Jim Genell,
Vice-President/ Assistant Creative Director/Art Director
Leo Burnett USA
Growing up in Chicago one becomes desensitized to the biting cold. So it came as no shock to move even further North to Wisconsin to attend St. Norbert’s College. As many of you, I had lots of fun in school. As a bonus I even learned a few things. But most importantly I was fortunate to find a direction early on, and the path was Advertising.
My life of responsibility began at Sears Roebuck’s in-house agency in Chicago. As an Art Director/Art Buyer for 2.5 years I absorbed the ways of the ad world. At least the retail ad world. I earned my chops, enjoyed what I did and was paid a decent wage for a kid fresh out. But there was just something terribly unfulfilling about it all. After about my 10,000th Circular, I decided to bail and attend The Portfolio Center.
It paid off with a job at Leo Burnett. Here I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the industry’s brightest people, work on a handful of the World’s biggest brands and along the way, even pick up some awards. I currently work on Allstate, Cort Guitars, Proctor & Gamble, Nintendo, Lakland Bass Guitars, Hallmark, Kelloggs and McDonalds. Each year the list continues to grow. And I continue to grow right along with it.