About — Mike Hamlet | Creative & Marketing Leader

About

I've spent more than two decades telling impactful stories.

As an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, creative leader, and marketer, I've dedicated my career to finding authentic human stories and helping organizations connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Whether through documentary filmmaking, brand storytelling, or mission-driven content, I've always believed that the most powerful stories are the ones that make people feel something.

My journey began in Ohio, where I developed a passion for visual storytelling while working in local television news. In 2007, my wife and I moved to Memphis, and I continued building my career as a photojournalist and eventually Chief Photographer at WMC-TV. Those years taught me invaluable lessons about curiosity, empathy, and the responsibility that comes with telling someone else's story.

In 2012, I joined ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. What started as an opportunity to use my storytelling skills for a meaningful cause became one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. Over the next twelve years, I grew into the role of Creative Director, leading talented teams of storytellers, designers, writers, and strategists while helping create campaigns and content that supported a mission larger than any one individual.

After my time at ALSAC, I joined Pixis Drones as Director of Creative & Marketing, where I had the opportunity to explore an entirely new storytelling medium. Working with major brands, sports organizations, and entertainment properties, I helped create immersive experiences that blended technology, creativity, and emotion in ways that challenged traditional marketing and live events.

Today, I serve as Director of Production for the American Cancer Society, where I lead national video production initiatives and continue to advocate for the power of storytelling to inspire action and create change. One of my greatest passions is helping elevate how nonprofits tell stories. I believe mission-driven organizations have an opportunity to move beyond traditional communications and create cinematic, audience-centered content that builds deeper emotional connections and lasting affinity with the people they serve.

At my core, I am a storyteller who is endlessly curious about people. I'm fascinated by what motivates us, what connects us, and how stories can bridge divides, inspire hope, and drive meaningful impact. Whether I'm producing a documentary, leading a creative team, or developing a content strategy, my goal remains the same: to create work that resonates long after the screen goes dark.

Outside of work, I'm a husband and father to two incredible boys who constantly remind me to stay curious, adventurous, and present. My wife, a surgical nurse, shares my passion for helping others, and together we've built a life centered around family, service, and community.

I also believe that growth never stops. I am currently pursuing a degree in Marketing Management from the University of Memphis and remain committed to learning, mentoring others, and exploring how emerging technologies and evolving audience behaviors are shaping the future of storytelling.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll stick around, explore my work, and join me as I continue pursuing stories that matter.

Mike Hamlet | Resume

Experience

Director of Production

American Cancer Society/2025-Present

Orchestrate comprehensive production strategies for national initiatives and high-profile events, bridging the gap between mission-led storytelling and organizational growth. In this capacity, I facilitate the creation of visual narratives that catalyze donor engagement and broaden brand impact.

Strategic Content Leadership: Partner with cross-functional marketing and development sectors to produce high-impact narratives that significantly drive brand awareness and fundraising success.
Brand Integrity & Standards: Define and uphold rigorous visual brand guidelines, ensuring a cohesive voice and stylistic consistency across all digital and broadcast distribution channels.
Creative Innovation: Pioneer the integration of motion graphics and emerging cinematic technologies to elevate content quality and push the boundaries of modern storytelling.
Team Development & Management: Direct a diverse creative roster of external production partners and internal editors and producers, fostering a culture of excellence to deliver compelling visual assets for social and national media platforms.

Director Creative & Marketing

PIXIS DRONES/ Memphis, TN/ 2024-2025

Implemented new strategies to execute more authentic stories in drone light show format but also across digital content channels. Within the second month of new strategy Pixis achieved record revenue and client growth. Have spearheaded new business development leveraging creative with top brands such as Minecraft, Sega, New York Giants, Paramount, NASCAR and Hasbro.

Lead Creative Strategy: Develop and execute innovative creative strategies for drone shows, ensuring alignment with client objectives and brand messaging.Concepted and pitched cobrand opportunities to major brands such as FedEx, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Domino’s among others.
Marketing Leadership: Oversee marketing campaigns, including digital advertising and social media initiatives, to drive brand awareness and achieve form submission goals.of 2022. Including a Giving Tuesday push where one piece of creative raised $4.98M in a single afternoon.
Client & Partner Engagement: Foster and maintain strong relationships with clients and partners, leveraging expertise in sport and event marketing to enhance brand storytelling and create immersive experiences utilizing drone light shows.

Creative Director

ALSAC-ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL/ Memphis, TN/ 2012-2024

Lead a cross-functional creative team to generate omnichannel content to support various fundraising programs, paid media campaigns, executive communications, PR initiatives, live and virtual events, magazine content, merchandise marketing, and social teams to achieve annual revenue of $2.5B to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Collaborate with team members including SVP-Creative, SVP Strategic Marketing, and CMO to form a creative strategy for fundraising campaigns based on the target audience, digital/broadcast channels, and budget.
Concepted and pitched cobrand opportunities to major brands such as FedEx, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Domino’s among others.
Lead a dedicated creative team of cross-functional skillsets to create high-quality creative that helped raise over $421M in Q2 of 2022. Including a Giving Tuesday push where one piece of creative raised $4.98M in a single afternoon.
Lead content development for the Inspiration4 campaign which raised more than $250M and collaborated with external partners such as SpaceX, TIME, and Shift4 on creative.
Was key in growing the Feld Entertainment partnership to immerse the St. Jude brand into in-arena/stadium events and NBC sports telecasts for Feld properties, specifically the Monster Energy Supercross series and Monster Jam which has raised more than $1.5M.

In-Arena Camera Operator

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (NBA)/ Memphis, TN/ 2013-2020

As an On-Court Videographer, I filmed live NBA games and post-game press conferences, ensuring that national broadcast coverage requirements for networks such as ESPN and TNT were met. Additionally, I trained new team members on technical setups and safety best practices to ensure the well-being of players and staff.Conducted various filming during NBA games and post-game press conference.

Chief Photographer

WMCTV/ Memphis, TN/ 2007-2012

Managed a team of over 40 videographers, editors, and studio personnel, conducting annual performance reviews and ensuring quality control for daily content by troubleshooting issues. Mentored staff and created development plans for videographers, editors, and studio personnel. Served as the Lead Special Projects Videographer, hiring and interviewing staff for open positions. Recognized as the 2008 WMC Employee of the Year.

Videographer

WDTN-TV/ Dayton, OH/ 2005-2007

Responsible for working with reporters on daily assignments, including shooting and editing daily news stories and conducting live shots for newscasts.

Editor/ Videographer

WHIO-TV/ Dayton, OH/ 2002-2005

Responsible for working with reporters on daily assignments as the Lead Editor for the 5pm and 10pm newscasts. Duties included shooting and editing daily news stories.Lead editor for 5pm and 10pm newscasts.