needed a photo of the, at the still under construction, Bowen-Thompson Student Union for an invitation for a grand opening event for University Dining Services.

Using Photoshop I changed the smaller picture shown here into the larger, producing a convincing fake. I had more than one person tell me later they "remembered" when that happened, even though the actual grand opening featured fireworks not spotlights as I had guessed.

The name of our event tied into the University's current marketing, playing up the BG in BiG. The Building photo was shot digitally with a Canon Camera, sunset shot digitally with Olympus D-450.

University Dining Services was looking for a way to help parents deliver gifts to students.

Not only did I design the brochure I also helped determine what gift offerings should be made.

Every item in each gift bag offering I deliberately photographed individually and composed together in Photoshop to overcome the extremely difficult task of photographing multiple reflective surfaces with limited resources. As a side effect it also allowed for easy updating of this brochure as well as the web site I also created.

The Apple A Day Nutritional Center web site was designed for Fresh Encounter, Inc. There was no existing web site prior, so this was it's first presence on the web.

The live site has been maintained by someone else since the end of my employment.

2009 National Grocers Association Creative Choice Award Winner

The part of the project shown here was an invitation to the 2008 Ohio's Best Bagger contest. I not only designed the invitation, but helped to plan the event.

Despite being the first independent grocer to hold the event we increased the number of participants by over 30%. We were able to turn the negative of having a much smaller facility than previous years into a positive by having the event in a big top tent in the parking lot and theming the day around the circus.

Every detail of the day was carefully planned from popcorn scented invitations to competing grocery store baggers, to soliciting vendor sponsorships, to entertaining the participants and the store customers with circus related activities in the parking lot and inside the store.

With new ownership, the Beauty Lounge was looking to have their web site revamped and more functionality added to it, as well as divorce it's self from the second location still under previous ownership.

After redesigning the logo, I set to work on the web site, simplifying navigation, cleaning up the overall look and incorporating social media.

While the Beauty Lounge did have an existing and well run Facebook presence, the new look was extended there. I did set up a new Twitter account and Pinterest account for the salon to extend the reach of their social media.

This is a label for a one pint micro-brew beer bottle that I designed for a freelance project.

Candid photo. Shot digitally with a Canon Powershot S50 with an after market Fisheye lens.

PRESS RELEASE
Cookie Festival This Weekend!

Looking for family fun this weekend? Look no further than the 4th Annual McComb Cookie Festival. This family festival held in McCombs Clo E. Greiner Park celebrates the town of McComb and it’s strong ties to the Consolidated Biscuit Company, or the “Cookie Factory” as the local residents call it.

The festival features food, rides and cookie themed games all weekend long. Other cookie related events include a cookie bake off and a cookie auction. Official McComb Cookie Festival T-Shirts, Cookbooks and Calendars will also be available to purchase at the event. Be sure not to miss the festival parade, which starts at 10am on Saturday and goes through downtown McComb, followed by a days worth of events in the park including the Friends of the McComb Public Library hosting mystery author Judy Clemens at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 9. A pool party will be held both Friday and Saturday night and is open to the public. The weekend finishes out on Sunday with a community Church service, chicken BBQ and Cornhole tournament. All this and more makes this a festival not to be missed.

The McComb Festival begins at 5pm on Friday, August 8th and runs through Sunday, August 10th. All money raised by the festival is to raise funds for the construction of a well needed Community Center for the Village of McComb.

PRESS RELEASE
Ohio's Best Bagger

On Tuesday, August 12th grocery baggers from stores across the state including Community Markets, Giant Eagle, Chief Supermarkets, Bassett’s Market, Kroger’s and a host of other companies will compete in the Ohio Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Competition. Five state finalists win $100 and the state champion wins $1,000 and a trip to Las Vegas, where they will compete in the National Grocers Association’s National Best Bagger Contest.

Contestants are judged not only on speed, but also on weight distribution between bags, correct bagging technique, professional appearance and attitude. According to Community Markets Director of Training, Jeff Waldron all aspects of the competition are important. “Being quick obviously helps, but if you put eggs or another crushable product on the bottom, you won’t be the best bagger.” Kelly Barr, Director of Government Relations for Ohio Grocer Association agreed. “The best bagger contest is an exciting competition, which serves as a great way to enhance proper and effective bagging techniques, as well as a prime opportunity for our member stores to showcase their talented employees.”

This years’ Ohio bagging contest is being held at Great Scot Community Markets at 2021 Broad Ave. in Findlay and is being called “Bagging Under the Big Top.” The store will take on a circus theme for the day and feature games, clowns, some of the world’s smallest horses and many more circus themed activities and food for contestants, spectators and the stores regular customers. The day’s circus themed events start at 9am, with the actual bagging contest starting at 1:30pm.

The Ohio Grocers Foundation advocates for issues relating to the grocery business, which allows for promotion and enhancement of the food industry and related careers, through education, tuition reimbursement, training and consumer awareness. Visit the Foundation’s website at http://www.ohiogrocersfoundation.org/. Visit the Ohio Grocers Association website at http://www.ohiogrocers.org/ for more details on the bagging contest including a downloadable bagging contest training manual, compliments of the National Grocers Association.

Great Scot Community Markets is part of Findlay, OH based Fresh Encounter, Inc. which operates thirty-one stores throughout Ohio and eastern Indiana under a variety of banners including Community Markets, Fulmer Community Markets, Great Scot Community Markets and Sack ‘N Save.

Best Bagger Contestants
Manning, Michele - Carnival Foods : Circleville
Zaic, Mike - Giant Eagle : Cleveland
Mansour, Saaid - Savmor BiRite : Cleveland
Haddad, John - Huffman's : Columbus
Keethler, Adam - Huffman's : Upper Arlington
Murray, Billy - Huffman's : Upper Arlington
Greenlee, Cody - Kroger : Columbus
Burckholter, Theresa - Chief Supermarkets : Celina
Imm, Barb - Chief Supermarkets : Napoleon
Moll , Tyler - Chief Supermarkets : Wauseon
Stachler, Jeff - Chief Supermarkets : Coldwater
Hanefeld, Cody - Community Markets : Delta
Lauck, Jamie - Community Markets : Cridersville
Smith, Brian - Community Markets : Wapakoneta
Sybert, Megan - Community Markets : Ada
Banks, Jake - Sutton's Super Valu : Gordon
Webb, Justin - Sutton's Super Valu : Greenville
Lebeau, Nick - Kroger : Grove City
Baraz, Kon - Giant Eagle : Highland Hts
Flanders, Josh - Carnival Foods : Lancaster
Lehman, Jessy - Carnival Foods : Lancaster
Mitchell, Tara - Carnival Foods : Circleville
McConnell, Kevin - Buehler's Food Market : Massillon
Cooley, Heather - Dorothy Lane Market : Oakwood
Bergman, Tom - Dorothy Lane Market : Oakwood
Jividen, Maddie - Bassett's Market : Port Clinton
Kitzler, Melissa - Bassett's Market : Port Clinton
Farley, Denise - Giant Eagle : Ravenna
Caetta, Eric - Giant Eagle : Stow
Legler, Bailey - Huffman's : Upper Arlington
Glockner, Chris - Buehler's Food Markets : Wadsworth
Smith, Andrew - Buehler's Food Markets : Wadsworth
Budding, Nick - Dorothy Lane Market : Washington Square
Greene, Ryan - Dorothy Lane Market : Springboro
Beagle, Mitchell - Appleseed IGA : Arlington
Derr, Matt - Appleseed IGA : Arlington
Elsea, Caleb - Appleseed IGA : Arlington
Lewis, Russel - Kroger : Dublin
Knoz, Sharon - Kroger : Toledo
Smith, Thomas - Kroger : Mt. Vernon
Young, Ryan - Kroger : Dublin

I was given the task of rebranding the meat department.

When it came to the packaging of the meat, the shield logo was developed and printed with a gold foil label. The shield, with stars in gold was to evoke only the highest quality. The black trays were selected to emphasis the red color of the meat, with out altering the meat with additive or preservatives.

Rebranding efforts also included the circular, ceiling danglers, case dividers, packaging, and uniforms for the meat department.

After the roll out of the program department sales increased 3% over prior year.

I created this logo for the Hancock County Chapter of the Red Cross.

This logo presented two major challenges. The first was to properly incorporate the existing the well known Red Cross logo following the rules set forth by the sixty-four page style guide.

The second was finding a way to to portray the military while still evoking the inviting feeling a family support group should have.

I was given the task of rebranding the meat department. Upon doing my research I discovered more meat departments were old and outdated than not.

So spinning the negative into a positive I called the department "old fashioned" and equated quality, additive free meat and personal hands on service to "old fashioned."I then redesigned materials to have a old fashioned look to them.

Rebranding efforts also included the circular, ceiling danglers, case dividers, packaging, and uniforms for the meat department.

After the roll out of the program department sales increased 3% over prior year.

I was given the task of rebranding the meat department. Upon doing my research I discovered more meat departments were old and outdated than not.

So spinning the negative into a positive I called the department "old fashioned" and equated quality, additive free meat and personal hands on service to "old fashioned." I then redesigned materials to have a old fashioned look to them.

Rebranding efforts included the circular, posters, ceiling danglers, case dividers, packaging, and uniforms for the meat department.

After the roll out of the program department sales increased 3% over prior year.

This was a billboard I created for several locations to promote our meat department.

This was designed to promote lemon flavored baked goods in the Community Markets stores.

This life size "chalk board" was so realistic when printed, many people had to touch it to make sure it was not real.

Jellyfish, in artifical lighting. shot from below. No post shot edits.

Shot on iPhone.

This was direct mailed to businesses located near our store locations for the holiday season to increase sales of gift baskets, turkeys, hams, gift cards and certificates and party trays. They were also handed out at store level. One new customer from this mailing alone bought over 500 turkeys for their employees.

Not only did I design this brochure, I also created the gift card pictured in the brochure.

This logo was designed as a freelance project for a new local children's play center.

The owner wanted to keep the logo to be simple and reflect the fun playful attitude of the business

Still life photo of a FireTruck. Shot in September 2012 on iPhone, edited in Photoshop

Shot in a studio as a product shoot for a line of hats.

Shot on traditional film with a Pentax K-1000

This is the design I created for the Community Markets private label milk.

While redesigning the milk labels was not the most complex project, anytime your design is put on to something bought millions of times a year, it's quite rewarding.

The Community Markets radio spots were starting to sound dated, so I rewrote the script and had the music updated. This is the generic spot that I scripted, utilizing two "donuts" to begin and end future radio spots.

:60 Spot

When you want quality meats, fresh produce and a friendly face, visit Great Scot Community Markets.

Your Community Market is the neighborhood store. We know our customers as family friends and neighbors and work hard to give them the quality meats, fresh produce and low prices they deserve. We routinely go the extra mile for your business, whether it’s a special order, or carrying your groceries.

Your Community Markets is proud to offer our customers a simple shopping experience. Simple shopping means you simply get the lowest price, no special card needed. It means our meats are still cut by hand in our store, so they simply taste better. It means we sell locally produced food whenever possible because it’s simply the right thing to do.

For hours and location in your community, visit Community Markets dot com.

This is a radio spot I wrote for the company's Save-A-Lot franchise soon after it's grand opening.

:30 Spot

Wanna save a lot on groceries? Then come to Save-A-Lot!

It's more than a name, it's a promise to save you money. At Save-A-Lot, our everyday low prices are the sale prices!

Shop and see the proof in the receipt. At Save-A-Lot we put our promise to you right in our name, with the quality and value you deserve. And most of all something we all love to do, save ... a lot!

Save-A-Lot. Now open in Fostoria in the old Pharm location.

This is a radio spot I scripted for the company's new grocery concept.

Back to Back :30 Spots

Starting April Twenty-Ninth, Springfield now has a better grocery alternative, the Springfield Grocery Outlet!

Located at four thirty two South Burnett Road in the former Fulmer location, the Springfield Grocery Outlet offers a low cost alternative to traditional grocery shopping.

But what makes this store really unique is the combination of deep discount prices, a fresh meat department and a large produce selection.

The Springfield Grocery Outlet; where the whole store is on sale every day.

The Springfield Grocery Outlet offers a greater product selection than discount supermarkets, while still offering the extreme value, everyday low pricing you'd expect from a discount supermarket.

The Springfield Grocery Outlet is a better choice for shoppers who want extreme low prices on name brand products every time they shop.

We're open daily eight a.m. to nine p.m. Springfield Grocery Outlet: No card. No gimmicks, no hassles, just every day deep discount prices

Four thirty two South Burnett Road in the former Fulmer location,

This is a radio spot I scripted for the company's new grocery concept.

Back to back :30 Spots

Don't have the time for a regular grocery store?

Then you'll love the Port Clinton Market Express. We're opening on April twenty-ninth and we'll be selling all the traditional items you'd find at the market, in a convenience express format.

We're not a traditional convenience store, and you'll know that from our expanded fresh meat department and excellent produce selection not found in a regular convenience store.

Port Clinton Market Express, your most important stop in Port Clinton.

The Port Clinton Market Express offers convenient alternative to traditional grocery shopping.

We're not a traditional grocery store and you'll know that from grab and go sandwiches, hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches, coffee bar, cappuccino and soda fountain.

So if you want a fresh meal solution or a gallon of milk and steak for the grill, the most important stop in Port Clinton is the Port Clinton Market Express.

We're located at one oh four Monroe Street, in the former Great Scot location Across from the Jet Express parking lot.

This was an advertisement in the local newspaper promoting a one day sale in the Ossian Community Markets.

As Fresh Encounter began this new grocery concept, I was challenged to create a name and look that complimented the company's existing logos and color scheme, yet still looked like a separate entity.

The name, "Market Express," was picked to reflect that the store would be not as big as a grocery store, but with more fresh meat and produce than a convenience store.

In this design, I used the same fonts that were in existing logos, but used different shades of the signature colors.

The goal was to boost sales by promoting our store in Wilmington via a direct mail campaign focusing on emphasizing the “Community” in “Your Community Market” without ignoring item and price. Our effort was to put a human face with our stores, and that face would be that of an actual employee, not a model/actor.

A four part direct mail series was first put together for the Wilmington Market. Each mailer would hit homes two weeks apart and coupons on the mailer were good for two weeks. The concept of the mailer was that in competing with the big box stores, it’s a gamble from week to week on pricing. What we can compete with them on is the quality customer service customers can get from our experienced staff. The mailers are an educational piece where actual staff from the store, not actors or models, tell about their store and what they do. Photos were also intentionally in a less than perfect state so that customers viewing the piece would recognize the piece as a local employee rather than a stock or studio photo.

The text for the mailers was based on actual interviews with the staff pictured on the mailer edited by the advertising department for clarity and space constraints but intentionally kept in a very conversational tone. As an incentive to customers to read the mailers, eight extremely hot coupon items were included on the reverse. Coupon items were also identified by in store signage to help mesh with our “simple shopping” philosophy. Based on the success in Wilmington another mailing was created for the Findlay market where we have two stores, in the exact same style. Future mailings in additional markets are also in the works.

The result was a 5% increase in sales over previous year.

I set up and maintained the twitter account for the Fresh Encounter stores.

Tweets went out seven days a week and told of upcoming promotions, ad specials and sent out coupon offers.

As a result of my efforts I was asked to speak to a group of local business owners (Flag City Online Members) on how to repeat my success on Twitter with their business.

This program has been maintained by someone else since the end of my employment.

This is a complete reinvention and rebranding of the "Sack 'N Save" concept and logo to "Sack & Save."

Newspaper ad placed for a "One Day Meat Sale" for Save-A-Lot