hi, I’m andy.
I’m a creative copywriter with ALMOST TWO DECADES OF experience at shops of varying size, on clients of all kinds, and with people of incredible talent.
I’m a father of two, husband of one, and caretaker of two real good doggos.
In my not-so-distant past, I was a casually-competitive hockey, soccer, and beer league softball player. I also played guitar in some ska bands (there are some not-so-bad albums floating around out there) and volunteered for political campaigns across the state. Now I noodle with classical guitar, go hiking and adventuring with the family, cook lots of good food, eat lots of good food, read a bunch of books, write my own books (have written three-ish, have published zero), take my son to drum lessons and ski hills and take my daughter to every soccer and hockey-related thing under the sun. I am also a seasoned pro at having my heart and soul crushed by every Minnesota sports team I open myself up to. Which is, like, all of them.
Before advertising, I was in politics. Before politics, I was in college. Before college, I worked at Blockbuster Video. Before Blockbuster, I worked at the Renaissance Festival for a weekend. I was also in marching band.
Education:
Augsburg College: 1999 - 2003 (Political Science, History)
Brainco: the Minneapolis School of Advertising: 2005 - 2007 (Copywriting)
Work:
Mayo Clinic: 2022 - 2024 / Senior Copywriter
Wunderman + Thompson Minneapolis: 2018 - 2022 / Senior Copywriter
(Best Buy, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, Texaco, Optum Health, United Healthcare, TCF Bank, new business)
Freelance: 2017 - 2018 / Senior Copywriter
(Minnesota Wild, Mirum Minneapolis, Preston Kelly, Public Works, Wunderman + Thompson Minneapolis)
Six Speed: 2016 - 2017 / Senior Copywriter
(Supra Boats, Moomba Boats, Polaris, Vasque Footwear, Crestliner Boats, new business)
Wingnut: 2014 - 2016 / Senior Copywriter
(FairVote Minnesota, Bremer Bank, University of Minnesota - Morris, Stormy Kromer, Optum Health, new business)
Life Time Fitness Athletic Events: 2013 - 2014 / Copywriter
(Overall AE branding, many many many run, triathlon and mountain bike events)
Haberman: 2012 - 2013 / Copywriter
(August Schell Brewing Company, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, City of New Ulm, The Parking Spot, new business)
Periscope: 2007 - 2012 / Jr. Copywriter, Copywriter
(Arctic Cat, Papa Murphy’s, USA Hockey, Minnesota Twins, Red Robin, Gold'n Plump Chicken, Dap, Cox Communications/Business, Andersen Windows, Truvia, Target, Rust-Oleum, Treasure Island Resort and Casino, Kemps, The Harmon Killebrew Foundation)
Other (mostly) relevant experience:
- Taught several courses at Brainco, from 2012 – 2021
- Guest lectured during advertising classes at the University of Minnesota
- Furthered writing expertise by taking courses at The Loft
- Spent countless hours researching the idiosyncratic nuances behind specific consumers
- More than once have taken that research to the level of actually becoming a specific consumer
- Been awarded several times throughout my career, from local shows to appearing in AIGA and CA
- Have completed writing two full-length novels and several other short stories
- Have completed skating ten full-length inline marathons
- Recovering youth soccer coach
- Full-time soccer, hockey, track, and band parent
- Rescue dog dad