Resumé,
or CV if you're Latin.
2022 - 2025
Work
Experience
I've been in advertising for over 25 years now, in agencies big, small and somewhere in between. Along the way, I've been fortunate to participate in some campaigns that were more than just ads, like The Hellmann's Real Food Movement and Maxwell House Brew Some Good. I've been mentor and mentee to some amazing people, and inadvertently created a beloved Canadian cultural figure,
The North American House Hippo.
It's been great. Here's my most recent activity.
2022 - 2025
Creative Director/Copy, Doner North
Main clients: Subway, Edo Japan, CATC, Mount Pleasant Group, Surrey Place, Grand & Toy.
2018 - 2022
ACD/Copywriter, Grey Toronto
Main clients: Toronto Zoo, The Salvation Army, Pringles, Addition Elle, WSIB, Volvo, Sagicor Bank.
AD Partner: Ryan McNeill
2016 - 2018
CD/Copywriter, Freelance
Main clients: Manulife, Koodo, Porsche, Jamieson Vitamins, Weston Bread, AGF, Tim Hortons.
AD Partners: Kyle Scotland, Adam Thur, Mike Sipley, Mike Kirkland, other Mikes probably.
2013 - 2016
ACD/Copywriter, Taxi Toronto
Main clients: Kraft Foods (MiO, Peanut Butter, KoolAid), Canadian Tire, Leon's.
AD Partner: Damon Crate
2008 - 2013
Copywriter, Ogilvy
Main clients: Hellmann's, Winners, Maxwell House
About Me
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The name? It's pronounced Shevonne. Why is it spelled like that? Well, in Gaelic an S followed by a vowel usually makes a "SH" sound. And then the B... ah, forget it.
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I graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (now OCADU) as an AD, so I have something to say about the art direction. Always.
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I think good grammar and spelling still matter.
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I think good readers make good writers. When people say they haven't read a book since high school I get a high-pitched ringing in my head and have to lie down.
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In 1982, I kicked a soccer ball the furthest at the Maple Leaf Foods company picnic and won a 10 lb. ham.
My Leadership
Style
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I'm not much for hierarchy, personally. Or formality. I think we get further faster if we all say what we mean in the most honest, non-jerky way possible. We're all in this together.
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I believe in getting the best work possible out of each individual, not imposing my style of work on a department. Creatives are unique individuals. Some need to be coaxed, some need to be pushed, some are full of self-doubt, often without reason.
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You have to give people the freedom to fail, and learn from it. Fear of failure is the death of creativity.
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The best work is done when everyone is on the same team. We don't all have to agree all the time, and it's better if we don't, but everyone should feel confident, valued and heard. I always want my team to know I'm here to help, not to judge.
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I like meetings to have an objective. If you can't get it done in an hour, the objective isn't focussed enough.
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You can't do good work if you're not having fun. I like to have fun.