ABOUT ME - JUSTIN WINGET
A fearless cultivator of breakthrough innovation,
I inspire teams to practice whole brain strategic thinking aimed at solving key business challenges. Accountable to the highest of standards, I lead by example and inspire others to discover their own full potential. Resiliently seeing opportunities where others see only roadblocks, I practice bold thinking, promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and exercise non-prescriptive thinking to achieve the unimaginable. A firm believer that if you love what you do, you will never work another day in your life,
I take my work, but not myself, seriously.
An agent for responsible innovation, design thinking, brand alignment, and lighthearted office pranks, I bring almost two decades of dedicated leadership as a cross-disciplinary Creative Director and Brand Executive, most recently with The San Antonio Spurs, The Ohio State University, and Levy. A Chicago Innovation Award winner and member of the Levy Dream Team, I have curated creative, marketing, content, digital, operations, and consumer experience strategies for 100+ marquee brands spanning the sports, entertainment, restaurant, retail, CPG, and higher education industries.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University (which is in Ohio, NOT Kentucky,) I spent the first 15 years of my professional career in Chicago as a Graphic Designer and Creative Director with Levy. Instrumental in their growth over that period, I helped the company secure 50+ new business and client retention deals across their portfolio of restaurants, stadiums, arenas, ballparks, ski resorts, racetracks, convention centers, and retail stores. Accountable for everything from staff business cards to progressive experience master plans for Levy’s 130+ partners across North America, my team managed over $1.5MM in annual creative and production services.
In 2016, an Executive role presented itself in Columbus, Ohio to lead creative and multimedia efforts for The Ohio State University. Born and bred a Buckeye, I passionately led a team of 20+ content creators to craft creative strategies for the University’s social media and email platforms, OSU.edu, the Ohio State Alumni Magazine, and developed successful campaigns for Enrollment Services and Advancement, the University’s fundraising arm. Overseeing graphic, editorial UX/UI and digital design, video production, photography, brand management, and print production, my team was accountable for brand image on all enterprise content marketing platforms and strategic support of all academic, athletic, regional campus, and medical units.
In two+ years at Ohio State, I was Executive Producer of the University’s breakthrough PSA series which reached 25+ million national television viewers, led a comprehensive redesigned of The Ohio State Alumni Magazine, launched an award-winning content marketing portal promoting thought leadership across the University, and attended a potluck with two-time Heisman Trophy Winner Archie Griffin.
DOWNLOADABLE RESUMEReady to be drafted by the pro ranks, I jumped at the opportunity when the San Antonio Spurs came calling in 2018. While there, I led a best-in-class team of graphic and motion designers, copywriters, and project managers in support of seven SS&E franchise digital and social platforms, marketing campaigns, in-arena experiences, sponsor activations, and retail programs. Highlights of my tenure included the 2019/20 Spurs season campaign and theme nights, retirement ceremonies for Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the 2018/19 NBA Playoff campaign, retail capsule collections honoring Selena and Hispanic Heritage, and a schedule release campaign which was recognized by Adweek and numerous other media outlets. Unfortunately, my time with the Spurs was cut short due to the impacts of COVID-19 in July of 2020 when I was laid off with many others.
In March of 2021, I joined the NBA’s Detroit Pistons as Creative Director where I currently manage a team of graphic and motion designers, a project manager, and our full-service print production studio. A relatively small team that averages over 3,000 unique projects completed each year, we are a high volume group that supports the creative needs of every Pistons Sports and Entertainment business vertical including marketing operations, game presentation, social media, partnerships, retail, membership services, group sales, facilities, HR, and basketball operations. In my role, I oversee development of overarching season campaigns, themed micro campaigns, in-arena graphics packages, retail collections, environmental graphics, and support all of our owned, earned, and paid media channels. I have also helped develop each Pistons “city edition” jersey and court design since the 2022-23 NBA season in collaboration with Nike, the NBA, and other key Pistons stakeholders.
Professional accomplishments aside, I am most proud of my #girldad title to my two precious daughters, Caitlyn and Taylor. Adding to an already lively household in Farmington Hills, my wife Mandy and I also have a Boston Terrier, Ella.
CURATOR OF CREATIVE, DIGITAL marketing, content, operations, and consumer experience strategies for 100+ marquee brands
spanning the sports, entertainment, restaurant, retail, CPG, and higher education industries.
Pistons Sports & Entertainment
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2021-Present
Leads a best-in-class team of graphic and motion designers in support of all Pistons Entertainment franchise digital and social platforms, marketing campaigns, in-arena experiences, sponsorship activations, and retail programs
Manages operational processes and workflows for our high volume creative studio to drive effectiveness, deadline orientation, brand consistency and responsible innovation
Holds brand management responsibilities to ensure consistent brand execution across suppliers, partners and internal resources
Accountable for omnichannel campaign development, digital/social content marketing programs, sponsorship activations and other initiatives for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, their G-League affiliate The Motor City Cruise, and corporate social responsibility efforts
Collaboratively develops content marketing strategies to keep audiences inspired and engaged across owned, earned and paid media outlets
Justin Winget Creative
PRINCIPAL
2003-Present
Led brand and graphic development of new e-commerce platform for the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies on behalf of Rank and Rally
Envisioned and developed the Bodies Burger brand from the ground-up, a quick service restaurant concept exclusive to Walt-Disney World in partnership with Pollo-Campero
Rebranded the Levy Restaurants motorsports division as “Craft and Dish Provisions” following a large-scale merger with Americrown
Led brand development for the Learfield Directors’ Cup, a prestigious award given annually to the nation’s best overall collegiate athletics program
Developed portable program for the new Austin FC Stadium on behalf of Levy Restaurants
Partnered with McClain Camarota Restaurant Group to successfully pitch two new concepts to MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada
Served as a motorsports photographer in support of digital and social platforms for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Texas Motor Speedway
Developed other creative projects for clients like The J.M. Smucker Company, WATT, MOV3, Lightbulb LLC, and The Bartolotta Restaurants
Spurs Sports & Entertainment
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2018-2020
Led a best-in-class team of graphic and motion designers, copywriters, and project managers in support of seven SS&E franchise digital and social platforms, marketing campaigns, in-arena experiences, sponsor activations, and retail merchandise programs
Instituted industry standard creative tools, technologies, and processes for high volume studio to drive operating effectiveness, deadline orientation, brand consistency, and responsible innovation
Developed digital brand standard platforms for each SS&E franchise and assumed brand management responsibilities to ensure consistent brand execution across suppliers, partners, and internal resources
Collaboratively developed content marketing strategies to keep audiences inspired and engaged across owned, earned, and paid media outlets
Led rebranding efforts for Spurs Give, River City Rockfest, and the overarching SS&E brand
The Ohio State University
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF CREATIVE AND MULTIMEDIA
2016-2018
Led the ideation, development and direction of inspiring, interdisciplinary, creative strategies
Interdependently developed content strategies for enterprise social channels and managed team of UX/UI/digital designers, illustrators, print/editorial designers, brand managers, motion graphic designers, production artists, staff photographers, and video producers
Envisioned, launched, and managed both campaigns and ongoing content programs for University Advancement and the Ohio State Alumni Association inclusive of the Ohio State University Alumni Magazine
Managed the Ohio State brand at the top level by publishing branded toolkits, refining digital brand
standards, and establishing review protocols for suppliers, partners, and internal resources
Levy
SR. CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2005 – 2016
Was accountable for the gamut of internal and external creative disciplines, including graphic, environmental, digital, motion, UX/UI and presentation design, photography, video production, interior architecture, print production, project and traffic management, retail merchandising, and styling
Named to the “Levy Dream Team,” in December 2014, a prestigious recognition awarded to just one of 250+ home office employees each year
Led strategic creative development for 50+ successful new business and/or client retainment pitches, including marquee sports and entertainment venues such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, The Barclays Center, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Lions
Actively tackled large scale restaurant, retail, and food service master planning projects for the likes of Squaw Valley, Mammoth Mountain, ClubCorp, Nickelodeon Universe, The Harley-Davidson Museum, Orange County Choppers, and others
Spearheaded concept development for three of Levy’s flagship restaurants in Chicago and Walt Disney World
Creative Commune
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
2003 – 2005
Began creative design career at Creative Commune, a boutique Chicago design and marketing firm
Executed branding, print, packaging and web campaigns for CPG companies such as Kellogg’s, Rust-Oleum, Urban Accents and Thermasilk featuring pop star Ashlee Simpson
Sarah Camarota, Creative Director & Managing Partner of McClain Camarota Hospitality
Justin is a natural born leader through his ability to gain consensus, involve everyone, and teach without preaching. Even when outside of his comfort zone, he has the confidence and unwavering dedication to see vision through and keep everybody around him in step and on target.
Justin is a rare creative talent. He sees the world through a creative lens that creates new energy and possibilities through design. It’s his gift for leading teams to work through the practicalities of bringing a bold design vision to life that makes Justin stand out in the creative community. As a leader, what I most loved about working with Justin was that when strategies were shared, he thoughtfully left space for his team to work within them to improve the ideas, and add their own creative imprint in the work. He is a truly generous leader, always ensuring that his team is supported, and continually coaching his team to grow professionally and creatively.”
Jenn Sutherland, Sr. Director, Digital Transformation and Visual Brand, American Dental Association
Chris Marasco, Data Enabler at Oracle, Analytics Matriculant at University of Chicago
At Levy, Justin oversaw the implementation of a multi-million dollar print on-demand / CMS platform, which GFX supplied, and I helped integrate on their behalf. I have worked in and around the marketing sector for over a decade. It is clear to me Justin is a rare breed. At Levy he was able to balance the mentoring demands of his direct reports and managerial expectations of senior leadership, all while promoting his S&E clients’ strategic vision as Senior Creative Director. Justin’s is a true creative leader, manager & strategist. I hope we have a chance to cross paths again.
Derek Weglarz, Creative Lead, Distributive Design
Justin’s creative leadership had no bounds. Insightful and unflappable, especially during extreme project timelines, his calm and determined nature guided our team from one success to the next. Readily offering actionable feedback with a willingness to get his hands dirty, his creative vision would always come together flawlessly. Unequivocally, his talent helped to grow Levy Restaurants into the juggernaut it is today.
Grant Smucker, Video Director / Cinematographer, Doozy Crew
Justin is a unique breed of talent; one with a special drive that fuels him beyond where many are simply satisfied. I’ve seen him manage massive campaigns, entire teams, and a philanthropic student event, all while maintaining a fun atmosphere and a desire for excellence. With a unique blend of creativity, leadership, and a ‘get it done’ mentality, he is truly a difference maker in the creative community.
“JUSTIN IS THE NEXT CHARLES DARWIN!”
– “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks
Frustrated by an unevolved American educational system that weighed merits of right-brained thinking while failing to embrace and harness the power of creativity, I started the chARTer program, along with my late father Morgan, in memory of my stillborn son Carter lost in March of 2013.
Aiming to help guide adolescents serious about pursuing careers in creative fields, a biannual one-day inspirational conference and workshop takes place in my hometown of Orrville, Ohio. Giving students access to a diverse group of leading creative professionals and exposure to regional collegiate art programs, we worked with the Tri-County Educational Board to grant 100+ teacher nominated students from seven local school districts permission to forgo their regular curriculum and attend chARTer.
Formatted with keynote lectures, a Q&A session, and 1-1 portfolio reviews with the professionals, the event has been a smashing success for students and teachers alike. Despite losing my dad suddenly to a heart attack in 2014, we have honored both he and Carter by carrying on the program in their memory.
VIEW DIGITAL EVENT PROGRAMS
PHILANTHROPIC HISTORY