Len Mitsch
Executive Vice President/Group Creative Director
Hired: July 1999
Leave it to Beaver:
Len had a healthy, trauma-free education at Catholic elementary and high school - he graduated from Cretin High School in St. Paul. He's grateful but slightly embarrassed to have had such an "idyllic, distressingly all-American" experience. His daughter recently complained of a similar predicament.
Education:
- University of Minnesota: Major in Advertising with Minors in Photojournalism and History. At the U. of M., Len wrote movie reviews, designed ads and drew political cartoons for "The Minnesota Daily." Many of his cartoons were reprinted in "The Minneapolis Star Tribune" and one was reprinted in student newspapers all across the country.
Professional Experience:
Upon returning from the Army, he landed his first job as an Art Director.
1971: Started at Barickman Advertising as an Art Director
1973: D'Arcy McManus, Art Director
1976: Paragon Advertising, Executive Art Director
1981: Clarke Livingston Advertising, Creative Director
1985: Martin/Williams, Creative Director of the Edison Group
1995: Waters*Molitor, Creative Director
1999: Risdall Advertising, Creative Director
Advertising Awards:
* Athena for Creative Newspaper
* Clio finalists for Print
* The One Show
* Print's Regional Design Annual
* New York Art Director's Club Annual Twin Cities Show
Education (continued):
Len says, "The first lesson in advertising I learned was, 'Always shoot the layout.' The second lesson was to never date a co-worker."
Family:
Len's been happily married for 31 years to Barb, who he met at his second job after violating the second lesson. Their daughter, Darcy, is named after the agency where they met. They also have a son named David.
Brushes with Fame:
* Ask him about the time he turned Heather Locklear down for a part in a TV commercial.
* Len shot several commercials in L.A. with cinematographer Allen Daviau, who went on to shoot "E.T." "The Color Purple," and "Empire of the Sun" for Stephen Spielberg. Len also worked with Bill King, who was the lighting director on "The Wizard of Oz." (Bill had many extremely interesting stories about working with the Munchkins.)
Account Experience:
Totino's Pizza, Kemps Ice Cream, dish Network Satellite TV, SpecialX Beer, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Food Service, Chex Cereal, Malt-O-Meal Cereal, Barrel O' Fun Potato Chips, First Bank System, Midway National Bank, Westlaw, Federal Cartridge, Mariner Outboard Motors, MerCruiser Stern Drive Motors, Cold Steel Knives, PRI Public Radio International United Health Group, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Raymedica, 3M: File Management Systems, Packaging Systems, Dental Products, Slumberland Sleep Stores, Morrie's Automotive