Mark Catterson started his career in 1985 as the first writer hired by Steve Eichenbaum. Armed with an oh-so-desirable History degree and absolutely no portfolio, Mark somehow got a job at Milwaukee’s new creative boutique.

Steve taught Mark most everything he knows, including Lesson #1: the worst thing you could ever do is write a pun. (An unpopular opinion at the time.)

The Eichenbaum shop always punched above its weight. It had fewer than 15 employees, and yet, every member of the 1989 creative staff is in the Wisconsin Advertising Hall of Fame. Steve Eichenbaum. Frances Ullenberg. Rich Kohnke. Dave Hanneken. Mark Catterson. Every single member. That’s a legacy that will never be equaled by any other agency.

A few years later, Mark left the nest for Frankenberry, Laughlin & Constable, where he continued to pile up hundreds of local and national awards for his work on Wisconsin Tourism. After FL&C, he then spent the rest of his career at Hoffman York.

Over the years, he worked with more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, as well as startups like Peapod and EGO. Mark eventually became Executive Creative Director of both the Milwaukee and Chicago offices of Hoffman York. During that time, the agency had the largest staff and highest billings in its 90-year history and his team’s creative work continued to be lauded nationally.

Mark is also one of the six founding members of the United Adworkers, serving for years on the club’s board. And back when most creative departments could be a bit of a boys’ club, he led the way in hiring and championing women writers.

He was blessed to work with many talented colleagues. Together, their work, was featured in the most prestigious national and international awards shows, from the One Show Gold Pencil and Communication Arts to Graphis, the Clios and more. His inner child is perhaps most proud to have won an Annie award, the Oscars of the animation industry.

Mark retired early due to a bad back. But that is one project he is trying to fix in post.