While I'm currently a New York-based freelancer, my career began in Seattle, working at a number of small, creative agencies. The work was always inspiring but the rain was no joke. So I fled with my husband, our 150-pound mastiff, and my art director partner to join up with the then-fledgling Deutsch, New York.

Once at Deutsch, I became the Group Creative Director on multiple accounts including Snapple and Ikea –writing and eventually directing successful campaigns for both clients. I also pitched and won many accounts for the agency, including Snapple, Footlocker, Dominoes and Verizon.

By the time I left Deutsch to join BBDO to run Visa, the agency had quintupled in size and been named Agency of Year. After a few years at BBDO, I left advertising to write, produce and direct content and scripted work from multiple clients and networks, including NBC/Universal, VH1 and MTV. But advertising called again and I answered, joining mrm Worldwide, a social/digital shop, as the GCD of Content. There, I created and directed content and social projects for clients including General Mills, Wal-Mart, Toy R Us (sorry, I don't know how to type the "R" backwards) and multiple Diageo brands.

From there, I jumped to mcgarrybowen as an ECD on the Verizon account. The account was massive and the work was varied across all parts of the business, from Innovation, to Apple and Samsung partnerships, to product launches. While overseeing the business, I guided over 50 creatives across tv, digital, social and print. I also shot over 70 commercials, including the “#48hours" Ed Norton campaign for Verizon's flagship, but lagging device brand, Droid. The work reestablished the brand, tripled sales and was recognized by press and a bunch of industry awards. Under my direction, mcgarrybowen grew their share of the Version business by over 20 million in additional billings.

Over the past 5 years, my freelancing adventures have included a 7-month stint as interim CCO at KBS; traveling to Nigeria to document local women-owned businesses for the Goldman Sach's 10,000 Women project; creating a social/ broadcast video project supporting girl's access to playing baseball that launched on the World Series; and spending weeks imbedded in rural Georgia, documenting a 100 year-old high cross-town high school football rivalry.

I currently live in Brooklyn with my husband, a couple of giant sons, and a (different) 150 lb. mastiff. And though my work has received recognition at most industry shows including the One Show, Cannes, D&AD, CA, Addy's, and AICP, what I'm most proud of are the problems I've solve and the stories I've helped tell. That, and my parallel parking skills.

Strangers on the street have been known to applaud.

So that's me, Cheryl Van Ooyen. But don't let the unpronounceable surname fool you, I cannot speak a word of Dutch.