About
It has been said that sometimes great men rise from humble beginnings. No one has ever said it in reference to Steve Scott, however.
The Epic (length) Tale of Steve
The early days - finding his way
Steve began his illustrious career working for Diamond Film and Video, a film and video post-production house in Birmingham, AL. There, Steve's employers utilized his creative mind and sharp intellect by having him lift, carry and load lots of heavy camera and lighting equipment. Besides developing a strong back, Steve developed an intimate knowledge of the ins-and-outs of film and video production - a knowledge that would later prove beneficial in his career.
It's been said more than once that Steve has "a face for radio," so it seemed only natural when he took his next job at WACT-FM, in Tuscaloosa, AL. The General Manager needed someone with good production skills, an excellent ear for talent, and the ability to quickly write compelling sales copy. When she couldn't find it, she hired Steve. Within weeks though, Steve had the production department running like a well-oiled machine, and was writing every local commercial on the air. In addition to his production duties, Steve later took over as host of the "WACT Action Hotline," a daily call-in talk show where listeners would call in to discuss current events. And sometimes not.
While working at WACT, Steve began to realize it was the writing he really enjoyed, and perhaps it was time to give up on his dream of being "Production Lackey." His next career jump took him to Rogers Advertising, in Birmingham, AL. It was here that Steve found his true calling: Advertising Copywriter. Rogers Advertising was a well-respected automotive advertising agency, and Steve quickly rose through the ranks by writing groundbreaking commercials with original openers like, "THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ONLY!" And, "THIS IS THE ONE SALE YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!" Steve also split his time working on the Just For Feet account, and his commercials were shown all over the country. Shortly after Steve left Rogers, Just For Feet went bankrupt. Coincidence? We think not.
The middle years - the talent matures
After a few years of writing everything in ALL CAPS and ending every sentence with multiple exclamation points, Steve realized his career goals were bigger than Birmingham, Alabama. So he decided to try his hand elsewhere - and found himself at Harris • Drury • Cohen, a passionate, creative boutique in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. There, he was set apart from the other agency employees- mostly by his pasty white complexion. During his time at H-D-C, Steve was the sole writer on the agency's biggest account: Levitz Furniture. And thus ushered in the new era of "The Kinder, Gentler Steve." No more yelling and screaming about cars. Now his work reflected speaking merely very loudly about couches.
Southern Florida didn't really agree with Steve's constitution, so when he decided to leave H-D-C, he decided to leave Florida altogether. He considered all the glamorous cities and regions in which he could live. He explored mountains and beaches and beautiful countryside. And then he inexplicably went to Dallas, Texas. Rapp Collins, that is. Steve worked on several accounts while at Rapp Collins, but the vast majority of his time was spent working on SBC (now AT&T). For almost 4 years, Steve consistently found new and exciting ways to alert customers to the little-known fact that "DSL is 50X faster than dial-up." This was especially impressive when you consider that the legal team would not let him say "DSL is 50X faster than dial-up."
Later, Rapp Collins was split into two agencies: Rapp Collins, and Javelin Direct. Steve was chosen to go with the elite to Javelin Direct- where he helped get the fledgling agency off the ground and continued to work on the SBC account. But here's where the twist comes in: he left his duties as a Sr. Writer to try his hand at Brand Planning! For about a year Steve didn't write amazing ads; he wrote amazing creative briefs. He also gave up his beloved Mac to work on a PC, showing his true devotion to his new craft.
Although working in Brand Planning proved to be a valuable learning experience that will help Steve throughout the rest of his career, he missed the days of sitting around and gossiping- and calling it "concepting." He also missed his Mac. When he moved to his next job at Integer Dallas, he was welcomed back to the creative fold. While at Integer, he resumed his role as Sr. Writer - only now for the Cingular and 7-Eleven accounts. He also served as acting Associate Creative Director for Dave & Buster's.
The recent past - the legend continues
Steve, ever the adventurer, decided it was time to leave the safe, warm bosom of Dallas and make his mark in a new city. In May of 2006, Steve arrived in Chicago, IL with $20 in his pocket and a lot of big dreams. Okay, to be more accurate, he arrived in Chicago with several freelance jobs lined-up and a pretty decent apartment. He continued to enjoy a successful freelance phase, working on clients like Hinckley Springs Water, Mitsubishi Machinery, Discover Financial Services, Brunswick Bowling Lanes, and Abbott Pharmaceuticals.
In June of 2007, Steve landed a full-time position at Ogilvy & Mather — where he still works today. Since then, much hilarity has ensued. So that should have you up-to-date. If you've made it this far, congratulations! You may be the first.