OWNER
CFK CREATIVE, ST LOUIS, MO
Professional biography? At what age do you decide to start that biography? Do they not say that every road leads you somewhere and there is a reason for everything? Ok, well there is limited space so let’s start with graduate school, because actually I have come full circle. I have a Masters of Social Work from Washington University St. Louis, 2001. I started that program in 1980, but that is another story all together, all that counts is that I finished it and have used it everyday since.
I entered the creative field in the 1980s with a small start up business, LCDI, a business meeting production company (remember multi-image slide shows) hiring me with no experience. After trying a multitude of other careers, this one felt right. Well, this led to better jobs with a variety of agencies. During these years, I had still not finished my Masters, instead working at several businesses — Contemporary Productions, Obata Design, and Design Network — and rising from Account Manager to VP of Business Development. Then fate stepped in and I was introduced to the senior living industry. This arena felt familiar to me because of my social work background. Fast forward, finished my degree, got educated in the senior living field, then came cfk creative in 2007 with a specialty in senior living. I loved it, my social work had merged with my creative side … no more doing package design and promotions for beer and ice cream … started my own firm to make sure marketing and advertising to our elders was honest and straightforward.
Besides running cfk creative, 13 years and counting, I have volunteered at the Greater Missouri Alzheimer’s Association as a speaker, 24/7 Helpline Specialist, and facilitator for adult children support group. Recently, I became the St. Louis Ambassador for Aging 2.0, which strives to accelerate innovation to address issues in aging. I am involved with Washington University and the Brown School, as a Co-Chair for the Eliot Society, an alumni association to pay it forward. I am also in a research study for adult children of those with Alzheimer’s at the ADRC, Washington University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Appleton WI / St. Louis MO
A DESIGN HERO?
Milton Glaser
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA?
Instagram
FAVORITE TELEVISION BINGE WATCH?
Outlander
FAVORITE PODCAST?
Cautionary Tales
FAVORITE BOOK?
The Shack
FAVORITE MOVIE?
A Wizard of Oz, It’s a Wonderful Life
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Vincent Van Gogh
FAVORITE CAUSE/CHARITY?
Alzheimer’s Association
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Riding and showing horses nationally
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER?
Full-time volunteer and advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association
