About Me
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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
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
2025 One Show Shortlist: Print & Promotional for Good
2025 One Show Shortlist: Health & Wellness Direct
2025 One Show Shortlist: Direct Marketing for Good
2025 One Show Shortlist: Health & Wellness Products
2025 Webby Shortlist: Advertising, Media, & PR - Game
2025 Webby Shortlist: AI, Immersive, & Games - Health & Wellness
2025 Webby Shortlist: AI, Immersive, & Games - Products & Services
2024 Manny Awards: Best Agency Campaign
2024 Tellys: Silver - Branded Content - Pharmaceuticals
2024 Webby Honorable Mention: Online Guerrilla & Innovation
2024 Webby Honorable Mention: Responsible Innovation