Mike Sanford, Creative Director / Copywriter / Strategy Guy
I started out as a Designer.
I became an Art Director.
Then a Copywriter.
Then an Associate Creative Director.
Then a Creative Director, a VP Creative Director, and a SVP Creative Director.
Then a business owner.
Basically, over 30+ years in the business, I've pretty much done it all.
I am comfortable creating and overseeing huge, integrated regional, national, or international campaigns across all forms of media for big, well-known brands or creating a kick-ass poster for a local burger joint. I get strategy. I get ideas. I get production. I get media. I get account folks. I get clients. I get consumers. And I have worked hard to try and build a killer portfolio and lots of strong relationships. Here's where I've done it and the brands I've done it with:
Fechtor - Columbus, OH • Title Schmitle (we don't have titles here) • 2016-Present
Clients: Donatos Pizza, The City of Dublin, Vorys, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, Leo Alfred Jewelers, PDS Planning, Disability Rights Ohio, Franklinton Cycle Works, CU Interface, Kemba Financial Credit Union, Installed Building Products, Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling, S-E-A Limited, Cryobio, Skilken Gold Real Estate Development, Leadership Columbus, Linville Team Partners, CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts)
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Ginormous, LLC - Columbus, OH • Owner, CEO, CFO, CCO New Business Guy, Custodian • 2016-2017
Clients: I partnered with a handful of advertising agencies, offering strategic and creative leadership, creative direction and copywriting services. I also worked directly with a handful of local and regional clients. Eventually, after partnering for over a year with Fechtor on a contractual basis and helping drive growth, I joined the agency full time.
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Fahlgren - Columbus, OH • SVP Creative Director • 2004-2016
Clients: NAPA Auto Parts, Cooper Tires, McDonalds Restaurants, The West Virginia Lottery, Elmer’s Glue, X-Acto, Kroger Grocery Stores, Panama City Beach Touriism, Nevada Tourism, Florida Tourism, The American Heart Association, The United Way, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Ross Heart Hospital, The James Cancer Hospital, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, West Virginia University Healthcare, West Virginia Department of Health, Ohio Tourism, Gatlinburg TN Tourism, United Bank, MVB Bank, Worthington Industries, Crown Forklifts, The Columbus Dispatch
Resource / Ten United - Columbus, OH • Assoc. Creative Director • 2000-2004
Clients: Victoria’s Secret, Sony, Epicurious.com, lowestpremium.com, Rand McNally, Team Rahal Racing, Huntington Banks, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ohio Health Hospitals, Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray, The Ohio State University, Scotts Lawncare Products, Perkins Restaurants, Hoover Vacuum Cleaners
Lewis Advertising - Rocky Mount, NC • Senior Copywriter/Producer • 1998-2000
Clients: North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, NC Dept of Commerce, Outer Banks Tourism, Hardee’s Food Systems, Sprint Communications
Zero Base Advertising - Columbus, OH • Senior Copywriter • 1995-1998
Clients: Ohio Health Hospitals, Time Warner Cable, Adena Health Systems, Columbus Quest, Wheeling National Bank
Willard Communications - Charleston, WV • Art Director • 1994-1995
Clients: One Valley Bank, GoMart Convenience Stores, West Virginia University
Awards & Press
In addition to getting results, my work has received numerous industry awards and recognition from The New York Festivals, Clio Shortlist, National ADDYs, Regional ADDYs, countless local ADDYs as well as press in Communication Arts, Adweek, Brandweek, Advertising Age, and AdCritic.
Education
I graduated from Concord University in Athens, West-by-God-Virginia in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
© All rights reserved. All work represented on this website is presented for the express purpose of showcasing creative projects I, Mike Sanford, have been actively involved in creating and producing. All trademarks, tradenames, images, logos, video, and audio examples presented on this site remain the property of their respective owners. No piece of work shown visually or written content on this site may be downloaded or reproduced in any material form.