Norm has been Chief Creative Officer at Cactus since 2003. At the core of Norm’s philosophy is the notion that everyone needs to be more creative, not just the creatives. A graduate of CU Boulder, and the Art Center College of Design, Norm is passionate about helping organizations and diverse teams learn new and effective problem solving skills and creative thinking processes to increase innovation and effective strategies.

"The term ‘creative' is not individual to the designers and copywriters of Cactus, but for our entire team, plus our clients and their partners. It’s about everyone working together to solve problems in unexpected ways that create profound advantages. If everyone is doing their job, they are being creative. It’s about being resourceful and connecting the dots in a way that adds vitality and energy to every initiative.”

With over 24 years of experience in advertising, design and branding, Norm’s blue-collar, “work hard, play hard” approach to creative has earned Cactus accolades from Cannes, The One Show, SXSW and countless others.

In 2015 Norm and his business partner, Joe Conrad, launched Grit Digital Health — creating innovative digital products and tools for mental and behavioral health, with a specific product focus on student success and wellness.

Norm shares his ample knowledge (and Dad jokes) as a guest lecturer in his spare time, speaking on creative thinking and design. He served as an Adjunct Professor for eight years at his alma mater, CU Boulder, and was named Alumni of the Year for CU’s Advertising School in 2013, where he now serves as a board member for the newly designed College of Media Communication and Information.