Ron Kusiak

A couple of years ago, I met Ron Kusiak at Courage Center where he was the recipient of the Judd Jacobsen Award. The award is given out in memory of my wife’s late uncle who was a quadriplegic as the result of a diving accident as a teenager, and later went on to become a successful broadcaster and entrepreneur. The award is given out annually to a disabled person that shows that same entrepreneurial spirit. Ron was paralyzed in a hunting accident a few years back and continues to run a successful farming operation near Marshfield, WI. A few weeks ago, I called Ron and asked if I could come over and spend a couple of days following him around and photographing him. Although paralyzed from the waist down, he feeds the cows, cleans the stalls and LOVES to drive his tractor. He even took me out on his 4 wheeler back into the spectacular wooded acres he stills hunts every season. What an inspiring and terrific guy. And, like any good sconny, he likes his Packers and a cold beer. Thanks Ron for the tour and the beer. It was an honor.

Photographer: Jim Henderson

Key Bank for Mithun

This was the continuation of a series of quarterly shoots for Key Bank that started last fall. Always a treat to work with the talented Mithun team of Wendy, Jan and Bill. These lifestyle images are used in branches and on electronic boards touting different loan programs. 

Photographer: Jim Henderson

ACD/art director: Wendy Hansen

ACD/copywriter: Jan Pettit

Art Buyer: Bill Schneck

Producer: Conor Callahan

Photo Assistant: Duane Lage

Stylist: Susan Calvit

Hair/makeup: Romeny Chan

Agency: Mithun

Ecolab campaign for Olson

Working with Mark Pakulski and Minneapolis agency Olson, we shot a series of stills for the Ecolab print campaign. The campaign was shot in multiple locations around Los Angeles in conjunction with the broadcast shoot and Gartner Productions out of Santa Monica. Shooting stills with motion shoots can be challenging given the time, lighting, etc... but I was fortunate to be working with director Raymond Bark–who I had worked with on many Cargill tv spots during my agency days–so we all got along great. Since the Grammy’s were going on and hotel rooms were at a premium we ended up renting a mansion in Brentwood for the week that was once owned by Donald Sutherland and just around the corner from Jim Carrey’s place. I think I might have seen a white Bronco in the neighborhood too. Couldn’t be.

Photographer: Jim Henderson 

Creative Director: Vince Beggin

Art Buyer: Mark Pakulski

Art Director: Daniele Lanza

ACD/Writer: Derek Bitter

Producer: Conor Callahan

Assistant: Duane Lage

Agency: Olson

Cattle ranchers for Broadhead in Florida

In November, Broadhead ACD Jon Montgomery and I spent 4 days in Central Florida shooting on a large beef cattle ranch southeast of Tampa for client BI. These cowboys were the real deal and we had a blast following them around out on the range and in the corral. They even put all of us up in their “bunkhouse” one night to save us a long drive back to the hotel. Wish I knew how to play the harmonica. Would have come in handy.

Photographer: Jim Henderson

ACD/Art Director: Jon Montgomery 

Agency: Broadhead

Queens Harbour Country Club for Martin/Williams

Thanksgiving weekend I headed back to Florida (Jacksonville this time) to shoot a catalog of images for M/W and client Syngenta. For 3 days my small crew and I tooled all over the course in golf carts (drag racing, naturally) photographing the course workers, golfers and beauty shots of the course. Duane’s cart came in last.

Photographer: Jim Henderson

CD/Art Director: Jeff Tresidder

Art Buyer: Heather McQueen

Photo Assistant: Duane Lage

Producer: Conor Callahan

Wardrobe/stylist: Pam Tocco

Agency: Martin/Williams