Working with one of the largest health care systems in Michigan for over seven years proved to be both educational and rewarding. This small sampling of that relationship helped Spectrum Health solidify itself as one of the leading health care systems in the Midwest.

A different bank from the start, Bank of Northern Michigan could have just as easily run a rate ad like their competitors. Instead, they let us focus on why it was so important to be a local bank involved with local businesses for the good of their community. This award-winning advertising and photography just reinforced this fact. 

C.F. Prime is a wine bar and steak house in Muskegon, Michigan. They needed to engage people to come out for world-class wine and beef. My job, to engage them with world-class wine and beef, was easy.

To decorate the halls of Grand Haven’s North Ottawa Community Hospital, holiday posters were created. Who would have thought medical supplies could be so festive?

We've always been huge fans of traditional cell animation. Over 2000 cells were created in this woodcut style to not only be unique, but to save time in production. Add cinematic score and you have a very unusual communication for this Michigan HMO that cuts through cacophony of health care advertising. 

The health care of a child is completely different from that of an adult. Working with this award-winning hospital with its 40 pediatric specialties for eight gratifying years was truly rewarding. Plus, who doesn’t like seeing the happy smile of a healthy child?

Herman Miller, the legendary furniture designer and manufacturer, has made it's home in West Michigan since its founding in 1923. The birthplace of what many consider to be the modern furniture movement, these award-winning communication pieces are testimony to the company's sustained excellence.

Herman Miller wanted a recruitment piece to let potential new employees know how truly different the company was. In it, the word “this” is used 73 times.

The Herman Miller Aeron Chair was one of the first fully ergonomic office chairs and a deeper look was required to show this. The final piece, printed on thick translucent plastic, was sent out in a hospital-style x-ray envelope.

Herman Miller’s Be Collection was introducing the Envelop desk. It was a very simple, easy piece of office furniture. A simple demonstration seemed appropriate.

It’s one thing to have new office furniture delivered and installed by Herman Miller's expert staff. It’s quite another to get Herman Miller's health care furniture delivered to a frontline field hospital in an active war zone. Meet John Bright. On any given delivery, he carries five different types of currency to pay off regional “leaders” and wears body armor in case things really go South. When you’re in the business of saving lives, the end result is all that matters.

When their Aeron Chair was about to receive Business Week’s “Design Of The Decade,” Herman Miller needed a demonstrational video for the ceremony. They were to be seated at the same banquet table as BMW and Apple and did not want to be upstaged. That request for something big resulted in a fun little office sport with humble beginnings in Holland, Michigan. Today, if you Google “Office Hockey” you'll see that tournaments are held all over the world.

Getting a lot of groceries for very little moola is what Home Harvest is all about. Conveying it was a blast. Sales for the brand, a division of West Michigan-based Spartan Stores, jumped higher than the low-rider. 

To show how truly different an unfiltered beer can be, Bell's let us pull out all the stops. The airing of this award-winning TV spot was followed closely by a mailer to large distributers of Bell's, filled with burnt and broken accordion parts. Yes, plenty of accordions were hurt, maimed and dismembered in the making of this spot.

To accommodate a Scout camp out during the busy holiday season, the Christmas Climb was developed for Troop 43. What began as a weekend learning experience to receive the Climbing Merit Badge, has become one of the most imitated outings for Troops across the Midwest. Yes, we do need those “Stinking Badges”. The best part, over 80 Scouts have learned the sport of rock climbing.

Community Hospitals of Indianapolis, now Community Health Network, needed strong messaging to distinguish themselves from two much larger hospitals in the area. Community, the oldest active hospital in Indy, was started as a patient-focused hospital in 1956. Focusing on the patients and their stories made for truly compelling and award-winning messages.

I was asked to do posters promoting West Ottawa's High School music department. They had no money but gave me complete creative freedom. Who could say no to that?

Established in 1866, this venerable institution was having a hard time getting new graduate students to come to West Michigan, to finish their studies. A different approach for both posters and print was needed. While reviewing the Heidelberg Catechism, published in 1553, and the King James Bible, published in 1611 for inspiration, I was surprised to learn they both contain fonts that are still in use today.

The League had a communication issue. How do you discuss statewide budget shortfalls with your constituents in an entertaining and meaningful way? Animation along with spoken word poetry was the answer. We never knew that Minnesota was the birthplace of Spam®.

With a house full of Stickley (all five brothers), Life Time, Lake Side and Roycroft furniture, these ads were very easy to art direct, design and write. I'd suggest using a moving company for these “sturdy” pieces after buying.

The sooner a child gets used to the art of learning, the sooner they learn. That is the mission of Ready for School. They came to me with an idea for their Annual Report to the Communities and they wanted it very bright and vivid. Almost childlike in nature. At first, I wanted to do a children’s pop-up book, but that was too expensive. Instead, a watercolor wash was used along with photos of children.

We’ve all had a bad grocery store experience. However, at West Michigan-based Spartan Stores they use fresh thinking in everything they do - from meat and produce to the total shopping experience. During filming of this award-winning advertising, the gentleman grilling in line was kind enough to share with the rest of the cast and the crew.

Borgess Medical Center, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, needed advertising that highlighted their innovative care. This cutting-edge advertising allowed the public to see the beauty of medical high tech images previously reserved for clinicians. These collages won awards for their marriage of scientific with artistic.

Giving money to a deserving non-profit is good. Giving time is even better. Leading a group of 20 over 90 miles of trail with over 40 lbs on their backs to an altitude of two miles, that's Boy Scouts of America. Proud to claim having done the BSA High Adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico twice, without losing anyone to a mountain lion or sheer cliff drop.  Scouting, it’s about leading, giving back and the opportunity to design cool t-shirts.

Just like frozen orange juice and pork bellies, propane is a commodity with rapid price fluctuations. To keep potential customers in the loop, Smith Gas wanted an innovative way to help customers remember them during key buying times. A series of ads, both print and web, and posters along with stickers were developed. The illustrations were done by Peter Hoey. There's a good chance you've seen his work in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and Time magazines. 

As a kid growing up, I used to go to Binder Park Zoo outside Battle Creek Michigan all the time. When they asked for a new identity to accompany the launch of their new giraffe exhibit, I jumped at the chance. As different animals are featured in the zoo, the logo can be adjusted to accommodate each critter. 

Western Michigan University needed some very cool, inexpensive ads to tout their hockey program. Writing those ads was a blast, as was filming them. Fortunately, my camera survived its time on the ice with the Broncos.

Started in 1946, Enterprise Hinge has been passed on to the third generation of the same family. A look to convey this rich history was created for its identity. With any luck, I’ll get a canvas coat with the new logo on it. Hint...

Nowadays, even books have movie trailers. Tracy Groot, a historic fiction writer, needed a Web piece to show her latest offering, “The Sentinels of Andersonville”. The book told of inhumane conditions at Andersonville Prison toward the end of the Civil War and how three Confederate townspeople came face-to-face with the prison’s atrocities. Made entirely from stock footage, stock music and then distressed to look like a Mathew Brady “tintype”, this was a fun project to do and great for the book.

The lubrication manufacturer Boeshield needed a website to compete with all the me-too manufacturers. Their formula was originally created by Boeing to help prevent moisture and grit build-up on airplane components and electronics. Boeing, after viewing the site to confirm their name was used properly, wished their site flowed this well.

http://boeshield.com/

Hurley is located in the center of Flint, Michigan, and is one of the leading hospitals in the United States for pediatric intensive care. For their PICU, we were allowed to film these truly moving images of Flint’s newest residents as they were treated under the watchful eye of Hurley’s excellent staff. Some of the newborns weighed less than three pounds.

One of the largest linear trail systems in the state, Park Township wanted signage that would attract younger users to experience the trails. Drawing on references from signage around the world, we developed a completely new, fun and informative language for these signs. Stencils were proposed along with signs to limit environmental impact, reduce maintenance costs and better highlight the surrounding beauty. Look for these on your next ride, hike, walk or jog in Summer 2015.