John is the Founder and CEO of Gatesman, a full service advertising agency with offices in Chicago and Pittsburgh bringing expertise in the Consumer, Retail, Healthcare, Financial, Home and Building, Energy, Higher Ed and B2B space. Gatesman employs a highly experienced team drawing on big agency/national brand experience to offer the same intellectual horsepower of larger bureaucratic shops, but in a leaner, smarter and more aggressive approach to our clients nationwide. Gatesman has been continually recognized as one of the nation's fastest growing independent marketing communications agencies in the country with award winning expertise in advertising, digital, analytics, public relations, social media, and media planning and buying. Background:John's passion, leadership and direction has helped Gatesman excell to be one of the fastest growing companies in the Northeast, including fastest growing companies in Pennsylvania eight years running, Inc. 500 as one of the nation’s fastest growing companies three years running, recognition as one of the top 100 independent agencies nationwide, and as one of the Best Places to work for eight years in a row. John identified and led the successful acquisitions of digital firm Quest Fore in 2014 and Noble Communications in 2017 which expanded the agency's operations into Chicago and the Midwest. John has led and built marketing teams for a diverse portfolio of businesses. He began his career with Ross Roy Detroit in their Executive Management Training Program. He moved on to management positions with Ogilvy, Doner and Ketchum before joining BNY Mellon as Senior Marketing Director, and then Brunner Advertising as VP of Client Services.John has been active across numerous organizations including serving as President of the Pittsburgh Ad Federation and as a board member of the American Red Cross and Variety Children’s Charity. He has been cited in numerous publications, including Adweek, Ad Age, Chicago Business Journal, Pittsburgh Business Times, Profile, and Mergers & Acquisitions. Most recently John spoke at the 4A’s annual conference regarding agency models of the future and how Gatesman has transformed to meet today’s complex challenges being faced by clients. He currently serves on the service committee of the Pittsburgh Rotary Club, and the board of directors with AMIN Worldwide. John continues to help shape the evolution and direction of the agency to ensure our clients remain competitive and at the forefront of marketing as it is redefined in the ever-changing dynamics of the marketplace.