Charlie Wollborg is a purveyor of attention. He helps growing brands stand out from the clutter.

He opened the doors at Curve Detroit Marketing Strategy & Creative Design after being thrown out of several well-respected ad agencies. As a marketing strategist and creative director, he’s delivered big ideas and bottom-line results for clients like Bose, Blue Cross, and Boyne Resorts, as well as up-and-coming challenger brands.v

Charlie is your idea guy. Whether launching brands, making a splash, or driving attention, no one crafts big-picture concepts quite like him. Always on the lookout for what’s new, what’s now, and what’s next, he continuously explores ways to make marketing work for you. His campaigns have earned recognition from the Detroit Creative Directors Council for creativity and the Direct Marketing Association for effectiveness.

Along with a dedicated crew of cool friends, Charlie produces the TEDxDetroit ideas and innovation conference, which attracts thousands from around the Great Lakes region each year. He’s also the co-founder of Moka Boka, a personalized storybook company delivering one-of-a-kind adventures to kids.

When he’s not building brands, you’ll find Charlie inspiring, educating, and entertaining audiences with his lively keynote presentations on marketing, innovation, and business. A few years ago, he took home second-place in the PowerPoint Karaoke World Championships (We know. We didn’t realize this was a real thing either). This year, he hopes to win something that people have actually heard of.

After hours, Charlie takes to the comedy stage, testing new material at clubs and festivals. His stand-up set blends dad jokes, Quixotic rants on pop culture, overworked fingers, and his nemesis—the unrequested pickle. His hilarious rant on bad PowerPoint slide design from Glida’s LaughFest is always a hit, and he’s performed at the World Series of Comedy in Boston, Detroit, and Las Vegas. Laugh with him or at him—he’s happy either way.

Many pants sizes ago, Charlie toured as the lead singer of the semi-popular synthpop group Brave New World and opened for bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Alphaville, and Anything Box. You might still catch a track on Muzak or from the one person you know who owns a CD player.

When he’s not working or making people laugh, Charlie enjoys ice cream, national parks, and the feel of Lake Michigan sand between his toes. He dislikes poorly designed billboards, speed limits, and people who flick cigarette butts out the window.

Charlie is happily married to his wife, Elena, and they have two sons with boundless energy and wild imaginations—plus one lazy cat. Together, they love exploring hiking trails, new cities, and ski runs.