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I’m your creative director and storyteller, originally from the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area and now proudly rooted in sunny Southern California. With over 15 years of experience across global agencies and in-house creative roles, I’m a passionate leader who raises expectations and isn’t afraid to roll up my sleeves and jump in myself. I’m here to do more than solve problems. I bring a wild imagination and believe in tackling challenges with a holistic approach.
A vision is only as strong as the team behind it... the real magic happens when we come together to make it happen.
What's with the tree? It’s my surname | araki [ah-la-key] | japanese 荒木 | noun: 1. wild tree 2. new tree | symbolism: tree of enlightenment, represents physical & spiritual nourishment, transformation & union.
- I can change a baby's diaper in 15 seconds (#1 only, let's not get too ambitious).
- Thrilled my daughter has taken an interest in cars. Now we can bond over horsepower and suspension setups!
- I may not play guitar, but I built a perfect Fender Strat replica from ash wood, complete with dual humbuckers. Who needs to play when you can build?
- Whether it's cruising on the road, racing on the track, or tinkering with a double pumper carburetor, cars are my passion.
- Aficionado of film and theater, always ready to drop some obscure trivia on both.
- Finished a 5lb bag of gummy bears in two weeks—proof of my sweet tooth and dedication.
- With my fondness for nostalgia, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the days of dial-up internet.
- Expect a wild musical journey with my playlist, hopping from Van Halen to Oliva Dean to Armin Van Buuren to Sugarland seamlessly.
- Just like my eclectic music tastes, my dream garage boasts a BMW Alpina B6 M3, a 1977 black/gold Pontiac Trans Am, and a 2025 Ford Super Duty F450 Dually.
- I love movies so much that I actually look forward to 12-hour flights; it’s the perfect excuse to binge-watch every film I’ve been too busy to see. Who needs legroom when you have a good movie?
- My hidden talents include cross-stitching, cooking (self-declared culinary master), sailing like an America’s Cup captain, and naming 80's songs in two notes.
- I thrive on collaboration, feel at home in a crowd, hanging out with friends is my favorite pastime, family is my lifeline, and I’ve got a travel itch that never quits... but I still prefer to drive solo.