Long story short:
A career of telling stories, on many brands, in many ways, in 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 technology, packaged goods to agriculture and even animal pharma. But whether it’s nationally launched rebrands or a great earned-media idea, I’m a relentlessly curious person - digging-in to solve business challenges and form deeper bonds with customers that drive loyalty.
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, 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.
For Craftsman, there were a few amazing opportunities that came my way. I helped develop an online interactive reality show, had some crazy soul drive a lawn tractor across the country to prove its durability, and established a partnership with the Detroit Mower Gang to help refurbish Detroit’s great, but underappreciated, inner-city playgrounds. Link to Craftsman Across America here: cargocollective.com/joneckman/Craftsman-Across-America.
I’ve also freelanced as a writer and creative director around the country. Projects included creating brand films and social content for Robert Mondavi Wines, brand work for Whiskey Acres Bourbon and Bank of America. As well as Pioneer Seed (DuPont), several projects for the U.S. Army and a rebrand of Shell Energy. If you’d like a deeper dive on my work please visit my archival site: cargocollective.com/joneckman.
Between freelance stints, I spent time 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), Adrians, 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. I actually began my career as a congressional aide to U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey followed by a brief turn working in PR and Marketing Consulting.