First and foremost

I don't have a better half. I have a better 7/8s. Her name is Marla. She’s in education and very much into social/emotional learning – which also comes in handy dealing with me. She's leaving a legacy. Part of which includes our two spawn: Caison and Camryn (artist above). Having clones is the best. Even at their (current 18 & 19-year old) worst.

But I digress

I snuck into The Richards Group as a planning intern some 23 years ago. Within weeks, I was hired as a producer (thanks to my touching editorial of several focus groups). Once on the job, I quickly learned how to watch someone else tag countless car spots. But double-checking 300 ISCIs at 2 am every week puts "detail-oriented" hair on your chest.

Those late nights also gave me time to work on my book, which I didn't have – due in large part to my original calling: ministry. Let's just say God works in mysterious ways. Which, ironically, is not in the Bible.

So just two years after dropping out of seminary, I was armed with agency experience and a serviceable portfolio, that – in pretty short order – landed me my first creative gig.

TracyLocke

• Writer: 2 years

• Associate Creative Director: 1 year

• Creative Director: 5 years

• Group Creative Director: 5 years

• Executive Creative Director: 5 years

Clients included 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut, Hampton Inn, Bombardier, Harrah's, Tabasco, T-Mobile, Nokia, Del Monte, Pepsi, Direct Energy, Ingersoll Rand, Omni Hotels, Clorox, Frito-Lay, Texas Lottery and 24 Hour Fitness.

But more than “who”, it's the “what” I'm most proud of. Smart creative that moved the needle and got the job done. Mostly outside the echo chamber our industry has become.

FleishmanHillard

And now I’m here – going on 2+ years. Doing all things social for the U.S. Army. Get to play writer, producer, editor and all kinds of director. Not to mention pitching in on the bevy of clients that come with working for the world’s premier PR firm. Starting fresh can be fun, but this has been a blast.

All that to say

I pride myself on leading by example. But not at the expense of delegation. Or worse, micromanaging. Second, my team learns through experience, not lecture. And my talent evaluation/development speaks for itself, in as many times as other group heads pillage my people. 

I also spent 5 years “mentoring” students as an Adjunct Professor for the University of North Texas Advertising Portfolio class. Not to sound hypocritical, but we had a few Student One Show Honorable Mentions (a first for UNT).

Word. Smith.