Gary Topolewski

Gary Topolewski is a commercial arts graduate of Ferris State University, and also has a degree in marketing from Michigan State University.



Gary started as a copywriter at W.B. Doner & Co. in Detroit in 1981. While there, he learned what the term sweat shop meant as he was thrown into the fire on several retail and package goods accounts. He moved to Dailey and Associates in Los Angeles in 1985 to work on Honda Motorcycles, and Mattel Hot Wheels, returning 2 years later to J. Walter Thompson in Detroit to work on Ford.



In 1990, Gary joined Campbell Mithun Esty/Bozell/FCB as Associate Creative Director on Jeep. The following year, Gary became Executive Creative Director, working on Jeep, Chrysler, both domestic and international, as well as Hush Puppies, Airtouch Cellular, Little Caesars Pizza and local accounts like Consumers Energy and the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers.



During this time, Gary won the most coveted advertising award in the world, the 1994 Grand Prix at Cannes for the Jeep spot, Snow Covered, which many Jeep dealers continue to run to this day. In addition to numerous awards for his work on various accounts, Gary won the Effie award for marketing effectiveness for Jeep, and served as a member of the prestigious Cannes jury in 1998.



In 2000, Gary joined TBWA Chiat Day as Executive Creative Director to work on Apple Computer, Sony Playstation, Taco Bell, and the launch of XM Satellite Radio. Two years later, he returned to Detroit to re-launch Cadillac as Chief Creative Officer and Chairman of chemistri. The work, utilizing the music of Led Zeppelin earned him another Effie in 2003.



In 2006, Gary decided to leave behind big-agency life and strike out on his own, with long-time partner John Van Osdol, to form TOPOLEWSKI. After 25 years at the top of the business, Gary now uses his talents at TOPOLEWSKI to build brands in unique, clever, and unexpected ways.