Title: Chief Business Development Officer & Director of Marketing
Firm: Graydon Head
Education: MBA, Harvard Business School, concentration in business Ethics; BA, Xavier University, double major in English and international affairs with a minor in peace studies
Where did you grow up? Cincinnati, Ohio
What was your first job? Brand management, Procter & Gamble (Crest brand)
What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current job? As a three-time startup entrepreneur, I'd probably be starting another venture.
What is currently on your iPod? Ray Montagne, David Gray, Rolling Stones, Cage the Elephant, Eminem
Where is your favorite place to go to relax? Napa Valley
What is your favorite TV show? Favorite movie? The Colbert Report, Airplane
What is your favorite cuisine? I love everything, but sometimes it's hard to beat a delicious burger and fries.
If you were stranded on a desert island, who or what would you want to have with you? My wife, my music and an unlimited amount of chilled champagne...
Who are the most important people in your life? The easy answer is my wife and daughter, but I've also been blessed with an incredible group of friends. My wife calls them my "bro-mances."
What is the first thing you read in the morning? Well, every morning for four years straight, I wrote a spiritual haiku first thing when I arose, as a way to ground and center myself for the day. Not doing that so much these days, but I do carry around a copy of the Tao Te Ching in my briefcase.
How did you get into legal marketing? When I first got the call, I honestly thought they had the wrong number. Turns out our Managing Partner had seen my resume in his role as chairman of a local startup incubator for entrepreneurs, and reached out to me.
What is the best thing about your job? I work with smart, interesting, hard-working and good-hearted people. My mother recently passed away, and I was blown away by the response of my colleagues — cards, notes, emails, phone calls, hugs in the hallway. It was extraordinary.
What advice would you offer a new entrant to the world of legal marketing? Take time to build trust by nurturing your relationships at a time. Once you've established a strong foundation, be a clear, fierce advocate for change. Our industry is being transformed, and attorneys are, by nature, resistant to change. But the clock is ticking...