ABOUT CHAD
I build creative teams, shape brands, and turn ambitious ideas into work that drives business.
My approach combines hands-on production experience, a belief in people, and practical uses of AI across creative development, business solutions, and everyday workflows. I connect creative decisions to business goals, helping teams work smarter, solve problems, and deliver meaningful results.
Strong ideas lead, and success is measured by what they accomplish.
THE FULL PICTURE
I have spent my career moving between the creative room and the executive room. I can shape the story, direct the work, build the team, manage the budget, navigate the hard client conversation and explain why the idea matters to the business.
At Original Six Media and CSA, I learned what it means to be responsible for the whole thing. At Indiana University, I learned how to create alignment inside a decentralized public institution. At Spectrio, I learned how to protect quality while operating at enormous volume and scale.
AI is part of my everyday creative practice. I use it to explore ideas, develop images and video, and build practical tools and workflows, bringing the same attention to story, detail and quality that I bring to every production.
How I work with AIAcross every chapter, I have built long relationships by being direct, curious, calm under pressure and deeply invested in the people doing the work.
EDUCATOR
Adjunct faculty teaching undergraduate and graduate students the craft of storytelling and editing for brand, commercial and content work, while helping emerging filmmakers strengthen their instincts around story, critique and collaboration.
VETERAN
A saxophonist before I was a creative director. The discipline, preparation and ensemble mindset never left the way I lead.
FOUNDER
Original Six Media in Chicago and Chad Stum Agency in Indiana, both built on relationships, exceptional creative and the belief that the work can be excellent without the ego.
HUMAN
Based in Bloomington, Indiana. Happiest with my family, on a kayak, around a campfire or in a room where a complicated idea is beginning to become clear.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
The best fit is an organization with meaningful problems, talented people and the ambition to make creative a true strategic advantage.