My Work
Résumé
Introduction
An award-winning creative leader with 28 years of progressive experience inspiring multidisciplinary teams to deliver outstanding marketing solutions. Recognized with two Emmy Awards and holding a US Patent, my portfolio showcases innovative contributions to many industries. Skilled in strategic creative direction, brand development, integrated marketing campaigns, and staying abreast with industry trends, including AI technologies. Adept at translating business objectives into compelling visual narratives that resonate with target audiences across diverse industries such as retail, technology, healthcare, and software. Strong leadership skills focusing on mentorship and positive management, fostering inclusivity, diversity, collaboration, and talent development to cultivate high-performing creative teams.
Professional Experience
Creative Director
Walmart
San Bruno, CA
Feb. 2019 – present
- Overseeing content creation across diverse platforms, from the Walmart.com homepage to mobile, in-store, and even out-of-home advertising, I ensured our message consistently hit the mark. In the process, I pioneered compelling, celebrity-driven online experiences for product and brand launches.
- Managed campaigns with budgets exceeding $100M, directing brand representation and marketing strategies that fueled a 43% uptick in eCommerce sales in 2019.
- Led the Walmart+ launch campaign, growing our brand direction to reach 32M members by September 2021. This was achieved in collaboration with marketing executives and renowned brands like Amex and Spotify.
- Led Walmart Health creative and developed a cohesive brand identity across all channels for Walmart’s Health and Wellness sub-brands, driving over 25M people to get free COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Maintained the Walmart App’s status within the top five of the Shopping category, clinching the #1 spot during each holiday season with clever advertising and content.
Group Creative Director
Firewood
(now Media Monks)
San Francisco, CA
Sept. 2018 – Jan. 2019
- Developed design systems and marketing concepts and produced video content for giants such as Google Workspace and Google Enterprise for Education.
- Enhanced engagement and conversion rates across various channels such as email, direct mail, and display advertisements. Developed unique experiences for customers with custom packages.
- Crafted comprehensive project briefs, carefully estimated budgets, and maintained a well-planned forecast of team resources.
Creative Director
Freelance
San Francisco, CA
March 2014 – Sept. 2018
- Championed engaging narratives for brands like Tree Top Apple Sauce and Kashi Cereal, creating social media campaigns that informed consumers and drove viral engagement.
- Leveraged my expertise to help agencies and startups secure investments, turning prototypes and pitches into golden opportunities for my clients.
- Created captivating online experiences for niche websites like AnimalBikes.com and RidgemontOutfitters.com, transforming each platform into an interactive showcase, embodying the brand’s values, and striking a chord with their target audience.
Group Creative Director
Level Studios, Rosetta,
Leo Burnett, Publicis
San Luis Obispo, CA
March 2011 – Feb. 2014
- Breathed life into Samsung Mobile USA with comprehensive brand guidelines, ensuring a symphony of consistent brand representation across diverse touchpoints.
- Crafted retail experiences at Samsung shop within Best Buy, optimizing the customer journey and showcasing the Samsung Galaxy product line.
- Instrumental in creating a Samsung loyalty program that captivated attendees at SXSW through innovative and immersive out-of-home experiences.
- Pioneered the establishment of an international team to develop the first official college and high school textbooks on the Apple iBooks platform.
- Planned and executed a compelling global brand marketing campaign for Samsung notebooks, directing captivating videos to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Creative Director, Founder, CEO
Medicine Agency
San Francisco, CA
Sept. 2003 – Dec. 2010
Founded the agency as a consulting and creative services company specializing in brand building, successfully launching three brands from concept to the salesroom floor.
- Opened a retail art gallery to provide clients with a showroom and event space and produced a live simulcast event from the gallery featuring musicians from Green Day.
- Planned and executed strategic direction, business development, and operations.
- Led brand marketing, creative strategy, content creation, and technical development for clients’ integrated projects.
- Served clients including Lucasfilm, Virgin Records, Hopeless Records, Blue Angel Vodka, Sagatiba USA Rum, DVS Shoes, The Berrics, Flip Skateboards, Element Skateboards, Deluxe Skateboards, Zazzle.com, CP Shades clothing, as well as professional athletes Tully Banta-Cain and Brandon Biebel.
Other roles:
Creative Director, Head of Creative | Sportvision | US, CA, Mountain View | December 2004 – March 2009
Art Director | 411 Video Productions | US, CA, Fountain Valley | October 2001 – August 2003
Designer | Forrester Research | US, MA, Boston | November 1998 – August 1999
Corporate Identity Designer | Polaroid | US, MA, Cambridge | May 1994 – February 1995
Board Member | Rock ‘n Roll Camp for Girls | US, OR, Portland | March 2017 – January 2019
Co-Founder | Swindle Magazine | September 2002 – November 2004
Co-Founder, Guitarist | Ten Yard Fight | September 1994 – November 1999
Education
BFA, Graphic Design and Photography, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Awards
Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Team: NASCAR on FOX
PRINT Regional Design Annual Award (New York City)
Art Direction for “Alphabet City” by Michael DeFeo, published by Gingko Press
FreezeCam – US Patent #2008 / 0049123 A1; Video effect using movement within an image
Horizon Award for Best New Sports Technology: Creative Direction for Sportvision’s RaceFx on FOX and TNT
Emmy Award for Advanced Media Technology for the Enhancement of Original Television Content: TourCast by IBM Shotlink on PGATour.com
Software
Adobe CC, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Lightroom, Capture One Pro, Figma, Invision, ProCreate, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, MidJourney, Dall-E, Stable Diffusion, and Chat GPT.
Skills
Brand and product launches, online retail, brand design, identity design systems, performance marketing, mobile and web technologies, social media, photography, video, motion graphics, and adaptive content.
Interests
DEI, LGBTQ+, audio production, songwriting, generative AI, Web3, and the metaverse.
Press
“The shots are fine; it’s the energy level,” LaCroix says. (David) Wolter (Virgin Records) agrees, and he encourages the band to step it up. Action: fans slam and pogo, The Explosion whip their instruments back and forth. LaCroix, standing at the back of the room, takes a running start and leaps onto the heads of the audience, then runs to the back of the room and does it again. Rolling off to the side of the stage, he gestures at the band, whooping with his arms in the air: more, more.”
CARLY CARIOLI – The Boston Phoenix