Christopher T. Spiro

Grand Poohbah…. Chief Creative Officer

Years at Spiro: All of them

I am a double-edged sword.
“I’m known for being loud, bold, and speaking my mind.” Often. “I’m also known as the class clown that cracks everyone up. These traits cut both ways. But for better or worse, that seems to be me.”

Advertising is selling is creative.
“While my title is Chief Creative Officer, what I do is sell. Sell our brand, sell our abilities, sell our clients’ products and services, and sell the future.” Selling isn’t easy – it helps that Chris has a strong product and the support of a talented staff.

On the creative side of the business, “I love directing creative and believe that it shows.” Translation: Chris likes to meddle with the creative. The creatives absolutely love that about him. When he’s busy selling, he meddles less. The creatives love this even more.

My book is bigger than your book.
Some people out there on the far edges of the world think that an ad agency is an ad agency is an ad agency. But that’s simply not true. “When all is said and done, two things, the creative and the service, separate agencies. When we go to measure, it’s who has the biggest book of great work and who retains their clients that matters.”

Gooooooooooal. Gooooooooooal.
Chris played semi-pro soccer in Jamaica for two-plus years. And though he didn’t often hear those words yelled after one of his frantic attempts to score, it is a favorite of his and one he often yells during office nap time.

Youth. It was the best of times, the worst of times, and a time to be daring.
Perhaps the most daring thing Chris has done is “start this business. Being young and dumb, I knew nothing of what it takes to start and run a business. Economic downturns, global pandemics, hurricanes, staffing, clients, small budgets, big expectations, the daily mental grind – throw all these together, and I realize that ‘I had guts.’” Oh, to be young and dumb and daring again.

It might be an ad guy thing.
Most ad execs love fashion. From shopping to showing it off to knowing you have a closet full of really nice clothes – it’s all a big deal.

Chris is no different. He explains, “I love to dress fashionably, so I get complimented a lot on my wardrobe.” Goooooooal.

Important date.
December 12, 2023. That’s the day Chris admitted he was wrong about something.

Florida Gator fanatic.
“Whether you spell it fanatic, phanatic, or crazy, I am one – it’s very public – and always will be.

His early years in 112 words.
“I was born in New York and moved to Pensacola when my grandfather gave his printing business to my father. That business, located in a double-wide, printed the daily programs for the greyhound racetracks in Pensacola and Bonita Springs. I started running my father’s printing presses at the age of 8. I’d stand on the old wooden Coca-Cola case boxes and work after school…probably illegal now. We spent years following the dogs back and forth until my mother put her foot down and told my father to choose one market or the other. We chose Bonita Springs but couldn’t afford to live there, and that’s how we ended up in Cape Coral.”

Not Normal.
While Chris’s early years were not normal, truth be told, there is very little about Chris that a normal person would consider normal.

And in the end.
Being with his family – the kids, siblings, his mother… “they are my favorite things.”

Chris’ hero? His dad wore that hat. Of course, he did. “My dad instilled proper values in us, had his own business, gave back to the community, and remained a man of faith his entire life.”