creative director
Creative Director with over 16 years of experience driving brand-right design solutions, leading creative teams, and delivering innovative omni-channel campaigns across hospitality, QSR, lifestyle, and consumer brands.
Expert in conceptual thinking, visual storytelling, and elevating brand experiences across print, digital, packaging, POP, signage, social, and in-restaurant activations.
Proven track record of mentoring and inspiring designers, partnering cross-functionally, and upholding design excellence in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
Broad spectrum of work reflects versatility and capacity to tailor creative solutions to a wide range of sectors, major campaigns, and marketing projects
Lead and engage in highly collaborative communications with all levels, partners, clients, and members. Ensure transparency and present creative concepts by using deep knowledge, and professionalism
Offer comprehensive art direction for photos and video content, encompassing everything from conceptualization through completion. Provide strong proficiency in menu engineering and the strategic placement of items to enhance both sales and guest experience
Oversee the creative team’s development process and cost saving measures ensuring best practices and efficiency.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Concept Development & Visual Storytelling
Budget Management
Senior-Level Leadership & Mentorship
Creative Direction for Video & Photo Content
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Adobe Creative Suite • Figma • Keynote Microsoft Office • Asana
Brand Identity & Guidelines Development
Presentation & Pitching Creative Concepts
CORe
COMPETENCIES
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
The ONE Group
(STK Steakhouse, Benihana, Kona Grill, RA Sushi, Bao Yum, Salt Water Social)
Director of Creative
09/2013 - 07/2025
Led the creative vision and execution for hospitality brands, scaling design solutions across 100+ restaurant locations while establishing and evolving comprehensive brand guidelines.
Evolved brand platforms using insights and category research, unlocking new growth opportunities; supporting revenue expansion from $125.7MM to $825MM. Notably, STK was listed publicly in 2013 and traded on NASDAQ, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory.
Oversaw brand work for newly acquired Kona Grill, including an innovation-led brand refresh that contributed to double-digit YOY sales growth.
Developed the brand look, feel, and creative platform for Bao Yum, a whimsical QSR bao concept, designing menus, signage, and all supporting print and digital collateral in partnership with an external agency.
Delivered omni-channel design campaigns spanning in-restaurant menus, packaging, social, digital, and print collateral, ensuring consistent brand-right execution resulting in double-digit growth year-over-year.
Partnered with culinary, operations, and strategy teams to shape menu innovation, informing product direction, naming, visual merchandising, and campaign strategy for nationwide launches across 100+ locations.
Directed high-volume product photo/video shoots to build visual libraries supporting ongoing menu marketing, promotional windows, and evergreen content.
Managed and mentored designers, instilling design excellence and modern creative approaches while scaling output for rapid menu and programming rollouts.
Designed and implemented an in-house menu + collateral ordering system, cutting ~$200 per order and accelerating rollout of product and marketing initiatives across all units.
Freelance Creative Director
Current
Selected Clients: Layne’s Chicken Fingers (QSR), Sans Wine & Spirits (Importer & Portfolio Brands), The One Group (Restaurants and Hospitality)
Lead product-focused brand storytelling, visual merchandising, and launch strategy for QSR and beverage clients, including positioning for new menu items and seasonal promotions.
Develop integrated creative concepts and cross-channel activation (social, digital, in-store) that support traffic-driving product campaigns and promotional moments.
Build brand identity and messaging systems that strengthen consumer relevance and support long-term innovation strategy.
Previous Career Overview
Rocketdog NYC (Advertising Agency) Senior Art Director | 2012 – 2013
Developed cross-channel creative for CPG and QSR brands, partnering closely with strategy teams to shape insights-driven product communication, campaign briefs, and marketing concepts.
Managed production workflows for large-scale campaign and product marketing launches.
Lucky Strike Entertainment (Bowlmor Lanes) Art Director | 2006 – 2012
Created national brand creative, menus, and experiential activations supporting audience engagement, menu marketing, and venue-level brand initiatives during rapid growth.
Additional Freelance Experience | 2010 – 2014
Provided product-focused creative, packaging, menus, and integrated campaign concepts for hospitality, QSR, CPG, lifestyle, and entertainment clients, including McDonald’s, David Burke Group, Body Works, and others.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Bachelor Of Fine Arts, Emphasis in Graphic Design
California State University Long Beach
Continuing Education
Advanced Photoshop, School of Visual Arts,
New York City
Advanced HTML & CSS, School of Visual Arts,
New York City