ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With over 30 years of experience in advertising/marketing, I offer well-honed skills as a visionary and developer of creative strategies. I have delivered gains in profit/donations and consumer awareness during my career, either meeting or exceeding company and client objectives. As an expert with proven qualifications that span non-profits to multi-million-dollar corporations, I have faced several challenges, including the complete rebranding of Starlight Children’s Foundation to new product launches for clients such as Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the Pennsylvania Lottery, and Rite Aid. I lead agency teams and clients head-on with a positive attitude and concise direction across all mediums.

SUPERPOWERS

Manage all project types that drive action, engagement as well as customer retention | Ensure all creative concepts and deliverables align with the creative brief, strategy, and brand guidelines | Perform regular creative reviews with teams to ensure alignment on direction and deliverables | Work with stakeholders in all departments to execute performance-driven and data-informed creative | Develop budgets based on client needs and agency profitability | Partner with and engage clients on all creative endeavors | Implement and evolve agency and team culture to galvanize staff | Lead innovative strategy and vision for all creative challenges | Monitor current trends for implementation as well as forecasting | Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft/Apple Office Suite | Employ storytelling to drive brand marketing strategy | Employ creative leadership through mentoring and coaching teams

EXOTIC LOCALES

GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR | NOVEMBER 2013-PRESENT | 9ROOFTOPS (FORMERLY MARC USA)

Responsible for comprehensive traditional, digital, and social creative strategies for full 360 campaigns | Sustain agency and client strategies while adhering to brand standards | Led with empathy and adaptability to accommodate team and client partner requirements | Spearhead creative initiatives for PA Lottery, PA Turnpike, and ALCOSAN among others | Incorporate contemporary industry trends and pop culture insights to drive consumer affinity with our brands | Delivered over $1 billion in sales growth to the PA Lottery in the fiscal year | 2020-2021—an increase of 24% from the previous year

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | APRIL 2011–NOVEMBER 2013 | ADAM CICCO CREATIVE (FREELANCE)

Developed and implemented integrated traditional and digital advertising and branding campaigns | Key clients included SunLink, Inc., MARC USA, Pittsburgh Opera, The Warhol Museum, and Starlight Children's Foundation

NATIONAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR | FEBRUARY 2006–APRIL 2011 | STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

Managed the strategic development and execution of creative projects across all Starlight locations | Engineered and produced the 'Welcome to My World' public service announcement campaign in television, radio, and print formats | Collaborated with external suppliers such as photographers, printers, and promotional firms to achieve client objectives | Developed comprehensive marketing materials for the annual nationwide fundraising events | Achieved fundraising of over $15 million between 2006 and 2011

SENIOR COPYWRITER | JANUARY 2000–JANUARY 2006 | LIBERTY CREATIVE

Designed comprehensive marketing and branding initiatives for credit unions nationwide | Oversaw the creative team, ensuring high content quality and timely project completion | Created auto loan campaigns for Santa Ana Federal Credit Union, resulting in a successful increase of their 2002 auto loan portfolio from $1 million to $2 million

COPYWRITER & ASSOC. PRODUCER | JUNE 1994–NOVEMBER 1999 | MARC USA

Worked at one of the largest independent retail and branding agencies in the United States | Produced content for television, radio, print, brochures, websites, direct mail, and comprehensive branding campaigns | Engaged with clients and broadcast teams to assess budgets, coordinate talent, and hire directors for television and radio projects

THE AWARD GOES TO…

Pittsburgh ADDY Awards (Gold & Silver) | District 2 ADDYs PA/NY/NJ (Gold & Silver) | National ADDYs (Gold & Silver) | TELLY Awards (Silver & Bronze) | Graphis Advertising Award (Gold) | Graphis Illustration Award (Silver) | Graphis Design Award (Silver) | Communication Arts Advertising Awards

I’VE BEEN BRANDED

ALCOSAN | American Express | Bayer | Belle Tire | Best Western Hotels | Carrier | Coach | Coco5 Hydration | Conair | Cooper Tires | Covestro | Dick’s Sporting Goods | GNC | Highmark | The Josh Gibson Foundation | Krystal Burgers Litter Genie | Lucas Oil | Make-A-Wish | MAV-TV | PA Lottery | PA Turnpike | Penfolds Wines | Pittsburgh Opera | Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh Zoo | PPG Paints | Rite Aid | Roberto Clemente Museum | SAG-AFTRA | Southland Federal Credit Union | Starlight Children’s Foundation | True Value Hardware | The United Way | The Warhol Museum | The Wynn Hotel & Casino

GET ON BOARD

Board Member | Creative Chair | American Advertising Federation-Pittsburgh Board Member | Creative Chair | Josh Gibson Negro League Foundation Mentor | Team Leader | VCU Brandcenter

I GOT SCHOOLED

English Writing & Political Science | University of Pittsburgh | 1992-1996