WHO REALLY WON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY?
The competition on Super Bowl Sunday goes far beyond the football field. Some fans take commercials just as seriously as the game itself. Does the debate on who had the best TV spot ever really end?
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Our agency founder fell for Advertising at the age of 15 and never looked back. From the high school paper, to the Ad School at the University of Illinois, to creating advertising that’s pushed billions of dollars of product off the shelf. Sue believes in finding the simple truth about a product, and she’s brought that truth to life for global brands like Alcon, Medtronic, McKesson, the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, Siemens and more. Her latest truth? Simply adjusting to her newly empty nest.
Shawn brings nearly 20 years of agency experience to his role as VP/ Group Creative Director. During his career, he has developed campaigns and creative for a diverse group of clients. His healthcare work includes brands like Similac® and PediaSure® for Abbott Nutrition, and eye care category defining brands like Systane®, Opti-Free®, Clear Care® and Dailies Total1® for Alcon. He’s worked on massive CPG brands from The Coca Cola Company, Frito-Lay, and Proctor and Gamble and during his time on P&G, he developed multi-brand commercial programs across beauty brands, and led creative teams working on Tampax® and Always. Other past clients include Sprint, McDonald’s, Motorola and GMC. Shawn believes in the power of ideas and their ability to drive consumer behavior and is dedicated to unearthing ideas that help businesses grow.
Our resident renaissance man has worked in every nook and cranny of the industry: as a creative, a producer, an account person, in media, doing digital…the list goes on. Mark even founded the award-winning Lure Music where he built a client base that included Dove, Johnnie Walker, Miller Coors, and Kellogg’s. Since joining Norton, he’s launched over 15 brands from early commercialization to final campaign execution. The only thing more impressive than Mark’s journey is the one he creates for brands and their consumers.
Some people build skyscrapers. Some build roads. Ever since graduating from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Economics, Kirsten has been busy building strong bridges for major brands that span the globe. She’s been our go-to on clients like Alcon, CIBA VISION, James Hardie Building Products, Mars Botanical and more. In her precious little time off, Kirsten loves to travel—especially to warm, exotic places with limited cell phone access. Luckily for us, cell access is more and more far reaching.
Celebrating 30 years at Norton, Anthony is one of the original members of the Norton family. With a double major in Business and Fine Art, Anthony is well equipped to wear his many hats—from account service to creative. You’ll see his unique imprint on every major account at Norton. He’s also touched the lives of countless talented designers and writers he’s mentored over the years. He’s one of our original members—and also a true original.
With six years of agency experience at the likes of TracyLocke, AbelsonTaylor and Leo Burnett, Jake brings big thinking from working on big brands. SC Johnson’s Ziploc, Glade and KIWI to name a few, as well as Allergan, Amgen, Takeda, G1 Therapeutics, and Greenwich Biosciences. Jake’s eclectic expertise in both CPG and pharma make him a valuable asset to our Strategy & Planning Team. Also of note: his work on Allergan’s “Unfriend Chronic Migraine” campaign helped win PM360’s Social Media Campaign of the Year Award. It hangs on his wall right next to his degree from Second City’s Music Conservatory. Yes, he moonlights as a playwright—and if you’ve been to one of his kickoff meetings, it all makes sense. A strategist armed with storytelling. The perfect combination.
“Strategy is always staying curious about what makes people tick.” That modus operandi has been good to Meredith since she left Tulane, where she played D1 tennis. Since then, she’s stopped at Leo Burnett & Arc to work on MillerCoors, Intel and Serta. Followed by some time at Geometry Global on Unilever. Now a Senior Strategist here at Norton, we’ll be keeping her busy on our vision care brands and more. In her free time that’s not spent playing tennis, Meredith searches for her next good read. She needs plenty of recommendations to keep up her pace of 60 books per year!
Tom knew he loved advertising at a very young age. As the story goes, his mother found him re-enacting pasta cooker commercials to an audience of elderly women at a mall when he was 5 years old. The rest, as they say, is history. Since those days, Tom has been busy. While attending University of Colorado at Boulder, Tom learned even more about his love of advertising through his intense coursework and a prestigious internship. In his free time he loves snowboarding, traveling and cooking. He has a “work hard, play harder” philosophy, and believes that telling meaningful stories can lead to meaningful change.
As a Division-1 athlete through all four years at Butler University, Allie has never been one to shy away from a challenge. There, while swimming competitively, she earned dual degrees in Marketing and Management Information Systems. Today, Allie brings a true competitor’s spirit, perseverance and speed to new product launches for global brands—deftly navigating the waters of different consumer markets. Allie may be a fast swimmer, but she’s an even faster learner.
There’s no one on the Norton payroll with a lower carbon footprint than Amanda Breedlove. Eco-friendly lightbulbs, a vegan diet and a little composting keep her Lakeview apartment green for her and her asthmatic cat, Clyde. Yes, he has his own cat inhaler. When she’s not traveling or volunteering, Amanda does holistic wellness coaching: teaching others how to eliminate toxins and live a more natural lifestyle. At Norton, this small-town Ohioan brings a wealth of account service experience to the table. And that small town’s claim to fame? The power plant. Let’s just say she had glowing reviews from her past employers.
Senior Account Executive AnnMarie Banasik kicked off her career with La Quinta Inns & Suites before moving to Chicago to work for Discover Financial Services. She’s a firm believer in using the products she promotes. Are colored contacts up next for AnnMarie? Only time will tell. A graduate of Mizzou, she loves backpacking, traveling, yoga and a good cup of joe. When Girl Scout Cookie season comes around, AnnMarie can’t turn down Thin Mints. Is it the refreshing taste or the impeccable sales tactics of 9-year-old girls? We’ll never know. The words she lives by come directly from Winnie the Pooh, “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” We’re excited to have such a well-rounded individual on the Norton team. We’re even more excited to have someone with an unlimited stash of Thin Mints around.
Our clients are lucky to have a Senior Account Executive like Alyssa fighting for them. Sorry, had to do it. This young talent joins our team after a 4-year stint at Ogilvy on Tyson Foods. Plus some pro bono work for the Chicago International Film Festival. Before that, she was an Ad student at the University of Georgia, much to the chagrin of her Mizzou colleagues. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys intramural sports and soaking up summertime Chi—however fleeting. But no matter the weather, her quest for the best white queso in town presses on. And no, queso fundido does not count.
In her past lives, Ashley worked on car dealership campaigns (yes, everyone’s favorite ads…), as well as with Discover Financial Services. But now this former D1 tennis star will be serving Norton Agency clients instead. As Senior Account Executive, Ashley will be working with our vision care clients to deliver strong work for multiple brand teams. When she’s not doing that, Ashley can be found crafting with her Cricut, rooting on Alabama football, or caring for her shepherd mix Maya. Or perhaps all three at the same time? She’s a great multi-tasker after all.
Maida believes that we can accomplish anything, at any point in our lives, as long as we set our hearts and minds to it. For the past 7 years of her marketing career, she’s thrived by those words. Moving from a boutique NYC agency to TPN to TracyLocke, and touching big-name brands like Hershey, Kellogg’s and MarketWired along the way. Originally from Bosnia, Maida (who goes by Maja) moved stateside at the age of 18 as part of an exchange program. A graduate of Montclair State, she’s also an avid baker and weight trainer. A dangerous combo of power and precision, and one she taps into for effective client service.
A talented up-and-comer out of Omaha, Elizabeth brings energy and expertise to the Norton Account Team. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations, she helped launch startups with the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. Elizabeth is well-versed in executing brand strategies for the digital and social media realms across a host of industries. Including higher education, pharma, retail and nonprofit. Outside of work, Elizabeth loves to foster dogs and go running. The latter of which she lovingly calls: ‘my hobby and my hell.’
When former Norton intern Caitlin Blum decided to join us full-time as an Account Executive, we were beyond thrilled. Our excitement might have had something to do with her experience in healthcare marketing, or her degree in Business Administration…or maybe we were just hoping to get ahold of her family’s world-famous meat sauce recipe. We’ll never tell. Originally from Elmhurst, Caitlin has been living in the city since 2019, and she spends her newly-found city life volunteering at PAWS Chicago, rooting for the Cubs and running. Did we mention she was a top 7 DIII varsity cross country runner? Talk about the total package.
Therese Burke has accomplished more than most Account Executives of her tenure. Since graduating with a degree in Communications from Saint Mary’s College—yes, “that one across from Notre Dame”—she’s been pretty busy. Prior to joining Norton, Therese’s clients included the Chicago Blackhawks and Manchester Arena. Plus, she’s met Chance the Rapper. A proud moment for any native Chicagoan. When she’s not hard at work, you can find her volunteering for Misericordia or training for a (virtual) marathon. And, for the few precious months that allow it, spending plenty of afternoons at the lakefront.
Originally hailing from the Motor City, Amy studied Advertising at Michigan State University and eventually headed for Chicago in pursuit of digital opportunities. She developed integrated marketing campaigns for Jim Beam Brands, Ford Automotive, Terlato Wines and Harrah’s Entertainment before landing at Norton, where she continues to spread her enthusiasm for blazing new creative trails for our clients. Outside of work, Amy continues to create (and saw and solder), applying her fashion and design skills to her stylish jewelry line.
Brian’s often referred to as “Dr. Quinn” by our clients. With 20 years’ experience at Norton alone writing highly technical medical copy, he deserves the honorary degree. His deep understanding of science and human physiology has lent itself to countless agency projects, for clients like Alcon, Philips, Abbott and Siemens Nuclear Medicine Group. As a Marquette University grad with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, he’s well-versed in bringing any brand to life with the written word.
Nobody has ever referred to Justin as the Tarantino of marketing writers, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. Drawing on a lifetime of far-flung influences, this University of Illinois grad—English major, so you know he’s for real—has written pharma campaigns for the likes of Genzyme, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline. Justin’s healthcare expertise knows no bounds, with years of specialized experience in biotech, medical devices and marketing therapies for rare diseases. He really wanted to end his bio with a Pulp Fiction quote, but the profanity-free lines proved rarest of all.
John is an old-school kind of guy: he drives an ’86 Ford Station Wagon (in all its wood-paneled glory) and owns a functioning VHS player. This former Mizzou J-schooler boasts a diverse copywriting background, with experience in CPG, food & beverage, healthcare, and even professional sports. As a Senior Copywriter at Norton, he lends his verbal skills to all manner of brand strategies, international campaigns, and cutting-edge digital tactics. Not bad for an old-school guy. And speaking of “old,” John is the oldest of nine siblings. Nine.
Jonny graduated from the Creative Center Arts College in Omaha, Nebraska, where students are fully immersed in the day-to-day operations of an actual advertising agency from day one. Jonny emerged with a Top 5 portfolio and a hunger to expand the potential for artistry in the digital space. His talented work on brands like Fairlife and Wells Fargo led him to the Norton Agency, where he’s pushing the technology envelope and expanding his proven track record of successful digital campaigns.
Erin may hail from a small town in Upstate New York, but she brings larger-than-life ideas to the Norton Agency. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Elmhurst College, she’s created powerful designs for clients like Ray-Ban, Alcon, Kraft, James Hardie, FreshLook and Causegear. And her creative eye even extends beyond the office—after hours, you’ll often find her immersed in her latest drawing or snapping photos with her husband, Thang, and her Pitbull-Lab mix, Miles.
In the words of Amy Reger Jacobs: “creativity is about making a sensory connection with the viewer of the work. Through that connection, we have the power to provoke feelings, memories and realizations.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, so we hired Amy. A Senior Art Director with over 15 years of experience, she’s worked on big brands like Capital One, LensCrafters, Fannie Mae, Constellation Wines and Volvo. Amy is a Rochester native and graduate of Anderson University of Indiana’s Graphic Arts program. That’s a little bit of her identity, but her real passion is establishing identities for brands. That, and getting off the grid in the Adirondacks.
To keep up with the ever-changing digital landscape, Sam’s your man. A graduate of the University of Dayton with a major in Visual Communication Design, he’s crafted every facet of integrated digital campaigns for automotive, medical, beverage and casino gaming brands. He takes our teams ideas and gives them life in the digital space. The only question is if the virtual world can keep up with Sam. He’s constantly pushing himself physically, gearing up for another marathon. Always ready for the daily marathon of your digital demands.
Natalie Russell joins the Norton team as our Social Media Copywriter after whipping up copy for brand name hotels, including Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton at a prior agency gig. As a copywriter, she believes having a large library of writing styles is essential for getting a memorable message across. A Mizzou J-School grad, Natalie lives by the words, “Que sera, sera,” meaning whatever will be, will be. When it comes to snacks, she can’t resist movie theatre popcorn. But then again, who can? After work, you can find her playing board games, learning French or practicing yoga. An avid theatre fan, Natalie’s your go-to gal for any show tune recs and all things Hamilton. We’re confident her work will earn her a standing ovation.
A well-rounded academic resume is the foundation of Karl’s Business Management acumen. He holds a Political Science degree from Millikin University, as well as an MBA and a Masters in Marketing from Franklin University. Between degrees, he lived in the Dominican Republic, where he taught English for a time…and appreciated the local selection of Caribbean rum. Perhaps that rum influenced his run of beverage clients—from Bacardi to Grey Goose and Martini & Rossi.
With a degree in Journalism from the University of Nevada, Michele combined her love for sports and writing as an editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She later earned an MBA from Texas Christian University and made her mark at Alcon, where she worked as an in-house marketer focused on internet retail customer marketing, marketing communications and later contact lens brand management. At Norton, Michele combines all of her varied work experience to manage quality assurance and regulatory compliance on all of our projects.
Whether she’s scouting a shoot location or reviewing directors’ reels, it’s no surprise Julie is always able to connect Norton with just the right resources to perfect any project. It’s what she’s done her entire career. A veteran of Schawk (Retail Marketing Division), Gaston Advertising and Ambrosi & Associates, Julie has a history of picture-picture results for clients ranging from Sears Holdings to Ulta Beauty to Citi Financial Services.
The fact is, nobody wears as many hats for Norton as PJ does, whose full first name is…(sorry, we promised not to tell). He’s worked on countless big-name brands in his career, including Kraft, Motorola and ESPN in his days at Ogilvy. All with an unparalleled level of tact and tenacity that always produces great work. As might be expected from a multi-tasker, PJ has multiple interests as well, including fine art, photography and playing the blues guitar. Howlin’ Wolf, preferred.
With a last name pronounced like “bear” it’s only fitting that Ryan is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. As a senior production artist and supervisor, Ryan has managed teams of PAs and refined campaigns for clients ranging from Kraft and Corona to Motorola and SC Johnson. After rounding the bases at 141 Worldwide, Ogilvy and RPM Advertising, Ryan came home to Norton, ready to swing for the fences on every campaign.
With a successful artist for a father, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Scott’s early creativity developed into a passion for photography, which he studied, along with Design, at Columbia College in Chicago. He freelanced as a photographer before honing his design skills and finding his niche in high-end retouching at leading production studios around the city. For years, Scott enhanced the image of advertisers like P&G, Miller/Coors and Kraft. Today, he brings all of his skills to all our clients at Norton.
Silvia brings a wealth of international agency experience to her work at Norton. Previously, as a Design Specialist at Panasonic, she worked directly with their China team to ensure consistency with global brand standards. Tradeshow design and new product logo development were also among Silvia’s specialties there. Prior roles in publishing garnered Silvia multiple industry awards for graphic design, and her work is prominently displayed at her alma mater’s Media Arts and Graphic Design Museum. From construction to technology to healthcare and beyond, Silvia’s vast experience empowers every brand entrusted to the Norton Agency.
In short, Molly was made for this. A Florida State Digital Media Production major with a penchant for storytelling, our Video Production Assistant is no stranger to creating captivating work. Her budding career most notably includes in-house videography for a non-profit in Brooklyn. Not bad for a kid from the tiny beach town of Englewood, Florida. When it comes to creativity outside of the 9-to-5, Molly works on her own passion projects in film photography, as well as some embroidery and gardening. Both of which give way to even more opportunities for—you guessed it—photography.
Visit our careers page to view all our open positions.
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The competition on Super Bowl Sunday goes far beyond the football field. Some fans take commercials just as seriously as the game itself. Does the debate on who had the best TV spot ever really end?
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