As long as I can remember I have loved words---reading them and writing them.  At four years old, I wrote a story about a bunny to impress my kindergarten teacher (whom I had a crush on). Later, I was the editor of my high school newspaper. While in college, I was the political reporter for the school newspaper.

When I attended the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri I worked on the Columbia Missourian newspaper as a reporter and photographer. After brief stints at newspapers, I began working at advertising agencies as a copywriter, eventually becoming Creative Director and General Manager of a mid-size Los Angeles agency. 

I also worked at major agencies such as Foote, Cone & Belding, Dailey & Associates, and Tatham-Laird & Kudner in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

My industry experience is extensive in automotive, healthcare, and hospitality. However, I have created successful work in technology, real estate, sports equipment, hotels and resorts, and the mortgage industries. My creative work encompasses the full range of marketing communications: digital, traditional print, TV, direct mail, and radio; 

Along the way, my work was honored with more than 50 top creative awards in all media. I'm proud that my creative work and strategic marketing and branding has had a major impact on the future success of many companies, both large and small. My creative work is grounded in a wide-ranging knowledge of all marketing communications tools and a solid background in business. I also value research, both primary and secondary.

I write books for fun. I've had three published . . . A Plan for Life: The 21st Century Guide to Wealth, Health, Career, Education, Love, Place , , , and You!, Secret Lives. Real People Reveal Their Most Private Secrets,  and A MIndful Career: Choose a Career, Find a Job, and Manage your Success in the 21st Century. Coming soon is A Mindful Workplace.

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I completed my first ghostwriting project, Conscious Selling. It will be published in 2021,

I'm also an entrepreneur. I founded and operated the first specialty travel company, International Motor Tours. The tours took auto enthusiasts to Europe to visit automobile factories on VIP visits, to museums and private collections, and to a Grand Prix race. Motor Trend called the tours "everything an auto nut could want in a tour." It was a great business. Who can argue with making pretty good money while spending every summer partying in Europe and hanging out with Forumula 1 drivers. Our worldwide headquarters was a room over a bar in St. Tropez. 

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I co-own a retained search recruiting firm, Wentworth Executive Recruiting, located in San Francisco.

I've owned two coffeehouse cafes, in Santa Barbara and Sausalito. Both were rated the #1 coffeehouse in their respective counties.

I owned an ad agency for several years, CGRW. I was the W in the name. I built it into a $28 million agency and then made the mistake of merging with a bigger company. It was a learning experience (an expensive one). However, I did a lot of great work that I am very proud of for some wonderful clients (many are still close friends).

I'm also interested in startup companies. I was a founding member of smalloffice.com, an early online resource for small businesses and solopreneurs---and was the Marketing Communications Director. I helped launch Realtor.com, MyeSuperstore.com, Parachute.com,  and I am a Co-founder of Arrangr.com a fast-growing meeting scheduler app.

I've also been a member and Marketing Adviser to Keiretsu Forum, the world's largest angel investor organization, since 2009. I'm currently working on a book titled "From Startup to Finish: 50 Success Tips for Entrepreneurs from America's Top Angel Investors,"

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My personal interests include working as a Board Member of the Citizens Climate Lobby in Marin County, helping with PR and social media. I also am on the Board of The Samaha Group, a new waste-to-energy company.