Who had the biggest influence on your career & why?

The freelance artist I worked with on a project at Paramount Studios. This was before PowerPCs, mind you, and I'd never seen anyone so talented, operate a computer so skillfully. He was one with his machine! He wore sandals to work and charged an hourly rate equal to most lawyers – that was the day I gave up my paint brushes and bought my first pair of sandals.

What are you most proud of – your finest hour?

My first ad industry award after starting my own studio. It was like the story of David and Goliath to me – I had battled with the giants before, just never by myself.

What was your most embarrassing career moment?

I did an ad campaign that received a Bum Steer Award from Texas Monthly Magazine. The award wasn't embarrassing, but my quote – taken out of context – and used in the caption was. Here's a tip: be careful what you say in phone interviews, your mother might read about it.

Share a great client story.

The embarrassing ad campaign was a series of “satisfied customer” testimonies for a plastic surgeon. Instead of glamour shots of beautiful women, we used fruits and vegetables…onions for facial peels and pears for tummy tucks, etc. Four ads into the series, we introduced the breast reduction procedure using two large purple eggplants and an uproar quickly developed. Flash forward, I get a call from Creativity Magazine and they ask, “why didn't you have an ad using a cucumber?” My response was, “We would have, but p___s reduction surgery isn't in great demand.” They printed it and so did Texas Monthly (and, yes, my mother read it).

What attracted you to DMN3?

The personal rewards. Direct response is where I can get personal with the target audience and when you measure the results, it's just that much sweeter when you create something successful.

What driving goals are you still pursuing?

With the price of gas these days, my driving career is all but over.

If you were marooned on a desert island, what would you miss most?

Air conditioning.

What is your favorite sports team & why?

LSU for their tailgate parties.

Name your biggest frustration.

Great ideas being thrown in the trash without ever being presented.

What is your all-time favorite TV program (on air or not)?

I Dream of Jeannie, but Bewitched was a close second. I always thought it would be better to be an Astronaut with a Genie than an Ad Guy married to a Witch!