Pictured above, me in the two-toned Dexter shoes posing for my seventh grade graduation photo. I was the Master of Ceremonies for the event (seventh grade did not have a Valedictorian, alas). I wanted to look like Johnny Carson.
For 20+ years, I’ve made my living with the written word, working in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Hong Kong and San Francisco. I’ve been a PR guy, rainmaker, account guy, adman and Bangkok staff writer. For a decade I’ve operated as PorterWrite, Inc.
I was born in Jacksonville, FL in 1963 at Saint Luke’s Hospital. It would be the closest I’d come to being a saint. In 1972, my family moved to Atlanta, where I grew up and went to public school. A year at UNC-Chapel Hill didn’t work out so I transferred to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, from which I graduated in 1985. I have always held a fondness for that city.
I began my professional career in Atlanta under the kind and watchful eye of Atlanta writing legend George Goodwin of Manning, Selvage & Lee Public Relations. There I learned many things, especially how to write for business. Mr. Goodwin was a damn fine teacher and, now into his 90s, remains my good friend today.
Eventually, I moved to New York City, where life unfolded for me. I was the young account executive on the Lippincott & Margulies account, where I was exposed to the world of corporate identity and graphic design. After that experience, there was no turning back. Bright & Associate, a division of Chiat/Day advertising at the time, opened a New York office and brought me in. Later, it transferred me to its LA offices. It was heaven.
A fine man named Rod Dyer gave me a lift, engaging me at his agency with a cow on the roof and a portrait of an alien behind the boss’ desk. I once saw Ellsworth Kelly strolling across the street. Larry Flynt operated an antique shop on the first floor and arrived most mornings in a red Rolls and a gold plated wheel chair operated by a very big man. Fate then called me to Bangkok in 1990. The experience was one of the greatest adventures of my life, but I didn’t get much work done.
In 1992, Atlanta design legend Bob Wages got me out of a ditch with a great job and my first chance to write creatively for a big time client, Hopper Papers. In 1995, I jumped at the opportunity to work in San Francisco, which turned out to be the best decision of my life: although I didn’t stay long with the job, I met my partner for life, George Aguilar, the day after the gig ended. In a historic act of faith in me, George agreed to come to Atlanta with me in the fall of 1996 so I could launch PorterWrite. The trip across the country in a rented Ryder truck was one of the happiest of my life.
PorterWrite Design Consulting opened for business in January 1997. Around then, Communication Arts and my dear friend Anne Telford began asking me to write regular features. Then STEP and Emily Potts entered my life.
The dozen years since have been the best of all: I’ve met many great and interesting clients and traveled all over the world. George and I live in a 1930s bungalow not far from downtown Atlanta. We have three Golden Retrievers whom we love: Beau, ProZak and Chandler.
To be continued…