Helping mission-driven organizations shape bright ideas into lasting stories that inspire action and serve the greater good.

Storytelling with Heart. Strategy with Purpose.

Guided by Story, Inspired by People

A collaborative, creative leader who believes great work starts with empathy and ends with impact.

Over a Decade of Leadership

With 10+ years leading marketing and communications, I combine strategic vision with hands-on collaboration to help organizations grow and connect deeply with their communities.

Cultivating Genuine Connections

I believe true success comes from authentic connections. Whether with clients, colleagues, or community members, I prioritize trust, respect, and understanding to build lasting partnerships.

Strategic and Creative by Nature

I approach every challenge with a balance of thoughtful planning and imaginative problem-solving. Strategy guides my decisions, while creativity breathes life into the work I do.

Collaboration at Every Level

Working with diverse teams — leaders, creatives, administrators, and volunteers — and knowing how to meet people where they are, I’ve found bridging gaps and fostering communication are key to impact.

Family Comes First, Always

Connections and relationships are everything to me. My purpose in life is to support others, and as a devoted husband and father of two boys — my family will always be the first thing on my mind.

Empathy as a Driving Force

Understanding others’ perspectives is at the heart of everything I do. Empathy helps me craft messages that truly resonate and create meaningful connections between organizations and their communities.

Services

Marketing
Communications
Public Relations
Creative Services
Strategic Planning
Analytics & Reporting

Kind Words from Kind People

A few thoughtful words from those I’ve had the joy of working with.

Daniel brings a great mix of creativity, strategic thinking, and strong skills in communications, marketing, and graphic design. More than that, he’s truly dedicated to the people he serves. His work with the West Chicago community goes beyond the job—he’s always willing to connect, share his expertise, and support efforts that uplift the community.

On top of his professional abilities, Daniel is just a great person to work with. He’s approachable, professional, and generous with his time and knowledge. His insights into marketing and communications have been incredibly valuable to our projects.
Fernando Ramírez
President and Founder, Mexican Cultural Center DuPage
I have worked with Daniel for the past ten years in two different municipalities. Daniel and I worked closely in the City of Wheaton where I was Fire Chief. Daniel used his strong skills and background to advance our communications capabilities, and he played a critical role in developing partnerships and ensuring the City was at the forefront of communications.

Daniel and I had the opportunity to reconnect in the City of West Chicago, where has continued his commitment to excellence and communications leadership. He has been a terrific partner who has helped my agency advance its communications capabilities. He is always willing to help others, and he is a forward thinker.
William R. Schultz
Fire Chief, City of Wheaton (Former) / Fire Marshal, West Chicago Fire Protection District
One of the qualities that set Daniel apart is his excellent communication skills. He guided us through every step of the design process, making sure we understood each decision and felt confident about the direction we were heading. He can balance creativity with strategy.

Daniel didn’t just design for aesthetics—he understood the importance of how each piece of marketing collateral would function in real-world scenarios. His guidance helped us make informed decisions that enhanced our brand’s presence and effectiveness.
Laura Flamion
Administrator, DuPage County Animal Services

Where Heart Meets Craft

From digital to print to place—see how how strategy, storytelling, and design come together to elevate cause-driven work.

1. Stories That Made a Difference

A collection of in-depth case studies showcasing how thoughtful storytelling and strategy drive meaningful change.

2. Design That Connects

A collection of visual work that turns strategy into standout storytelling.

Let’s Bring Your
Ideas to Light.

Together, we can create something meaningful — let’s connect and start the conversation.

Creative Solutions, Real Results

A case study highlighting the process, decisions, and collaboration that shaped a successful outcome. 

Crisis Communications


Managing Media, Miscommunication, and Stakeholder Concerns Surrounding a Controversial Community Project

New Leads
0
Likes
0 k
Increase
0 %

Summary

In 2022, the City of West Chicago faced a public relations challenge following the proposal to construct a second solid waste transfer station within its boundaries. This development would make West Chicago the only municipality in DuPage County to host such a facility, let alone a second one, and the first community in Illinois with fewer than 50,000 residents to have two. This raised significant concerns among residents, stakeholders, and the media. To head off public scrutiny and ensure transparency in the application process, a strategic communications strategy aimed at controlling the narrative and protecting its reputation was implemented on behalf the City.

Key Actions & Strategic Approach

Public Engagement & Reputation Management

Information shared with the public was developed through extensive research of the project application, consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and continuous feedback gathered from various community channels. These discussions and insights helped shape the City’s communications strategy, ensuring that messaging reflected diverse perspectives and addressed evolving public concerns.


Transparent Messaging Focused on Facts

To maintain public trust, messaging was kept strictly factual and informative. The only content containing contextual or explanatory language was a message from the mayor, which emphasized the City’s limited role in the application process and directed residents to the dedicated resource page for more information.


Media Relations & Narrative Control

Understanding the media’s influence on public perception, relationships were proactively built with journalists from the Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald. These efforts helped ensure accurate and balanced reporting and ultimately led to a Daily Herald Editorial Board opinion article that commended the City’s transparency and handling of the issue.

"At times in the past, we have criticized municipalities and school districts for not providing documents. We also have spoken up when taxing bodies have made it difficult for members of the public to participate in meetings. So, it’s only fair that we highlight when a town makes an effort to be transparent. Indeed, it’s gratifying to be able to do so."

Digital Strategy & Public Accessibility

To enhance accessibility and engagement, a project-specific webpage was developed with comprehensive information about the application process, the City’s role, public hearing records, and copies of both the application and its summary. The webpage featured:

Explore the Live Page

Check out the full webpage on the City of West Chicago’s official website.
View Page

Results Recap

This case study demonstrates how a proactive and transparent communications strategy can mitigate controversy, build credibility, and shape public perception. By prioritizing factual messaging, accessibility, and media engagement, the City of West Chicago now has a new internal standard for managing sensitive public issues.

Services Provided

Marketing
Communications
Public Relations
Creative Services
Strategic Planning
Analytics & Reporting

Creative Solutions, Real Results

A case study highlighting the process, decisions, and collaboration that shaped a successful outcome. 

Crisis Communications


Managing Media, Miscommunication, and Stakeholder Concerns Surrounding a Controversial Community Project

New Leads
0
Likes
0 k
Increase
0 %

Summary

In 2022, the City of West Chicago faced a public relations challenge following the proposal to construct a second solid waste transfer station within its boundaries. This development would make West Chicago the only municipality in DuPage County to host such a facility, let alone a second one, and the first community in Illinois with fewer than 50,000 residents to have two. This raised significant concerns among residents, stakeholders, and the media. To head off public scrutiny and ensure transparency in the application process, a strategic communications strategy aimed at controlling the narrative and protecting its reputation was implemented on behalf the City.

Key Actions & Strategic Approach

Public Engagement & Reputation Management

Information shared with the public was developed through extensive research of the project application, consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and continuous feedback gathered from various community channels. These discussions and insights helped shape the City’s communications strategy, ensuring that messaging reflected diverse perspectives and addressed evolving public concerns.


Transparent Messaging Focused on Facts

To maintain public trust, messaging was kept strictly factual and informative. The only content containing contextual or explanatory language was a message from the mayor, which emphasized the City’s limited role in the application process and directed residents to the dedicated resource page for more information.


Media Relations & Narrative Control

Understanding the media’s influence on public perception, relationships were proactively built with journalists from the Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald. These efforts helped ensure accurate and balanced reporting and ultimately led to a Daily Herald Editorial Board opinion article that commended the City’s transparency and handling of the issue.

"At times in the past, we have criticized municipalities and school districts for not providing documents. We also have spoken up when taxing bodies have made it difficult for members of the public to participate in meetings. So, it’s only fair that we highlight when a town makes an effort to be transparent. Indeed, it’s gratifying to be able to do so."

Digital Strategy & Public Accessibility

To enhance accessibility and engagement, a project-specific webpage was developed with comprehensive information about the application process, the City’s role, public hearing records, and copies of both the application and its summary. The webpage featured:

Explore the Live Page

Check out the full webpage on the City of West Chicago’s official website.
View Page

Results Recap

This case study demonstrates how a proactive and transparent communications strategy can mitigate controversy, build credibility, and shape public perception. By prioritizing factual messaging, accessibility, and media engagement, the City of West Chicago now has a new internal standard for managing sensitive public issues.

Services Provided

Marketing
Communications
Public Relations
Creative Services
Strategic Planning
Analytics & Reporting
Explore the strategy behind the work.

Creative Solutions, Real Results

A case study highlighting the process, decisions,
and collaboration that shaped a successful outcome.

Crisis Communications


Managing Media, Miscommunication, and Stakeholder Concerns Surrounding a Controversial Community Project

New Leads
0
Likes
0 k
Increase
0 %

Summary

In 2022, the City of West Chicago faced a public relations challenge following the proposal to construct a second solid waste transfer station within its boundaries. This development would make West Chicago the only municipality in DuPage County to host such a facility, let alone a second one, and the first community in Illinois with fewer than 50,000 residents to have two. This raised significant concerns among residents, stakeholders, and the media. To head off public scrutiny and ensure transparency in the application process, a strategic communications strategy aimed at controlling the narrative and protecting its reputation was implemented on behalf the City.

Key Actions & Strategic Approach

Public Engagement & Reputation Management

Information shared with the public was developed through extensive research of the project application, consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and continuous feedback gathered from various community channels. These discussions and insights helped shape the City’s communications strategy, ensuring that messaging reflected diverse perspectives and addressed evolving public concerns.

Transparent Messaging Focused on Facts

To maintain public trust, messaging was kept strictly factual and informative. The only content containing contextual or explanatory language was a message from the mayor, which emphasized the City’s limited role in the application process and directed residents to the dedicated resource page for more information.

Media Relations & Narrative Control

Understanding the media’s influence on public perception, relationships were proactively built with journalists from the Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald. These efforts helped ensure accurate and balanced reporting and ultimately led to a Daily Herald Editorial Board opinion article that commended the City’s transparency and handling of the issue.

"At times in the past, we have criticized municipalities and school districts for not providing documents. We also have spoken up when taxing bodies have made it difficult for members of the public to participate in meetings. So, it’s only fair that we highlight when a town makes an effort to be transparent. Indeed, it’s gratifying to be able to do so."

Digital Strategy & Public Accessibility

To enhance accessibility and engagement, a project-specific webpage was developed with comprehensive information about the application process, the City’s role, public hearing records, and copies of both the application and its summary. The webpage featured:

Explore the Live Page

Check out the full webpage on the City of West Chicago’s official website.
View Page

Results Recap

This case study demonstrates how a proactive and transparent communications strategy can mitigate controversy, build credibility, and shape public perception. By prioritizing factual messaging, accessibility, and media engagement, the City of West Chicago now has a new internal standard for managing sensitive public issues.

Utilized Services

Marketing
Communications
Public Relations
Creative Services
Strategic Planning
Analytics & Reporting