Dan Fietsam

Artist, Athlete, Business leader, Connector, Idea generator, Marketer, Musician, Parent, Performer, Writer/Editor

As CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER Dan brings 20 years of creative firepower to Energy BBDO and Proximity Chicago. During the course of his creative career, his ideas have made an impact for clients ranging from non-profits to blue chip brands. For T-Mobile, he lead the creative direction of the “Who’s in your Fave 5?” campaign with Dwyane Wade and Charles Barkley. Working on Sears, he created the “Where Else?” campaign that was recognized as the Retail Campaign of the Year by Advertising Age. Dan served as a creative director on Bud Light for three years, writing and creative directing Cannes Lion winning Super Bowl classics like “Magic Fridge”, "Rock, Paper, Scissors", "Hitchhiker" and “Rubber Floor.” His work for BudTV.com generated “Swear Jar,” which became a viral hit (4 million +) and an Emmy Award winner. Working with Dell, he created the breakthrough digital campaign featuring “six finger clay,” which became one of the first cyber award winners at Cannes. Dan’s leadership at Energy BBDO and digitally-minded sibling Proximity Chicago is centered on driving holistic creative thinking. His creative department mixes proven talent from the traditional and digital worlds to develop ideas that build brands and solve real business challenges. This has resulted in recognized work for clients including Canadian Club, Jim Beam, Wrigley, the Illinois Lottery and Art Institute of Chicago. As a champion of holistic creativity, Dan has developed a reputation as a resource for what’s next in the industry. He recently contributed to a Fast Company article on the future of web television, was showcased in a Communications Arts feature about the agency, and judged an advertising challenge on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice”.

media fluency, the "Providence Effect", david foster wallace's writing style, Galaxie 500, Indie rock circa 89 - 93.

Creating Sustainable marketing practices. Sustainable in the sense of impacting and enriching (vs polluting) the media ecosystem as well as the physical world. 2nd idea worth spreading is the "Providence Effect", a remarkable school on the west side of Chicago.

Advertising, Copywriting, Creative Directior, Creative leadership, Creativity, Marketing and Communications, Writer - Film, TV, Stage

1. "Bags" - a very midwestern backyard beer drinking game. 2. Playing the opening guitar riff from Rush's "Xanadu". 3. Telling jokes poorly. 4. Listing.