Devin McGillivary, Verenice Lopez, Kate Carter, Jarrett Jamison, and Xiao-Wen Mak, new Creative Circus grads (today, congrats!), have put together Circus Adoptions—a site dedicated to landing them jobs. Below is a link to the copy section of that site, featuring 17 graduating CW portfolios.
Circus CW Grads: circusadoptions.com/copy
André is a copywriter at Y&R Perú. Since his first post on MC in August 2011, he’s got a shiny new Cargo site and a whole bunch of new work on it. Definitely time for an update.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/andretoledo
Jeffrey is a copywriter at The Richards Group in Dallas. He’s got a nice variety of clients and media on his site, including tons of work for Dodge Ram and GameStop. When you’ve got print, video and digital to show, does anything work better/simpler/faster than Cargo + Vimeo? If so, MC hasn’t seen it.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/jeffreyhodgson
Jenny is a freelance writer in South Carolina. So … when you click through a portfolio site, it’s all about the work, right? Then, if you like the work, you call and see if you like the writer. Sometimes though, you click through a portfolio site and read what the writer’s written, about their work, about their creative partners and clients, about collaboration, and you already know: this is a nice person. I could work with this person. That’s the vibe MC gets from Jenny’s site. She obviously loves what she does (web sites to wine labels) and who she does it with. That’s awesome.
Portfolio: jennybadman.com/portfolio
Bevan is a copywriter at Woods Witt Dealy & Sons in NYC. Her site is Cargo, in a template of scrolling columns that looks pretty rad on MC’s MacBook. In addition to writing, Bevan has performed at Upright Citizens Brigade and freelanced for Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live—proving once again that comedians make fantastic copywriters. Don’t miss the SNL Weekend Update jokes on her site. Here’s one to whet your appetite: It was reported this week that John Mellencamp and Meg Ryan have been “quietly dating” for about seven weeks. They also added that the two have been “quietly dying” for at least seven years.
Portfolio: bevanmahaney.com
Charlie is a freelance copywriter/CD in Los Angeles. As a full-time freelancer, he’s added a couple of little extras to his site that are pretty key. Check out this Testimonials link. He’s got 10+ quotes, not too long, super easy to nav, that say a lot about him. His contact info (phone and email) are right up top, in a universal header. And his About Us page is no-nonsense, just the facts. A very clean, well-organized, hard-working site. Nice.
Portfolio: charlienoback.com
Madeleine Clark, friend of MC and fabulous creative recruiter, is looking for multiple CWs at different levels for positions in San Francisco. From Madeleine:
ACD/Writer, San Francisco agency (5+ years). Small agency environment, part of global firm. Flat, non-political environment, great clients and colleagues. Looking for a conceptual powerhouse with excellent writing skills. Experienced in both traditional (print ads, direct mail, etc.) and digital (email, landing pages, banners, websites, videos). Able to translate complicated technical material into succinct, conversational prose. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Able to manage and mentor creative teams and also do hands-on work. Reports to ECD.
Mid-level Writer or CW/AD Team, San Francisco agency (3 – 5 years). Small agency environment, part of global firm. Flat, non-political environment, great clients and colleagues. Looking for a conceptual powerhouse with excellent writing skills. Experienced in both traditional (print ads, direct mail, etc.) and digital. Able to translate complicated technical material into succinct, conversational prose. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Able to work on multiple projects simultaneously and manage time accordingly. You can take a project and run with it. Help inspire junior team members. Be able to laugh and roll with client challenges. Always hungry to learn and have an interest in social and cultural trends and fashions.
Junior Writer or CW/AD team, San Francisco agency (graduate – 3 years). Small agency environment, part of global firm. Flat, non-political environment, great clients and colleagues. Strong conceptual and solid writing skills. Eager to learn and jump in on a variety of projects from traditional to digital. Solid interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills — you’re able to communicate your ideas clearly. Able to manage time and meet deadlines. Have an interest in social and cultural trends and fashions. Good attitude!
Email Madeleine at: mclark@clarkcohen.com
Kashyap is a copywriter/ACD at DDB Mudragroup in Bombay, India. MC’s first from Bombay. Seeing as how India is the world’s second most populous country, MC is hoping to quadruple its Twitter following after this post. Namasté!
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/kashyap
Grant is a copywriter in St. Paul, MN. He graduated in May and is currently leading up his own small creative studio called LESS Co. (http://theless.co). Love the ambition, right out of the gate.
Portfolio: grantdoeswork.com
Erin is a copywriter in San Francisco, one year after graduating from Miami Ad School. So fun to see a CW’s book at this stage, part student spec and part produced. Can’t wait to see where she lands next.
Portfolio: erinsmithwastaken.com
Peter is a copywriter at Arnold Boston. (Graduated from BU in 2010.) Awesome to see what he’s been able to produce at Arnold in only two years—for clients like Jack Daniel’s, Progressive, and American Eagle (love the spray-on jeans campaign). Big ups!
Portfolio: petermhughes.com
Erica Puorro, Creative Services Manager at MMB, is on the hunt for a killer team. From Erica: “MMB is looking for two people: an Art Director and Copywriter with direct marketing experience—in a variety of channels: print, email, online advertising. (Mobile, a plus.) This is a great opportunity to join a growing, creative agency. You’ll be doing what you do best…concepting innovative direct mail and digital creative for a family of global consumer brands. Check out our website at mmb580.com to see our work. You must be a strategic thinker, great presenter and comfortable working directly with clients who have an appetite for fresh thinking. Ideally, you’ve been doing this for 3+ years. Car experience a plus.”
Email portfolio/link to: creativeemployment@mmb580.com
Susie is a copywriter/CD in Chicago. She spent 17 years at DDB, during which she took a four year detour from copywriting and was their Director of Creative Recruiting (2007-2011). Now she’s back (freelance) and ready to write.
Portfolio: susiesteinberg.com
Justin is a copywriter at GSD&M in Austin (two years), after graduating from Miami Ad School in 2010. So cool to see what he’s done at GSD&M (awesome shop) during that time—including Meet The Aces, a campaign that puts Ace Hardware right next door.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/justinmiller
Ladies and gentlemen, MC proudly presents the portfolio sites of 17 Chicago Portfolio School 2013 copywriter grads (in alphabetical order):
Amy Bauer – amybauer.com
Brittany Hughes – britthughes.com
Chelsea Berger – chelseaberger.com
Garrett Vernon – garrettvernon.com
Hassan S. Ali – cargocollective.com/hassansali
Jackie Suerth – jackiesuerth.com
Jennifer Smith – jenmadeabook.com
John Olson – sonofol.com
Julia Weeman – juliaweeman.com
Kat Ponting – katponting.com
Kelsey Alfredson – cargocollective.com/KelseyAlfredson
Lauren Fodero – laurenfodero.com
Leighanne Steckbeck – leighanimal.com
Matt Bush – stoutredbeard.com
Michelle Grano – michellegrano.com
Pat Whalen – patwhalen.com
Tom Katers – tomkaters.com
From Leighanne’s What’s A Leighanimal? page, under the heading What I Learned At Portfolio School: “Big ideas are king. Which means puns are either peasants or serfs. How to explain to outsiders that copywriting has nothing to do with being a lawyer. The stranger your idea the better; your partner is always there to reel you back in. Or to tell you to stop talking. I can’t help but play devil’s advocate while brainstorming, which is a blessing but often feels like a curse. Celebrity endorsed ads are mostly crap (with the exception of Nicolas Cage).” Amen.
Portfolio: leighanimal.com
Sometimes you see a big-ass banner in some kid’s portfolio and you’re just like, “Yes. I want to see you knock that sucker down, cable channel for men in their 20s. Hells yeah.” And there’s no reason to be embarrassed about that. Because who wouldn’t?
Portfolio: sonofol.com
CPS Week 2013 kicks off with Ms. Amy Bauer. MC digs: destroyed Barbie® for roller derby, Parker Pens “Your hair shines like those halogen lights that some cars have” (funny), French’s mustard foul pole line, and Roomba Zamboni. Good times.
Portfolio: amybauer.com
Kit Krugman, Creative Manager at Johannes Leonardo NYC, is looking for a senior writer. From Kit: “Johannes Leonardo is an award-winning international creative agency in New York with global clients like Sprite, Coca-Cola, and Google. We are currently looking for a Sr. Copywriter to join the team, to work across all accounts, but primarily on Google. We are looking for someone who is passionate, ambitious, and independent. Someone who wants to grow into a leadership role at a creatively-led agency. Someone with a command of tone, who can write with range, and cares deeply about the strategy behind the work. And most importantly, someone who will absolutely never compromise on the quality and caliber of the work. Ideally this person has about 4-6 years of experience creating amazing work at top creative agencies.”
Send portfolio links directly to Kit at: kitk@johannesleonardo.com
Tom is a copywriter/ACD at Factory Labs in Denver. All kinds of inspiring work for athletics brands on his site: The North Face, Oakley, Callaway, Killington Mountain Resort (“The Beast” above), and Gatorade. Almost enough to make MC want to go for a run. Almost.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/tomgoodrich
Trey is a senior copywriter at Fuse in Los Angeles. The first four projects on his site are for Kawasaki, and they include TV, print, interactive, and a manifesto vid. What’s more fun, as a copywriter, than writing a company’s manifesto vid? Especially when the company makes motorcycles? So fun.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/hova
Shanteka Sigers, SVP/ECD at SandersWingo in Austin (and friend of MC), is looking for copywriters. From Shanteka: “SandersWingo was founded by David Sanders, a copywriter. He once got a 92-second radio spot on the air. He went on daily two-hour hikes and ate whole grains in the ’80s. Most people ate cocaine for breakfast in the ’80s. And most importantly, David Sanders taught that our job is to make things happen right now. I need copywriters in Austin and El Paso. All levels. You’ll work on big brands like AT&T, Burger King and MINI. You’ll work on small brands like Run For The Water, El Paso Electric and the District Attorney of El Paso. The DA let us create an award-winning domestic violence brochure hidden inside a lipstick case, and feng shui his waiting area. I’m looking for some swashbuckling, enterprising, David Sanders-esque copywriters that want to make things happen. Healthy diet optional.” Interested? Contact Shanketa at the address below.
Email Shankteka at: ssigers@sanderswingo.com
James Mikus, ECD at McGarrah Jessee in Austin, is looking for two killer CWs. From James: “McGarrah Jessee is looking for two copywriters. One with 3 to 5 years and one 8 to 10 years. Must have a superhuman work ethic and a book to prove it.” Think you’re a fit? Email James at the address below.
Contact: james@mc-j.com
Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of the 2013 VCU Brandcenter graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):
Adam Tetreault: adamdtetreault.com
Andrew Kong: andrewckong.com
Atain Ibia: atain.me
Chris Martin: notthatchrismartin.com
Christina Semak: christinasemak.com
Daniel Chen: thedanielchen.com
Don Principe: thedonprincipe.com
Evelynne Scholnick: evelynnes.com
Faye Ibars: fayeibars.com
Gary Baker: andthenithought.com
Ian Downey: upsidedowney.com
Kai Neddersen: kaineddersen.com
Katlyn Williams: katlynwilliams.com
Maddison Bradley: maddisonbradley.com
Mary Gross: maryfgross.com
Matt Meszaros: mattmeszaros.com
Matt Skibiak: mattskibiak.com
Megan Winterhalter: meganwinterhalter.com
Michelle Lamont: michellelamont.com
Taylor Schumaker: taylorschumaker.com
Zac Milner: zacmilner.com
So hard to pick which VCU CW grad portfolios to feature during VCU Brandcenter Week! They’ve all got something special about them. Don’t miss Andrew’s Botot radio (the world’s first toothpaste, created for King Louis XV, who knew?), and Shun Cutlery campaign (Honor Haiku, funny). Nice to see some creativity in brand/client selection. Good times.
Portfolio: andrewckong.com
VCU Brandcenter Week Tuesday: Mr. Daniel Chen. Lots of fun writing all over his site, including a type solution campaign for Wonderbra (not kidding) and Sad Children’s Projects, which really is one of the saddest things MC has ever seen in a portfolio. Macaroni WE CAN’T AFFORD THIS and homemade 3RD FAVORITE SON medal. Yes.
Portfolio: thedanielchen.com
VCU Brandcenter Week! Love it. And Kai is a perfect start to the week. He was an intern copywriter at inHouse, Target’s fabulous internal creative department, back in 2010, when MC was a Creative Manager there. Kai could have probably gone right from that internship into a job, but instead decided that he wanted to learn more. He didn’t just want a good first job, he wanted a great first job, and he recognized that what he needed to get it was, well, VCU. Now, couple of years later, here he is, graduating from VCU, and that’s crazy awesome. Congrats, Kai!
Portfolio: kaineddersen.com
Dave is a freelance copywriter/CD in Nashville (Nashville Addy’s “2012 Copywriter of the Year”), previously at BBDO and Hill Holiday. Lots of beautiful writing all over his site for clients like LandTrust of Tennessee, United Methodist Church, and Boys & Girls Club of Boston.
Portfolio: davewordsmith.com
Rich is a copywriter in Boston, formerly at Arnold. Actually, he was recently let go by Arnold, which would be a bummer for anyone. However, Rich took the opportunity to write his colleagues a good-bye email that is, in his words, “at least as good as any of the other stuff I wrote while I was there.” Check out his email on AgencySpy here. Or check out his other stuff by clicking on the link below.
Portfolio: richtseng.com
Hall is a copywriter in Denver, previously at Factory Labs, now looking for his next gig. His link was featured on MC in Summer 2012 as part of Creative Circus CW Grad Week. So cool to see what he’s added since then.
Portfolio: hallcarey.com