Not just anyone can work at Adams & Knight. We don’t tolerate prima donnas. Or “artists.” Or mavericks.
But we do attract smart, fun people who work together to create something that’s better than what they could have done on their own.
People who really want to learn about the clients’ business and help it grow.
We also believe creative people need balance to stay fresh. Our creative director illustrates children’s books on the side.
One of our AEs sings opera in her spare time. And our COO is a feng shui specialist.
You don’t have to have a unique interest to make it here. But you do have to be passionate about constantly
learning new things, always challenging old perceptions, and forever trying new ideas.
Reem Nouh, SVP of Strategic Services
When we say Reem has world-class marketing expertise, we mean it in more ways than one.
She has amassed vast experience spanning the healthcare continuum, from hospitals and pharmaceuticals to medical devices and senior living. A seasoned integrated marketing specialist, she also has experience in both financial services and tourism. And her career has spanned the globe, including stints in Africa and the Middle East.
Originally from Egypt, Reem loves traveling in her spare time. But we're thrilled that now, her unique insights and strategic thinking are right here in Connecticut with her husband and daughter.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.116
Email: reem.nouh@adamsknight.com
Tom Morgan, Media Director
Tom began his career on Madison Avenue, working for several years in Manhattan media shops including BBDO, Mindshare and Universal McCann.
His agency experience ranges from multi-million dollar branding and promotional campaigns for HBO, World Wrestling Entertainment and the USA Network to grassroots, local and B-to-B marketing for a wide range of clients including Tylenol, Visa, Unilever and GE. In his role as a client-side media manager for Sony Electronics, Tom led the planning team for Sony's largest and most successful branding campaign ever.
Tom is fluent in all types of media, from traditional broadcast and print to interactive to experiential, and has placed everything from Super Bowl spots to stickers on skateboards.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.159
Email:
Gary Griffin, Director of Public Relations
Don’t expect an activity report from Gary. His team generates results reports.
They don’t stop until they’ve developed the best buzz-building strategy and the most engaging pitch to get clients in the spotlight,
whether that’s on the air, in print or online.
Foresaking a career in baseball, Gary was drawn to the fast pitch world of journalism after college. His newsroom experiences honed
his instincts for “angles” that get the ears of newsmakers, trendspotters and audiences of all types.
After a stint in nonprofit community relations, Gary joined Adams & Knight. Propelled by his successes, he’s risen quickly at the
agency to now lead its growing PR team. He’s gotten his clients press in all kinds of outlets—from top blogs and online newsletters
to such icons as Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN and USA Today.
And just to clear his head, Gary competes in Iron Man competitions.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.131
Email:
Jill Adams, Agency Principal
Jill is the president and majority owner of Adams & Knight. She’s the “tough love” of the firm, concurrently enforcing
the standards and encouraging the team.
After a checkered past that took her from PR on Capitol Hill and teaching in Madrid to client-side and agency-side advertising
experience, Jill joined her partner in an agency that’s grown beyond their wildest dreams. She now oversees the agency’s strategic
services, and focuses on ensuring that the management team continues to bring the best and brightest ideas to the agency’s clients.
Jill has worked with a who’s who of industry giants—including Fidelity Investments, ING, The Hartford, Prudential, Sun Life Financial,
MassMutual and M Financial.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.100
Email:
Marc McFarland, VP of Account Services
Marc is an encyclopedia of expertise when it comes to financial service products.
Before joining Adams & Knight, he led a variety of industry-leading sales and marketing teams for financial services
organizations. He holds Series 6, 63 and 65 licenses, and is currently pursuing a CLU designation.
A former client of the agency, Marc has invested his career in the financial services industry. Both on the agency side and
in his prior client lives, he has worked with such household names as MassMutual, Prudential, John Hancock, New England
Financial, Allmerica Financial and Protective Life.
An all-state college wrestler and Cornell graduate, Marc tackles every challenge with determination and grit, a sense of humor
and an uncompromising will to succeed.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.126
Email:
Bill Knight, Chief Marketing Officer
Bill founded the agency back in 1988 in an attic studio with low ceilings that cracked many a skull and orange shag carpet
that offended many a sense of design. A living example of the power of visualization, Bill posted a picture of the diner
that would one day serve as the centerpiece of his hot agency above his drawing table. Twenty years later, that diner is
surrounded by one of the coolest agencies in New England and a fast-growing team of like-minded big thinkers.
Bill began his career as an art director for leading local agencies and corporations, as well as BBDO. He has an incurable
sense of curiosity and loves delving into all kinds of businesses. His biggest thrill is seeing his team turn an understanding
of a client’s business into creative work that gets people to sit up and take action.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.101
Email:
Don Carter, Creative Director
No one would call Don a prima donna. But then he doesn’t need to posture; his work speaks volumes about his talent. He’s won
wheelbarrows full of awards, from Clios and Effies™ to accolades from the New York One Show, the Boston Ad Club, the Boston
Hatch Awards, the Connecticut Art Directors Club, and the Connecticut Ad Club. His work has also been featured in Communication
Arts, Photo District News, Art Direction and PhotoDesign magazines.
Don’s work is as diverse in style as it is connected by purpose. He never stops trying to get to the “essence” of a brand,
the spark of a campaign—the impetus for action. He’s created award-winning campaigns across all media and industries.
When he’s not creating campaigns, Don is illustrating children’s books. His luscious, colorific work is featured in great
bedtime books on everything from trucks to jazz.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.109
Email:
Patrick Dugan, Associate Creative Director
Back in the sepia-toned 1970s, Pat’s career as a copywriter seemed predestined, from producing “radio” skits on his trusty handheld tape recorder to amusing elementary school friends with Mad Lib-style short stories starring the teacher.
Today, Pat’s still constantly searching for interesting and unique ways to combine 26 letters and capture attention. Only now, he does it for clients, not classmates. One complaint we constantly hear about Pat: “It’s too hard to pick just one concept.”
In ten-plus years in advertising, Pat has established a reputation as a versatile writer who can make you laugh, cry and act... on TV, radio, print or the Web. And he’s become the state’s most decorated copywriter, winning numerous industry awards, including Best of Show and the Gold Pen three times each from the Advertising Club of Connecticut.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.104
Email:
Brian McClear, VP of Interactive Services
Brian specializes in turning sound interactive strategies into the coolest online experiences, the kind you forward
to a friend. A trained illustrator by trade, he took to new technologies like a fish to water. He currently leads
the agency’s team of interactive designers and programmers.
Brian has a keen ability to translate the complex into the compelling, whether he’s focused on developing a new
interactive tool, an online marketing campaign or enhancing a Web site. One of the agency’s first employees,
Brian has experience working with a who’s who of industry leaders, including The Hartford, ING, Travelers,
Prudential and Fidelity.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.103
Email:
Meghan Burns, Director of Social Media
What happens when you spend a large part of your childhood without television, in Alaska? You get really, really good at making the most of any social opportunities.
Which is what Meghan’s still doing, as Director of Social Media here at A&K. Her Communications degree from UConn and award-winning public relations experience have helped her turn social media into a powerful, engaging and interactive communications tool for a wide variety of clients.
When she’s not busy Facebooking (she’s been on it since it started), Tweeting or blogging, Meghan likes to get out on the water for some sailing. And yes, she does watch TV now.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.133
Email: meghan.burns@adamsknight.com
Jim Kieffer, VP of Interactive Strategy
When you meet Jim, look closely . . . because we think he may actually be a very cleverly disguised cyborg.
That's the easiest way to explain his ability to distance himself from the latest interactive fads and instead, step back and take a logical, big-picture approach to bringing online-driven technologies together for our clients. For Jim, it's not just about banner ads, emails or apps—it's about what makes the most sense based on the objectives.
When Jim's not behind a keyboard, there’s a good chance you'll find him behind a drum set, whaling away on the Keith Moon part of a Who song.
Phone: 860.676.2300 Ext.102
Email: james.kieffer@adamsknight.com
