At a very early age, Julio was drawn to art. As a result, he declined an official appointment to study engineering and play football at the West Point Military Academy to attend Michigan State University, where he studied graphic design and advertising.
Today, Julio is an EVP, Executive Creative Director at Doner in Chicago where he leads the creation of brand, digital, social, and multicultural content for various blue-chip clients. With over two decades in the industry, he has developed award-winning work for various brands including Boeing, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Coors Banquet, Disney, Ford, JBL, Kingsford, Kraft, Marriott, McDonald’s, Reebok, Tylenol, Zyrtec, the US Open, and others. He also enjoyed a brief stint working at the OWN Network for Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry.
Additionally, Julio has worked with numerous well-known celebrities over the years including Allen Iverson, Andra Day, Billy Porter, Doja Cat, Dominique Wilkins, Don Cornelius, Ed Helms, Emmitt Smith, Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Iyanla Vanzant, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Odom, Jr., Michael Johnson, Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Robert Smigel, Sam Elliott, Will.i.am, William S. Burroughs, and many others.
When not creating ads, Julio is a member of the Board of Directors of Third Coast Percussion, a Grammy-winning ensemble based in Chicago. He serves on both their Marketing and Diversity & Inclusion committees. Additionally, he co-founded Tessera Editorial with his wife, Christa. Tessera is an organization dedicated to the recruitment and training of BIPOC talent in publishing.
Lastly, Julio enjoys illustrating, shooting lifestyle photography, listening to music, playing video games, watching tech videos, cursing at the Detroit Lions, and above all, spending time with his wife, three kids, and their rambunctious dog, Asher.
AGENCIES
Leo Burnett, Euro RSCG (Havas), FCB, Rathbone Moncaleano Desir, Burrell Communications, Harpo Productions, The Marketing Store, Cavalry, mcgarrybowen, and Doner.
BRANDS
Reebok, Hallmark, Kraft, Red Lobster, Midas, Toyota, Verizon, Coors Light, Coors Banquet, Miller Lite, Electronic Arts, Boeing, McDonald’s, KFC, General Growth Properties, Marriott International, Ford, General Motors, Disney, JBL, Tylenol, Zyrtec, USTA and others
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Addies, Clios, D Show, Effies, Reggies, Mobius, New York Festivals, Chicago Tribune, Ad Age, Adweek, WSJ, USA Today, Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, Orlando Urban Film and Music Festival, and others
SKILLS & Knowledge
Advertising, Art Direction, Brand Development, Branding & Identity, Broadcast Television, Concept Development, Corporate Branding, Creative Direction, Creative Strategy, CRM, Digital Marketing, Digital Photography, Direct Marketing, Graphic Design, Illustration, Integrated Marketing, Logo Design, Mobile Marketing, Online Marketing, Outdoor Advertising, Print, Shopper Marketing, Social Media, UX/UI Design, Video Production, Web Design
SOFTWARE
Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, Lightroom, Premiere, Bridge, Muse, Portfolio, After Effects, Sketch, Keynote, Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many more
10 RANDOM FUN FACTS
01 - I build computers for fun. 02 - Owned over 50 smartphones and currently use three. 03 - My dog is named Asher, after the New York Times best-selling author. 04 - Later became friends with Jay Asher, the New York Times best-selling author. Awkward. 05 - Got a kiss from the original Foxy Brown. 06 - I was the fastest high school hurdler in the Midwest for a day. 07 - I once was a bodyguard for Whitney Houston. 08 - I know basically four chords yet can play over 100 songs on my acoustic guitar. 09 - I directed an award-winning short film. 10 - I'm a compulsive doodler.