Mike is a freelance ACD/copywriter currently at Leo Burnett in Chicago. He’s got a crazy variety of projects on his Behance site—from BMW Motorcycles to ESPN/Die Hard 4 co-branding, a campaign for the American Association of Railroads to a commercial for DCBeer.com featuring, well, you’ll just have to see that one for yourself. (MC only looked at the left side, FYI.)
Portfolio: behance.net/mtsapos
Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of nine Chicago Portfolio School graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):
Adam Bedol – adambedol.com
Amanda Burger – amandaburger.com
Vikram Chadda- adsofmyworld.com
Kelly Foreman – kellyforeman.com
Martha Murphy – martha-murphy.com
Jeff Polaschek – jeffpolaschek.com
Lyndsey Stormer – lyndseystormer.com
Kevin Tosi – cargocollective.com/
John Wrend – john-wrend.com
Lyndsey is funny. Don’t miss the video Lyndsey created about Lyndsey on her About/Contact page, and the stand-up bit on her Extra Goodies page. You need a great sense of humor to be a copywriter. Also got to be a little bit fearless.
Portfolio: lyndseystormer.com
After graduating from CPS, Kevin is now at HY Connect in Chicago and Adam will soon be at R/GA in New York. In addition to awesome student portfolios, while at CPS they also created Darn Good Baloney, a podcast of interviews with ad industry titans like Jeff Goodby, Susan Credle, Matt Moore, Ross Fletcher, and … others of great import and huge influence. Dig it.
Adam’s portfolio: adambedol.com
Kevin’s portfolio: cargocollective.com/kevintosi
Martha graduated from CPS and is now interning at WONGDOODY in Los Angeles. What else has she done? Check out her About Me page for 9 truths and 1 boldfaced lie. She’s a new copywriter who’s already had some good adventures. And good adventures make good stories. And good stories are what being a writer is all about.
Portfolio: martha-murphy.com
Chicago Portfolio School Week on MC kicks off with Amanda Burger, who’s going to be freelancing at Leo Burnett in Chicago after graduation. (Huge congrats!) Also, huge thanks to Amanda who helped MC put together CPS Week on MC 2015 by gathering everyone’s links, getting the a-ok to post, and sending them all in. Love it.
Portfolio: amandaburger.com
Jeff is a senior writer/ACD at Cossette Chicago. Since his last post on MC (01.30.14), he moved from Jacobson Rost to Cossette, made a new site, and added new work—including a bunch for McDonald’s. MC wonders: How do copywriters who work on McDonald’s avoid eating McDonald’s all the time? Or is that just MC? Arrrg.
Portfolio: jeffoswaldwriter.com
Rich is a copywriter/ACD at Downtown Partners Chicago. Since his last post on MC five years ago (04.03.10, has it really been that long?), Rich has spent time at Cramer-Krasselt as the lead writer on Porsche—I really hope that means he got to drive one for free—and then moved to Downtown Partners. And took his Cayman with him??
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/brightblack
Ana is a bilingual copywriter at mcgarrybowen in Chicago. Don’t miss the very last project on her site titled: “If you want to know about me, chat now with my ex-boss from the previous agency. He’s a bold guy.” MC tried it. Is that cat really responding? Think so!
Portfolio: anakarinadasilva.com
Kim is a new copywriter at FCB Chicago after graduating from Chicago Portfolio School. So cool to see her student portfolio right after graduation—and then get to see it again in a year or two, after some time at FCB. Can’t wait to see what she does!
Portfolio: kimberlyrsheffield.com
Way back in January 2014, MC featured Lyndsey’s portfolio in a list of Chicago Portfolio School grads. Here we are, one year later, and Lyndsey’s friend and fellow CW Audrey Hansen has re-submitted her portfolio to MC for an update. (Big ups, Audrey. Love that.) Six tight campaigns and some beautiful typography in her portfolio, including one for the Department of Health and DARE, above, that MC would be all over if it existed. Fun.
Portfolio: lyndseytonyan.com
Ann is a freelance copywriter/ACD in Chicago, currently at Havas Worldwide on Citibank, after taking a year and a half off “to become a more insightful marketer to suburbanites and stay-at-home moms.” (Love that.) Since her last post on MC (04.06.12), she’s redesigned her site and added a bunch of new work. Time for an update!
Portfolio: anntitus.com
Since his last post on MC (04.16.14), Ben has joined The Escape Pod in Chicago and added some new work to his book. So cool to see how his portfolio has evolved since his first post on MC (09.28.12), just after graduating from Creative Circus. Good times.
Portfolio: bensantoriello.com
Drake is a new copywriter in Chicago, just finishing up an internship at DDB. All kinds of interesting clients in his portfolio including AppleJacks, Deering Banjos and Kohler Music Showerheads. How has MC never heard of music showerheads—showerheads and speakers in one, like shampoo and conditioner in the same bottle? Hello, Santa Wish List.
Portfolio: drakepaul.com
Sarah is a new copywriter after recently graduating from Chicago Portfolio School, and is now freelancing at DDB Chicago. This is what it’s like for the kids these days. Sarah’s got a campaign for Orville Redenbacher Ready-to-Eat Popcorn that’s all about how much easier it is than microwave popcorn. Wait, you mean we need something easier than microwave popcorn?! But. But. In her ad above, it’s equal to the difference between typewriters and computers. But I. I just. (Sigh)
Portfolio: sarahdembkowski.com
Jose is a copywriter at Dieste in Chicago. He’s also a professional skateboarder who did some time at Second City. (Proving once again that drummers, comedians and surfers/skateboarders make great copywriters.) So cool to see how writers like Jose jump from one ad culture to another—and one language to another. A good idea is a good idea.
Portfolio: letsseeifthisnameistaken.com
Evan just graduated from Chicago Portfolio School (big congrats!), and spent time before that time in the Second City writing program. Always fun to see portfolios coming right out of school—when the client and creative can be anything. Like Evan’s Sugar In The Raw campaign. A whole new spin on “Come give Grandma some sugar.” Goodness.
Portfolio: evanelbersoncreative.com
Sandy Wang, Recruiter at Magnani Caruso Dutton, is looking for a senior copywriter who could work at either their NYC or Chicago office. A little about MCD: “MCD is the kind of place that encourages innovation and rewards hard work. We are an agency where ideas rule, and everything follows from there. Here you’ll find smart, creative professionals that take what they do seriously, but thankfully not themselves. By design we are a highly productive agency without the long hours, and promote teamwork without any embarrassing pep rallies.” To learn more or to apply, click the links below:
NYC Senior Copywriter: Click here
Chicago Senior Copywriter: Click here
Alan is a senior copywriter at Avenue in Chicago and a student at Second City Training Center. If MC could start MC over, there’d be a tag for copywriters who’ve had experience with Second City—and it would probably be one of the more popular tags. So many great copywriters have stand-up and comedy writing experience, which makes so much sense.
Portfolio: alansnider.com
Tim is a copywriter in Chicago, having recently returned to The Windy City after four years in NYC. Click on his Trojan project link, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you’ll find a two-minute video “The History of Getting It On.” It’s no joke. It’s actually the history of condoms in the modern world. (Fun.) These are the things we get paid to do, my friends. Dig it.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/timdonakowski
Nate is a copywriter at Leo Burnett in Chicago. Whole bunch of Allstate in his portfolio including TV, banners and print. How great is the Mayhem campaign? Great. He’s also got a Second City sketch that he wrote and titled, which ran for five weeks. Once again proving that comedian and copywriter are like peanut butter and jelly.
Portfolio: natesteele.com
Dan is a copywriter/ACD at Calvary in Chicago. (Second City alert! Once again proving MC’s theory that comedians, drummers and surfers make great copywriters.) Fun stuff up and down his portfolio. One of MC’s faves is Chili’s “Open Letter” (above) reaction to Steve Carell and Paul Rudd’s spoof of LeBron’s famous “I’m going to Miami” ESPN interview. Steve and Paul end up describing/laughing about the letter on Charlie Rose. Genius.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/cawpywriter
Carrie is a new copywriter (just graduated from Chicago Portfolio School) at The Food Group in Chicago, former comedian, and excellent casserole maker. Plenty of hilarity all over her site, like her Hungry Man campaign (love the Vine), but don’t leave without watching her video resume. Disappointed!
Portfolio: carriebain.com
Steven is a copywriter at Blue Chip Marketing in Chicago. Just a crazy variety of projects and media in his portfolio. From a Cover Girl/MTV VMA Twitter Party to Food Network food porn for Fisher Nuts (above), there’s a little something for everyone. Plus, have to mention, MC got the chance to chat with Steven a couple of times over the past few months—and he’s good people. Dig it.
Portfolio: stevenjaynes.com
Ben is a freelance writer in Chicago. Since his last post on MC, just after graduating from Circus (09.28.12), he’s spent time at INNOCEAN and Draftfcb, and added a bunch of work to his site. His book is in that in-between stage, part student and part produced, which MC digs seeing the most. So interesting to check out what writers create in school, and what that means in agency life, at this shop or that. Clicking through Ben’s site, MC totally remembered his school book vibe. And watching his FootJoy video, it’s like, yep, there he is—Bag Checking a pro golfer, just hoping to find Atomic Fireballs or Laphroaig.
Portfolio: bensantoriello.com
Emily is a copywriter at Energy BBDO in Chicago. Bunch of fun work on her site, including “Best Lunch Notes from Mom” for Ziploc (39k submissions, nice), and “How Attractive Are You?” (to mosquitos) for OFF!. Sorry, Emily. In that one lone category, MC is actually the most attractive person on earth.
Portfolio: emilyakins.com
Aaron is a copywriter at Translation in Chicago. Been about a year since his last post on MC (03.25.13), back when his book was part produced, mostly student work. Since then, he’s added a bunch of new stuff including a crazzeee social campaign for Big Mac. BTDubs: when MC looks in the mirror, he is always hungry for Big Mac.
Portfolio: menwillbeboys.me
Jeff is a copywriter/ACD at Jacobson Rost in Chicago. The first two projects on his site feature Conan and Will Ferrel for Bud Light. Does that make MC jealous, getting to shoot with Conan and Will Ferrel? And beer? No. No, no, no. Course not. Maybe. Little. Yes.
Portfolio: jmoswald.com
Landon is a recent CW grad from Chicago Portfolio School. Lots of smart writing-based campaigns in his portfolio—which of course MC digs the most. Good times.
Portfolio: ohnohedinnin.com
Vera is a creative lead/ACD at Avenue Marketing & Communications in Chicago, previously in-house at University of Phoenix. Lots of the work in her portfolio is collateral/digital that’s more informational than marketing, which means that there’s lots and lots of writing. Which is what lots of lots of companies are looking for in a copywriter, you know?
Portfolio: coroflot.com/veraspringett