From designing buildings to designing brands.

I’m a husband, father, designer, illustrator, brand strategist, and cancer survivor. I originally trained as an architect, but over the past three decades, I’ve shifted my focus to helping companies tell better stories and build stronger brands. After more than 32 years in the design business, I like to think of myself as seasoned—not old.

As Founder and Managing Partner of Paradigm Marketing & Creative, I spend most of my time shaping brand strategy, guiding creative direction, and dipping into photography, copywriting, environmental design, and storytelling. I’ve been fortunate to work on just about every type of project imaginable—from real estate and healthcare to artisan soap and haunted houses. The variety keeps things interesting, and the relationships we build with clients are what make it meaningful.

Outside of work, I’m usually with my family—at the beach, in the mountains, or watching Louisiana Tech and LSU games (on my Android—sorry Apple fans). I also lead two small groups with my wife and serve as an Elder at our church in Memphis. And yes, I love pizza—just make it gluten-free.

How many years have you been a judge?

10+ years

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

I started Paradigm in 1992 as a 3D animation and video company, originally to support architectural projects. That work taught me the power of visual storytelling—and that the best creative work uses technology as a tool, not a crutch.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

Buff City Soap—from helping scale it from $200K to over $21M in four years—to countless nonprofits and startups that are making a real impact. Whether it’s a large-scale success or a meaningful mission, I’m proud of work that moves the needle.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

Taking a seemingly boring product or company and figuring out what makes it special. It’s easy to fall into trends or make things flashy. The challenge—and the reward—is helping brands express their uniqueness authentically, not just stylistically.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Clarity of message, visual engagement, and originality. A well-crafted story, told with purpose and creativity, always wins.

How do you unwind from work mode?

Time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, watching sports, sketching, and shooting photos. Anything that gets me outside or sparks a different kind of creativity.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I lead brand strategy, develop scripts and storyboards, shape campaign messaging, and help guide overall creative direction. What I love most is digging deep into a brand’s core and crafting ideas that resonate—turning complex challenges into clear, compelling stories.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

Orion Financial’s full rebrand has been a blast—repositioning them from a credit union to a full-fledged financial institution. We’re also building Solid Olive from the ground up, which has been a rewarding mix of packaging, digital, storytelling, and strategy. Honestly, the projects that excite me most are the ones where we get to shape every touchpoint of the brand—from identity to video to web.