Grower and tomatovangelist. I am but a humble gardener, working to awaken all to the flavor and glory of handpicked, homegrown, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes. I also sell tomato plants – in 2024, 150 rare and exotic varieties, 10,000 plants sold and 1,500 donated to churches, organizations and community gardens that work in neighborhoods in the city and suburbs that help feed people in need.

With a diverse roster of clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations, we consistently help companies tell stories and build brands that contribute to the bottom line. Our Specialties:• Comprehensive print/digital communications programs• Branding for employee and member communications• News-oriented websites• Infographics with an editorial approach • Magazines, newsletters and online publications.Our Clients:Accenture, Advocate Health Care, Anson Industries, American Bar Assn., American Marketing Assn., Bank Marketing Assn., Baxter Healthcare, ComEd, CSL Behring, Denver Water, Edelman Public Relations, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, GagenMacDonald, Harris Bank, Hill & Knowlton, IRI, ITW, Joint Commission, Jones Lang LaSalle, LaSalle Bank, McDonald's, Molex, Morton International, Motorola, Navistar, Pittsburgh International Airport, Towers Watson, Walgreens and WeberShandwick.

• Design publications, collateral, news-oriented websites and other projects for clients of RCG, the leading consultant in brand journalism, internal communications strategy/execution and crisis communications.Clients:Verizon, Denver Water, Pittsburgh International Airport, CSL Behring, Advocate Health Care (Chicago), Aurora Health Care (Milwaukee), Metro State University (Denver), Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa), Cape Cape Health Care, Swanson School of Engineering (University of Pittsburgh)

• Teach concepts of design & production capabilities of Adobe Creative Cloud programs

Belt has selected one of my stories for its 'Best of Belt' anthology in each of the past three years.

• Teach concepts of communication design to upper-level and grad students in advertising, journalism, marketing and public relations. • Introduce design and production capabilities of Adobe Creative Suite

• Leader of the nation's only major, juried competition devoted to the art and craft of communication design. Only initiative fully co-sponsored by Chicago's two major design associations – the STA & the AIGA.• Developed strategy and tactics and managed year-long cycle of events that recognize, celebrate, inspire and connect the Chicago design community.• Negotiated in-kind contributions of more than $100,000 with Chicago's leading printers, paper companies, design agencies, beverage companies, media outlets and arts venues.• Recruited and managed partnerships with Chicago's premier creative agencies.• Negotiated partnership with prestigious Loop gallery for annual month-long exhibit of selections.• Developed content for website. Wrote promotional collateral for all print and online channels.

• Conceived and implemented Chicago's first visually-oriented Weather Page with "Ask The Weatherman" feature.• Prototyped production system with newspaper's first Mac computers• Redesigned Chicago Sun-Times logo• Coordinated visual presentation of award-winning special investigations• Managed 45 designers, photographers and illustrators

• Conceived and implemented flexible modular design for the country's leading marketing and advertising publication• Developed visual style for presentation of charts, graphs and tables• Introduced publication's first use of four color• Assigned and edited all photos. Created concepts for and assigned illustrations• Designed news and features pages• Launched Electronic Media weekly (now Television Week) in Autumn 1982 as AdAge spin-off ~ Art directed and designed entire issue – 24-36 pages of news and features ~ Copyedited stories. Wrote captions and headlines ~ Developed weekly editorial production cycle, setting deadlines and managing workflow• Launched Creativity weekly in Spring 1986 as AdAge spin-off ~ Art directed and designed entire issue – 24-36 pages of news and features ~ Copyedited stories. Wrote captions and headlines ~ Developed weekly editorial production cycle, setting deadlines and managing workflow

• Created and implemented design for 48-page monthly magazine devoted to collectibles industry • Collaborated with editor and managing editor to plan and direct each issue• Assigned and edited all photos. Created concepts for and assigned illustrations• Wrote captions and headlines and copyedited stories • Developed weekly editorial production cycle – defined tasks, set deadlines and managed workflow

• Created and implemented design as member of team that launched the country's most successful local business publication• Coined the name "Fortunate 100" for the issue's annual survey of highest-paid executives. • Wrote monthly column on innovation and new products• Collaborated with editor and managing editor to plan and direct each issue• Assigned and edited all photos. Created concepts for and assigned illustrations• Designed entire issue – 24-36 pages of news, features and statistical analysis – each week• Wrote captions and headlines. Copyedited stories • Developed weekly editorial production cycle – defined tasks, set deadlines and managed workflow