AS WE CREATE

Growing up in rural Maine was a great experience for Brian Pike though when it came time to research advertising schools, he took the opportunity to head to the West Coast. Brian shares how he began his career as a copywriter as well as knowing when to push an idea beyond a clients comfort level. We also talk about the current state of advertising as well his role at Mintz & Hoke.

Initially focusing her education on becoming an actor, Ilona Somogyi quickly discovered it was not going to be a good fit. While still having a fascination with theater, she turned back to her seamstress skills instilled by her grandmother. Ilona shares many stories of her career as a freelance costume designer as well as her involvement with the Yale School of Drama. We also hear about the journey Ilona has taken co-founding Ball and Socket Arts.

Reading was something that came to Chris Knopf at a very early age and had him pursue his education in creative writing. Before becoming a published author, Chris shares how his career began working in public relations as a copywriter and what lead to him taking over the creative agency Mintz+Hoke. We also talk about the relationship of strategy and creativity as well as the current state of publishing.

A few career paths were considered before Jeff Jahnke set his sights on architecture and he shares how things went after he served in the Navy. We talk about the creative freedom of architecture and how it can often be suppressed by tradition. He also shares how a longterm project while he was working for Centerbrook, became a foundational element to launching his own firm, Hartford Architecture Partners Inc.

Anne Cubberly always had a love for drawing and creating, though when she experienced a Bread and Puppet performance for the first time, she fell in love with giant puppets. We talk about the many creative chapters of her life before coming back to Connecticut, and how all of those experiences influenced Night Fall and the power of community collaboration.

Anthony Marsilio's fascination of graphic design was inspired by the automotive industry. He began teaching himself, though his self assigned design projects remained a part time effort as he began a career in engineering. While working for a civil engineering firm, they needed to improve their marketing efforts and his part time hobby started to become his full time role. Anthony shares how his creative career unfolded, his willingness to always further his education, and what goes into being a creative lead for Athletic Brewing Company.

John Suscovich is an independent author and marketing professional. After receiving a theater production degree from the University of Connecticut, he moved to New York City to work as a lighting tech for the Howard Stern Show. While in living in New York, John began cycling more and developed a curiosity for nutrition and agriculture. He quit his job at the Stern Show and embarked on a two year cycling trip to bring awareness to where our food comes from and the choices some farmers make. John began farming on his own and also helped start Connecticut's first farm brewery. All of this created the foundation for his company, Farm Marketing Solutions. 

Jeanne Criscola made her way into graphic design through textiles and museum curation. We talk about what lead her to start her own design studio and much of the work she's done over the years, especially with Open Society Foundations. We also discuss the current state of education and the value of creativity.

Brad Collins is the founder of Group C. He shares how his love of science faded in college which eventually lead him to create his own curriculum. We talk about his love of the written word, how Group C came to be, and his methods of listening that help present his clients stories in unique ways.

This is a special posting of a Episode 9 - a conversion with Carissa Decelles from October 2022. Carissa was an award winning designer and a friend whose life was taken from her much too soon. This is a great episode that conveys just how resilient and inspiring she was.  Thank you Carissa.

Catherine Casalino's love of photography and writing came together when she was exposed to the publishing world after college. We talk about her time at Simon & Schuster and Random House, and how that compares to running her own studio. She also walks us through some recent projects, including her contribution to the award winning film, American Fiction.

Daniel Sheridan is an illustrator and designer. Growing up in the hardcore and metal music scene, it was the visual aesthetic and grit that influenced the style Daniel is known for. We talk about staying motivated, raising a family, and how his love of motorcycles and design come together to produce Dice Magazine.

Magge Gagliardi and Steve Keefe are the principals behind Dead Rabbit Design Co. They share how each of their professional careers began and the collaboration that lead to them moving forward as a team. We talk about some of their clients in the craft beer industry and how technology has impacted creative integrity.

While perusing his next adventure after high school, Richard Sachs traveled abroad to work for Witcomb Cycles in London. Having earned the trust of the companies family, he helped bring the brand to America. As bicycle racing became more popular here in the states, Richard went out on his own and he shares the mindset behind Richard Sachs Cycles and the unique value of a craftsman.

Emily Russo's creative path began after taking one look at a commercial design portfolio in high school. After she finished art school, Emily shares what she learned working at a small boutique agency and how that influenced her own design studio. We also talk about her time at the US Tennis Association and her current role at Blue Buffalo.

Jeremy Staub has come a long way from his beginnings as a one person studio and we talk about his growth and how Box 8 Creative began focusing on hospitality. He also shares some experiences working with new clients, keeping his team inspired, and what went into the recent Box 8 rebrand.

When Tom Francesconi's early dreams of playing in the NBA started to fade, he developed an interest in sports branding and advertising. This began Tom's path into the commercial creative world and he talks about his time at Mullen Lowe, Meta, Gut Agency and his current role at Joan Creative. We also talk about a passion project with the WNBA and the value he sees in mentorship. 

Amanda Roy's childhood was filled with many creative efforts, though her time was spent elsewhere once her professional life began. Amanda shares how she reawakened her artistic side after nearly 20 years and how she is allowing herself to be more vulnerable in how she goes about creating. We also talk about the importance of supporting artists and communities and her role as CEO of The Greater Hartford Arts Council.

In her pursuit to gain more knowledge to become a better artist herself, Margaret Bodell realized her true passion was to better understand other artist's work. After working for well known art collector Sammy Ofer, Margaret needed to step away from the business side of fine art and focus on curating the work of lesser known artists. We talk about running her own gallery, the Outsider Art Fair, and her current role at the William Kent Foundation.

Angela Belt's aspirations of working in politics quickly changed when she realized her authenticity was being compromised. While deciding where she wanted to focus next, a job at Room & Board ignited her appreciation for interior design. We talk about her time at Wayfair, working on a book with her sister, and building her own company.

As the son of a carpenter, Hugh Elliott has been building since he was very young. Eventually, he pursed a career in computers and graphics which had him designing websites, though reproducing similar ideas one after another eventually became stale. Hugh shares how he started connecting his trade craft skills with his technology sense to solve unique problems and help others create new experiences.

Ed Johnetta Miller is an accomplished quilt and fiber artist. Her love of textiles began when her family moved out of the south for a better life in the 1950's. Since then, she has become a respected artist, educator, and social justice advocate with work reflecting the riches and struggles of African and African American people. She has works in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the Nelson Mandela Museum, and many other international institutions.

Nikita Prokhorov is a letter artist and designer who was influenced by architecture and painting through his Grandfather when he was young. After emigrating from Russia with his family, he shares what lead to his focus in design, his experiences teaching, and why he often keeps the computer off and starts an idea on paper. 

Michael Fielder enlisted in the Navy after high school and that lead to a camera being put into his hands for the first time. We talk about the early days of his career working at the Magnum offices and various newspapers, as well as his ongoing personal project, Working Journal.

Suzanne McKenzie is an entrepreneur, strategist, and designer. A brand has the ability to have social impact and Suzanne shares how her understanding of this came to be. We talk about her time in advertising at Arnold, starting a foundation in memory of a loved one, and how Able Made is creating things responsibly while supporting city-youth empowerment and health education. 

Andrei Kallaur is a designer and creative director.  The design of train cars developed a fascination with typography and color that Andrei has to this day. We talk about his early influences of skateboarding and graffiti culture as well as his career which has included roles at  New York Magazine, The New York Times, and Google.

Michael Ashtrachan is an illustrator, animator and founder of XVIVO. Ever since he could hold a pencil, Michael has been drawing and sketching. His commercial career started with illustration, though once the tools for animation became accessible, it became his primary focus. We talk about how he got into medical animation and the influence art and creativity has in science.

Jillian Cusano and Rosanna Karabetsos are professional dancers and core members of the Dance Collective. For centuries, dance has been an art form often reserved for the elite, whether in the audience or performing. We talk about the evolutions of their careers and their intentions beyond the stage to make dance more inclusive and accessible for all.

In the golden age of rock and roll, Gerard Huerta's career started at CBS records creating artwork and logos for bands such as AC/DC, Willie Nelson, Blue Oyster Cult, and many more. After leaving CBS to start his own studio, his work expanded to create logos for many iconic brands such as Nabisco, Swiss Army, and Pepsi. We also talk about some recent personal work, which was inspired by his love of guitars.

Art was present in Amy Gorreck's life from an early age, but it wasn't until she attended Portfolio Center that she was able to fully understand the world of graphic design. Amy talks about working for Martha Stewart, starting her own design studio, and her recent love of collage.

Karl Maruyama is a designer who's love of drawing was inspired by underground comics and auto culture. After deciding to purse a path in graphic design, Karl moved to the east coast and had an amazing career. We also talk about his current role as creative director for the Piston Foundation.

Brooke Toczylowski is an interdisiplinary artist, educator, and curator. Having worked internationally in arts education for many years, Brooke shares some experiences where the art was a vehicle for much more. She also takes us through the journey of her recent MFA thesis exploring colonialism in America.

Dana Smith has been a successful editorial photographer for over 25 years and he shares how that foundation has contributed to his photo illustration work. We talk about his experience with drive and motivation and how knowing nothing can be your most powerful tool.

Sam Angermann's background is rooted in graphic design, though we talk about how she navigated the highs and lows of past roles to better understand what she was looking for in her career. Always having a love for branding, Sam talks about the joy of her current role at Made by Nacho.

Gene Mayer is a designer, producer, and educator. We talk about his early years at Pratt and how that lead to the beginnings of Gene Mayer and Associates where his client list included Otis Elevators, United Technologies and General Electric. In recent years, things have been shifting and Gene shares his current efforts with Cork Factory Films and the University of New Haven.

Designer Marie Corriveau's childhood home was filled with music and the arts, though she had aspirations of working in international relations. While on that path, Marie struggled with work/life balance and shares how a design project influenced her to make a change. She shares why she fell in love with design and her current role at Atelier Cho Thompson.

Jake Hamm is a commercial photographer and outdoor enthusiast. We talk about his time at RIT and how his love of competitive mountain biking built the foundation of his career. Jake also talks about his work ethic and experiences with his team at Cannondale Bicycles.

Andre Rochester in an artist, curator, and arts advocate . We talk about how sketching as a child gave him a way to cope while igniting his artistic ambition. Although his college studies had more of a commercial art focus, Andre leaned more in the fine art direction after graduation. His current work takes on many cultural and social issues, and when he is not creating or exhibiting his own work, Andre is mentoring other artists.

Erich Davis is an artist and fabricator. His early love of baseball taught him the patience and discipline needed to become a successful graphic designer and art director. Though eventually, his love of sculpture and fabrication lead him to open his own creative studio and leave the marketing world behind.

Pam Howard is the founder and principal of Firebrick Design. We talk about her early days in journalism and publishing and how that contributed to her work ethic. Pam also shares her thoughts on maintaining creative integrity and how any opportunity contributes to personal growth.

With many decades in advertising and marketing, Andrew Wood shares how things got started for him in England, why he came to the US,  and what has kept him at Mintz + Hoke for so long. Andrew also shares the process behind some campaigns he's lead and why it's always important to keep the client in the room.   

Jaeme Brennan McDonald is a songwriter, audio engineer, and educator. His musical aspirations started very young as he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father. Though as he grew older, the studio became a more appealing environment.  We talk about working with other musicians as well as his own creative patience. 

Cindy Lau is a designer and illustrator. Her fascination for visual storytelling and her eventual career focus was first sparked by her father's love of comics. We also talk about balancing work opportunities with quality of life, and how teaching has allowed her to value her authenticity.

Sean Kernan is a photographer, writer, and teacher. We chat about his early days in theater an how that transitioned into a very successful photography career. Sean has an amazing ability to stay curious and inspired and we discuss how that has influenced his teachings over the years. 

Ben Keller is a mural artist and painter. From a very young age, painting and drawing were the only things that helped Ben escape the tensions of everyday life. His art became his sense of purpose and has allowed him to develop a style that is uniquely his and very respected in the fine art and commercial worlds.

Faye Pite Beresner is the senior creative director at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Faye shares how years of freelancing in graphic design influenced how she later led creative teams for Victorinox and Assa Abloy, and how that compares to her current role.   

Jory Benerofe is a creative director and strategist. While his college career started in fine art, he made a switch to architecture for numerous reasons. Upon leaving school, it was a casual interaction with the owner of a small lifestyle brand defined the first 20 years of his career. That brand was Vinyard Vines. Jory has since gone on to lead creative teams at HumanCo and currently building his own creative consultancy.

This is agreat conversation with CADC Hall of Famer, Mike Scricco. Mike spent decades in the design and advertising world and shares what it was like working at an agency and then becoming a partial owner. We also talk about his current role leading the Civic Design program at the University of Hartford and how it's given him a level of fulfillment he's never experienced.

From a very young age, Amy Graver's imagination lived in her personal journals until an art teacher advised her to peruse a career in journalism. While attending school in Boston and working at the Boston Globe, Amy's love of graphic design was born while working in the magazine dept. We chat about running Elements Design Studio for over 20 years and what led to her current role at the Yale School of Engineering.   

Creative Director Tim Anderson leads the team at Roadwerx, an experiential marketing and event production agency. We talk about his early years learning about the commercial art world, running his own agency for 17 years, and making sure he only keeps one toe in reality to make a memorable experience.