Tom Hrabal Executive Creative Director tom@lighthousestrategicgroup.com After graduating from Penn State with a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1979, Tom migrated south to start his advertising career. He landed at Goodwin, Dannenbaum, Littman & Wingfield (GDL & W) in Houston, Texas, where he worked on Monterey House Mexican Restaurants, Gibraltar Savings, Texas Tumbleweed Steakhouse and Fannin Bank. From GDL&W, Tom joined MDR, Inc., in Houston, becoming the primary art director on Zerex Antifreeze, Conoco Motor Oils, Benjamin Franklin Savings, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Shell Chemicals. At MDR, Tom helped Conoco reintroduce the Zerex Antifreeze brand using football great Terry Bradshaw to wake up the slumbering brand. After five years in the Lone Star State, Tom headed back to the East Coast and went to work for Ketchum Advertising's Washington, DC, office in the fall of 1985. There he worked on Bell Atlantic's Custom Calling Services, Centrex and Corporate Advertising. He also created the campaign that helped Ketchum land the Maryland National Bank account. In late summer 1988, Tom transferred to Ketchum's headquarters in Pittsburgh, where he soon became the Associate Creative Director, working on Digital Equipment, Nationwide Insurance, Heinz 57, PNC Bank and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also lent a helping hand on the Acura, Eat 'n Park Restaurants and the American Iron and Steel Institute accounts. After nine years at two Ketchum offices, Tom returned to the DC area to join Arnold Worldwide, where he focused on SAP America, Inc., Chevy Chase Bank, DEWALT Power Tools, and the Prince William Cannons. Chevy Chase Bank improved its ranking from third to first place in the Northern Virginia market, and increased unaided awareness of the bank in this market from 17% to 27% as a result of the advertising campaign he created. Over the years, Tom's work has been recognized by local and regional Addy competitions, the New York Film Festival, The Tellys, Art Direction and Photo Design, and Archive Communications Arts magazines. As ECD for Lighthouse Strategic Group, Inc., Tom pursues the objective of better creative work, supported by higher strategic aspirations with increases in measurable results for clients. Back to Top