Long story short:
A career of telling stories, in many ways, on many brands and many channels.
Short story slightly longer:
From IBM to Chevrolet to Moen, I've told stories in every medium and every category. Business-to-consumer as well as B2B. Different jobs have taken me from beer brands to bourbon, technology to CPG brands to healthcare. But whether it’s nationally launched rebrands or an overhaul of an e-commerce experience, I’m a relentlessly curious person - digging-in to uncover insights that solve business challenges and form deeper bonds with customers that drive loyalty.
I oversaw creative for Vokal, a uniquely designed agency, poised for the digital economy, here in Chicago. I led creative and helped bring in a succession of new business including Weber Grills, Wild Fork Foods and Clear Spring Health, creating work designed to excel in a variety of media.
Prior to Vokal, I freelanced as a writer and creative director around the country. Projects included creating brand work for Robert Mondavi, Whiskey Acres Bourbon and Bank of America. As well as a rebrand of Shell Energy, Pioneer (DuPont), and several projects for the U.S. Army. If you’d like a deeper dive on my work please visit my archival site: cargocollective.com/joneckman.
A few years back, when Craftsman was looking to sell their brand, I worked with their CMO and key clients to create a new brand campaign. They were repositioning themselves for purchase and craving a truly differentiated brand that empowered their DIY audience. We delivered a brand campaign "When it Matters" which led directly to the sale of Craftsman to Stanley/Black&Decker for close to $900 million.
When Moen was ready for a new brand identity - one with a larger purpose than simply selling faucets - we brought to life their new purpose as Designers for Water. The campaign success of Moen also led to organic growth from Fortune Brands leading to developing work for The House of Rohl - a premium line of high-end showers, sinks and fixtures sourced from around the world.
Within the CPG space, my partner and I also ran the Ragu, Bertolli, and Angostura Bitters business. For Ragu, our “Simmered in Tradition” work won the pitch and subsequently unseated Prego as the category leader.
Between freelance stints, I was also on staff at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners developing work for their Find New Roads campaign and working on the Silverado truck line.
Before coming to Chicago, I worked in New York City at Ogilvy developing brand work on IBM and IBM Business Consulting Services, And at the start of my career, I refined my craft at Mullen cutting my teeth on Eddie Bauer, Nextel, MRO Software, and Myopia Polo.
Award recognition: The One Show, top interactive honors at SXSW (for Craftsman's Screw*d), Cannes, Communication Arts, Clio, New York Art Director's Club, London's D&AD, Effie (for IBM OnDemand), New York Festival, Boston Hatch, Radio Mercury Awards, Shorty's and Lurzer's Archive.
I'm a graduate of the University of Vermont, earning a B.A. in Political Science and American History.