ROWE in effect
Lessons from the 80's
A Blog of Thanks
What do you think?
Major Award

Then: my life before Matchstic
I graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration, learned a lot about the foundations of business in school, and learned a whole lot more in part-time jobs and internships during college. It was during college I realized that while attractive in many ways, the high-end professional world was too stuffy for me. I needed to be around people whose normal way of thinking is to think of totally unorthodox and unique ideas. It helps to balance out my hard-edged, black & white approach to things. My first job was for a design agency in Birmingham as a project manager and later their Web Development Director. It was there that I began to learn about the balance between the creative and business worlds. Then I heard the siren song of Matchstic, and was beckoned away to Atlanta to do the job I had always wanted to do.

Now: my life at Matchstic
The first thing that attracted me to Matchstic was the people. When I met everyone, seeing the great work that was being produced was not a surprise. Another thing about working at Matchstic that is paramount for me is the fact that I am empowered to be the best I can possibly be, while also being constantly challenged to be better than I think I can be.

Test: lessons in branding
Don't be everything to everybody. Be something to somebody. You'll have a much larger impact. Biggest thing I could say to someone else in my position is don't get comfortable - always challenge yourself and everything else around you.

Read: recommended reading
 Zag: "Jack Welch clearly understood the power of market leadership in 1981 when he told his business heads to 'fix, sell, or close' any GE division that wasn't either one or two in its category."

Crush: my favorite brand
Apple & Target, both for the same reasons. I love the intersection of great design and functional, innovative, and highly useful products. They prove that great design is an integral aspect of a healthy bottom line.

Trophy: a recent accomplishment
One of my favorites was for something that isn't in my normal job description. I was talking with our creative team and came up with an idea for a unique way of printing a promo business card we were creating for a client. The client loved the idea and we ended up designing it and printing it. It was really cool to see an idea come to life that I had a hand in.

Confession: on working at Matchstic
Life at Matchstic can best be summed up in two words: crazy professionalism. We are running a business set on solving problems, hitting deadlines, etc, but we also have a lot of crazy things happen - random dancing, singing, constant pranks, Nerf gun wars, rubber band shooting, not to mention weird ideas voiced - it goes on and on. One day I came in to the office to find things that had formerly been on my desk all encased in Jello. The best part is that we do great work and are focused on being efficient and meeting deadlines, but we have a great time while we do it. Toughest part is never being ok with scoring a B. Its A+ or figure out why you didn't get an A+ and get one next time.
   
Bite: first food that comes to mind when I think of Matchstic
Hot Tamales (the candy). Red and hard to forget.

Life: my world
My wife Katie and I love to travel. We have a map at home of all the places we've been so far and hope one day to go to. I'd rather start traveling now than wait till retirement. I love the outdoors in general, and really like to fly fish, although I haven't been in a while. I'm a U of Alabama football fan and really just love college football in general.