Full bio
The longer version.
I'm a partner and Chief Innovation Officer at ZGM Modern Marketing Partners, where I help brands make sense of artificial intelligence and emerging technology.
I've been in digital and marketing for over 25 years now and I've touched just about everything in this world from burning DVDs to building the latest MCP server. It's given me perspective and the ability to call out the over-promisers and the under-deliverers. As an owner myself, I feel it's my duty to protect organizations and businesses as they struggle to find their path in the shifting sands of AI and tech these days.
Before all of this, I cut my teeth as a designer and illustrator. Branding, editorial, packaging, campaign work, a lot of drawing. That craft still shapes how I think about technology: start with the person on the other end, then figure out what the tool needs to do.
These days most of my time goes to three things. Building and shipping AI tooling with the team at ZGM. Speaking to rooms full of people who are somewhere between curious and terrified about what this technology means for their work. And recording Artificial Breakdown, where we pull apart the week in AI without the doom and gloom.
Work experience
2025 — Present
Partner & Chief Innovation Officer
ZGM Modern Marketing Partners
Leading ZGM's shift into AI-driven marketing, automation and agent development. I help clients figure out not just what's technically possible, but what will actually move the needle — building custom agents, wiring up automation workflows, and separating AI hype from practical value for mid-market companies.
2016 — 2025
Conversion Director
ZGM Modern Marketing Partners
Connected the dots between marketing effort and actual sales. Led the digital practice through CRM and marketing automation integrations (HubSpot, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Dynamics), lead scoring, conversational UI, UX research, analytics dashboards and a lot of A/B testing.
2006 — 2016
Digital Creative Director
ZGM Modern Marketing Partners
Built the digital team from scratch and led the creative product for close to ten years, mixing technology and storytelling. The work picked up more than 50 awards locally and internationally.
2025 — Present
Speaker
Artificial Breakdown
Back on the speaking circuit, mostly talking about building high-performance AI-driven teams by sharing our own adoption story — what worked, what didn't, and where it's headed. Recent stages: Upper Bound, SocialWest, CPRS, Alberta Food Processors Association, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce AI Panel, and the YYC/YEG AI Marketers Report with Stone Olafson.
2022 — Present
Product Director
ZGM Drinks
Spun out of ZGM to make and market beverages — chiefly Stickler, a gin-based shrub cocktail in a can. Grew the brand to a $3M valuation and 300+ retail locations across Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan, covering product development, packaging, sales strategy and logistics.
