I started in industrial design. I still work like it.
I'm a marketing and operations leader who builds the systems behind growth, and I use AI where it removes real work. Here's how I got here, and what I'd do next.
The story so far
- School
Learning to design for use
I studied industrial design at ArtCenter College of Design and earned a B.S. in Advertising with an industrial design focus at San Jose State. Industrial design taught me to judge things by how people actually use them. Advertising taught me how they get sold. I've been combining the two ever since.
- 2015–2017
Startup growth
At Verlocal, a local experiences marketplace, I took monthly sign-ups from 500 to over 12,000 and led a five-person ad ops team to a 300%+ KPI lift. At LeEco I built the U.S. brand voice and grew social from 250K to more than 1.4 million with a team of four. At UpKeep, a Y Combinator company, I grew web traffic through paid, content, and search.
- 2017–2021
Architecture and the model shop
At Donaldson + Partners, an LA architecture studio, I ran marketing and PR and built the physical models behind key client milestones. A model is the original prototype: you find out fast what works once a client can hold it.
- 2021–2026
Two firms, one playbook
I ran growth and operations for two law firms at the same time: Director of Growth & Operations at Frontier Law Center and Director of Marketing at The Law Office of Robert L. Starr. I owned marketing, intake, onboarding, the firm's technology and vendor relationships, and the systems connecting them, and moved AI from side project to daily practice.
Law was a great proving ground. Every lead is expensive, every process is regulated, and AI has to earn its place. The result was 60% more signed clients and a Legalweek "Best Use of AI" finalist spot. None of what I built there is specific to law.
- Next
A growth-minded company that wants AI doing real work
I'm looking for a director-level role in marketing, growth, or operations, or an AI-focused version of one. The industry matters less to me than the problem: a team that's outgrown its tools and needs growth to be repeatable. I'm based in Thousand Oaks and open to hybrid or on-site roles from Ventura County to Calabasas and the San Fernando Valley, as well as remote work.
If it can't be measured or handed off, it isn't finished.
My first 90 days
Every company is different, but I start the same way.
- Days 1–30
Listen and map
Talk to sales, ops, and customers. Map the funnel end to end, from first touch to retained customer, and find where time and money leak.
- Days 31–60
Fix the scoreboard
Agree on the few numbers that matter, clean up attribution, and make them visible to the whole team every week.
- Days 61–90
Ship the first system
Pick the highest-leverage fix, build it with AI where it removes real work, then document it and hand it off so it runs without me.
From my references
"Colin handled these broad responsibilities with professionalism, initiative, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach."
Manny and I worked together for five years, from 2021 to 2026. As Director of Growth & Operations, I owned marketing, lead generation and cost-per-acquisition tracking, intake and client onboarding, the firm's technology and vendor relationships, and its AI implementation, and worked with him to turn growth priorities into practical plans.
Building something that needs to grow without breaking?
I'm looking for a director-level role in marketing, growth, or operations at a company that wants AI doing real work. I'm based in Thousand Oaks and open to hybrid or on-site roles from Ventura County to Calabasas and the San Fernando Valley, or remote.
