Dave Thomas: Using his head.

AuthorStevenson, Brooks
PositionPeople - President and CEO of Publicis Dialog's Salt Lake City - Brief Article

Dave Thomas doesn't toot his own horn, but he could if he wanted to, literally. From humble beginnings as a junior high school band teacher (read: your worst brass band nightmare) to the top of the food chain in the dog-eat-dog world of advertising agencies, Thomas, President and CEO of Publicis Dialog's Salt Lake City office, knows what it takes to hit the high notes and cruise through she tough "key changes" of life.

While teaching band at Sandridge Junior High in Roy, Thomas moonlighted with his own band in local clubs to earn a few extra bucks. From that exposure, he was invited to play trumpet on a jingle session. Tired of the bar scene, and confident he could write his own catchy tunes and lyrics, he started knocking on the doors of local agencies to sell his skills. Evans Advertising gave him his first chance, where his first piece of work for them became a finalist for a prestigious Cleo award. Unable to juggle the grind of two simultaneous careers, Thomas quit teaching a year later, in 1981, and started his own agency, Thomas & Associates.

If you don't know Thomas by name, maybe you'll recognize him from his earliest and most valued client, Gus Paulos Chevrolet. Besides being the creative force behind the ongoing Paulos campaign, he is also the head shown in every TV spot meant to portray the car dealership's namesake, Gus Paulos.

"I still handle all the Gus Paulos work simply because of the loyalty factor," Thomas notes. "He has always stuck with me and I feel it's important to be true to him as well." A strong testament to Thomas's business ethics in a world of fast money and...

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