PERSONAL INFO
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT TEAM GLEASON/ANSWER ALS (freelance) (SEPT 2020 - PRESENT) • WRITER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT AMAZON D1/XCM, MASS ADVERTISING (AUG 2017 - SEPT 2020) • SENIOR WRITER/ACD at KBS, NYC (2013 - 2017) • WRITER at OGILVY NYC (2011-2013) • WRITER/CD at MMERRITT//CREATIVE (2008-PRESENT) • PROOFER at THE RICHARDS GROUP (2005-2009) LOVER OF CHICKEN NACHOS SINCE FOREVER.
copytarist@gmail.com
My first job was being a paperboy. Best job I’ve ever had. Responsibilities included flinging the town's most reliable source of news into the shrubbery, trees and lawns of its semi-pissed citizens from a shaky, speeding moped. Next I stepped into the wide, wide world of appliance delivery. A mildly overhyped world created by Larry White of White's Washer & Dryer. Then it was on to junk auction car driving. “Don’t need a license to be a junk auction car driver,” said the junk auction car manager. "Just get that smoking, flame-filled bucket of melted death through the auction or else." Next I was an asphalt layer. The thing about laying asphalt is, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Freeing you up for more important things, like counting clouds, circling vultures or on the fact that you’re definitely going to go to college. My dream job? Obviously I’d have to say spy/chemist who works on top of a donut shop, and then I’m on a jet ski for some reason.
WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT MIKE
PRE-SMART VIDEO
I won the 2011 Big Ad Gig, held during Adweek in NYC. Part of the competition was to spoof a famous ad. I chose "Failure" with Michael Jordan, done here by Wieden and Kennedy.
RECOGNITION
CANNES LION - BRONZE, SHORT LIST
MULTIPLE GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE CLIOS FOR AMAZON, BMW AND ANSWER ALS
MULTIPLE ONE SHOW BRONZE PENCILS AND MERITS FOR AMAZON, BMW AND STUDENT WORK