THE SHORT AND SWEET

My name is David, I’m a husband, father, and creative leader with over a decade of experience working on everything from non-profits to multi-billion dollar legacy brands. I have a habit of bringing clarity to chaos, where the creative functions of a business often find themselves.

  • Brought in to build and lead Shady Rays' first-ever in-house creative team, overseeing internal staff while managing and directing relationships with external photographers, videographers, and production partners. Direct the full creative function across brand, content, photo and video, and integrated creative spanning performance marketing, retention, organic social, retail, and partnership channels. Partner with executive leadership to shape creative direction and ensure the work drives measurable business outcomes.

    Rolled out updated brand positioning and creative standards across all channels, raising the level of consistency and storytelling throughout the portfolio. Led brand creative for high-profile partnerships including 23XI Racing, Good Good Golf, and professional athletes across multiple disciplines, leading collaboration from early concept through production to final execution.

    Directed product launches and campaigns that contributed to 8 of the 25 highest-performing sales days in company history, including the single highest revenue day to date, despite broader economic challenges.

  • Provided creative leadership across multiple lifestyle brands within the Bass Pro Shops portfolio, balancing strategic brand vision with hands-on execution across print, digital, social, and retail channels. Partnered closely with marketing, product, and merchandising teams to develop campaigns that aligned with business goals and elevated brand presence.

    Led key initiatives including the 2022 World’s Fishing Fair at the flagship Springfield, MO store and developed branding and creative strategy for New Store Grand Opening events spanning 2024–2026. Served as senior on-set art director, raising the standard of photography direction and visual storytelling across in-house brands.

    Collaborated extensively across divisions—including Big Cedar, Dogwood Canyon, Missouri Thunder, Thunder Ridge, Finley Farms, and Ozark Mill—ensuring consistent, integrated creative approaches across the company’s diverse portfolio.

    Managed creative teams and processes, establishing style guides and quality standards that strengthened brand consistency and operational efficiency. Played a critical role in scaling creative operations and cross-functional collaboration within a complex brand ecosystem.ext goes here

  • Joined Foerstel Design as an intern in early 2017 and advanced to Junior Art Director in 2018 before being promoted to Art Director in 2019, progressing quickly by demonstrating strong creative leadership and strategic thinking.

    Led design direction and execution for a diverse client roster, including Marianne’s Avocado Oil, Pacific Woodtech, Big Idaho Potato Truck, Idaho® Potatoes, Standlee®, Green Giant, and NAWLA. Collaborated closely with clients to understand their goals and translate them into clear, effective visual strategies across print, digital, and branding projects.

    Managed projects from concept through delivery, balancing creativity with deadlines and budgets. Provided guidance to junior creatives, fostering collaboration and quality control while ensuring all work aligned with client brand standards and agency expectations.

    This role sharpened my ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, develop strategic design solutions, and deliver consistently strong creative outcomes for a variety of industries.