About Me
Here, you can write a brief introduction to your page. This engages your visitors and answers questions they may have about you.
̌
I’M ilyssa.
A little about me. I grew up in Nashville, where everyone's either a country star or pretending they could've been one. (I fall firmly in the second category, though I DID perform at shopping malls and local events as a teen.) But that Nashville-ness of storytelling, emotion, making people FEEL something? That stuck. Just... in advertising instead of on a tour bus.
For the past 15 years, I've had the chance to create campaigns that do more than inform. They changed things. Because the best ideas don't just say something; they DO something. And when they do something, people notice. The awards they’ve earned speak for themselves, but honestly? That's not the part that gets me out of bed. (Although it’s nice.)
Here's what does: helping other people get to THEIR ideas. Mentoring creatives. Managing teams. Watching someone crack a concept they didn't think they had in them. THAT'S the thing I love most about the job.
Recent Awards
2026 Gold Clio: Design Craft - Art Direction
2026 Gold Clio: Design Craft - Other
2026 Silver Clio: Film - 61 seconds to 5 min
2026 Silver Clio: Film Craft - Animaton
2026 Bronze Clio: Film Craft - Direction
2026 Bronze Clio: Lifestyle, Wellness, & Over-the-counter Creative Strategy
2026 Bronze Clio: Digital/Mobile - Apps
2026 Gold Telly: General Medical & Research
2026 Ad Age Creativity: Best Work for Good Finalist
2026 Webby Shortlist: Social Features - Best Community or Fan Engagement
2025 Grand Clio: Art Direction - Design Craft
2025 Gold Clio: Health Equity
2025 Gold Clio: Print - Direct
2025 Gold Clio: Production Design - Design Craft
2025 Silver Clio: Creative Strategy
2025 Silver Clio: Innovation - Medium Innovation
2025 Silver Clio: Production Design - Print and OOH Craft
2025 Bronze Clio: Art Direction - Print and OOH Craft
2025 Bronze Clio: Public Affairs and Policy - Public Relations
2025 Ad Age Creativity: Best Work for Good
2025 Lisbon Health: Direct - Silver
2025 Cannes Lions Shortlist: Print & Publishing - Charity
2025 Cannes Lions Shortlist: Art Direction - Print & Publishing
2025 Manny Awards: Best Philanthropic Campaign
2025 Manny Awards: Best Patient Engagement Campaign
2025 Manny Awards: Best Multichannel Campaign
2025 Reggies: Gold Spotlight WL