Dear Dave,

I wish I had your book and DVD when I was at SVA and The Creative Circus. They would have been my Bible—the agency listings; shooting a TV commercial (which I have yet to do); the glossary of terms; and the part about products you haven’t seen in portfolios. There’s no way would juniors would be able to pick someone’s brain the way you did by answering all those questions.

I can’t believe the amount of resources you provide. Even down to the neighborhoods to live in and where to find an H&M in Queens.

The thing I admire most about you is your intense sentiment about advertising. It excites me and reminds me why I do what I do and how lucky I feel everyday (even the shitty ones) being able to laugh out loud at work and make the people I work with laugh.

You definitely believe in paying it forward. You’ve been very supportive of me since we met and are always encouraging me (and my copywriter Rosie) to go that extra mile.

It’s not so much knowing you that I feel fortunate about. It’s that you know who I am. It’s cool that I can call and e-mail you for advice. So, thank you.

Vanessa Maganza
Interactive Art Director
Hill Holliday, New York