CJ Waldman / Founder, Creative Director, Art Director, Copywriter, Director

CJ Waldman graduated from Colgate University in 1984. He began his advertising career at Ammirati & Puris in 1985 and has been working at award-winning agencies ever since. In 2000, he left his post as EVP Creative Director at Lowe to pursue independent projects and direct.

In 2003, he founded Octopus, a true full-service marketing and communications group, combining ad agency with production and editorial capabilities. All under one roof.

He is responsible for award-winning and highly successful campaigns for Pepsi, Heineken, Sprite, Diet Coke, Amstel, Samuel Adams, US Virgin Islands, Kemper Insurance, In-Style Magazine, Teen People Magazine, New York Sports Clubs, Angry Orchard, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Tiger Schulmann’s Karate and Crunch Fitness among others.

Besides winning virtually every industry award, his work has been featured on CNN, ABC News, NBC News, Entertainment Tonight, News 9, WPIX, David Letterman, ABC’s “World’s Greatest Commercials and Fox’s ”World’s Funniest Commercials.” Both Adweek and Shoot Magazine names him “East Coast Creative All-Star.” In 2001, CJ was selected as Creative Director for two different clients in Adweek’s, “Top 100 Commercials of the Decade.” In 2003, he was featured in Cannes’ “Best New Director’s Showcase” and has directed campaigns for BMW, Mini Cooper, Mercedes Benz, Heineken, Amstel, Samuel Adams, SONY Play Station, Sprint, Angry Orchard and McDonald’s.

With Octopus, CJ continues to work with new clients and proudly many of the clients that he started with.

Marc Campana / Co-Founder, Executive Producer, Photographer

As the executive producer and photographer with a knack for helping clients meet-even succeed in their business objectives-Marc’s creative vision influences every aspect of his work.

From behind the camera to building and executing strategies in the marketplace, Marc’s work has led him down the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, up the barley fields of Saskatchewan, over the Atlantic to the Central Highlands of Scotland, through the Hallertau Hop Gardens of Bavaria, and back to the streets of Brooklyn.

Throughout the years, Marc’s had the good fortune to film, photograph and develop key long-standing relationships with Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard (The Boston Beer Company), Wild Turkey Bourbon, Tequila Tezon, Mumm Napa (Pernod Ricard USA), Midori (SKYY Spirits), New York Sports Clubs (Town Sports International) and Tiger Schulmann’s Karate (TSK franchise systems).

Frank Bele / Creative Director

Prior to joining Octopus NY, Frank was SVP Global Creative Director of P&G at Publicis, NY.  He created many award-winning, business-building campaigns for Swiffer, Dawn and Cascade including work for the popular Dawn Saves Wildlife initiative that skyrocketed sales and received over 20 million views on YouTube. He also was responsible for the launch and wrote the famous “What’s in your Wallet” campaign for Capital One.

Frank has worked on a wide variety of brands including, Heineken,  Duracell, Cadillac, Citibank, Pfizer, Crest and Sandy Hook Promise to name a few. His accomplishments include ANDY, WEBBY, EFFIE, NY Festivals awards and his work has appeared on the cover of Adweek, Ad Age Graphis, Archive, Creativity magazines.