Creativity has always been the lifeblood of great brands, campaigns, and culture. But as AI tools reshape how ideas are generated, produced, and distributed, many creative professionals are asking a fundamental question: what does truly great creative work look like in an AI-influenced world? Join NextNW for a candid conversation with leading creative directors Steve Sandstrom of Sandstrom Partners, Patrick Hoopes of Drake Cooper, Alicia Mickes of Magic: The Gathering, and Alexis Young of Definitely Real. Together, they will explore how top creatives define breakthrough ideas, how the creative process is evolving, and where human insight still leads the way. This panel will unpack real-world agency and brand experiences while offering a practical perspective for marketers, designers, writers, and strategists navigating creativity in the next era of advertising and marketing.

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Moderator

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‍Kent Lewis - NextNW Executive Director

Kent is a digital OG and passionate entrepreneur who regularly speaks, is frequently quoted by industry media, and writes for publications including Inc., The Business Journals, and SmartBrief. In 1999, he founded pdxMindShare, Portland’s premier professional networking group and online career community, to help facilitate professional connections and education.

Previously, as Chief Marketing Officer at Deksia, he was responsible for the overall strategic direction of marketing and lead generation. As President of Anvil Media, Inc., he managed operations, marketing, and sales. Under his leadership, Anvil received honors including Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies, Oregon Business Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work, Portland Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Award, the Fastest Growing Companies Lighthouse Award, and recognition as one of Oregon’s Most Admired Companies.

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Panelists

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‍Alexis Young - Creative Director, Definitely Real

Alexis is a creative powerhouse with close to 15 years of experience leading brand storytelling across campaigns, environments, and content. As a founding partner at Definitely Real, she brings a visionary approach to every project, combining concept-driven thinking with the kind of leadership and executional rigour that is typically reserved for crushing Ford Pintos into cubes. 

With origins at agencies like Cossette and Briteweb, as well as in-house for lululemon for almost a decade and Cactus Club Cafe, Alexis has developed global brand refreshes, art directed large-scale shoots, and built out thoughtful creative systems that scale. Her specialty? Turning strategy into stories—grounded in brand purpose and elevated through design.

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Steve Sandstrom - Creative Director, Designer, Founder of Sandstrom Partners

Steve Sandstrom is a designer and founder of Sandstrom Partners, recognized as one of the leading brand design firms in the US. He was critically involved in the creation of Tazo Tea, Bulleit Bourbon, St-Germain Liqueur, Betty Buzz Mixers, and Tequila Pantalones, and helped revive iconic brands including Converse and Miller High Life.

His work has been featured in numerous books and publications on design, branding, packaging and corporate identity and has won a stream of awards and recognition from national and international competitions for over three decades. In 2024, he was inducted into The One Club’s exclusive Creative Hall of Fame.

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Patrick Hoopes - Executive Creative Director | Emloyee-Owner at Drake Cooper

Patrick Hoopes is Executive Creative Director at Drake Cooper, leading content creation and production across all media. A career ad creative, his brand experience includes Ford, Visa, Sears, Kerrygold and Challenge Butters, Blue Diamond Almonds, Chevron, AutoZone, and Extra Mile Convenience Stores. 

As an Ohio native, he likes to point out the unusually large number of significant contributions the state has made to world history. As a pedant, he has firm stances on the use of the word “myriad” and the Oxford comma. As an ever-recovering ski bum, he uses an annoying variety of phrases to describe how hard it’s snowing. He has never been to Oklahoma.

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Alicia Mickes - Freelance Creative Director and Illustrator 

Alicia Mickes is an award-winning creative leader and Senior Creative Director for Magic: The Gathering® at Wizards of the Coast. As part of Magic’s Studio X, she shapes the global product line's look across markets and languages while mentoring cross-functional teams to create emotionally resonant, strategically sharp brand experiences.

Over her career, Alicia has partnered with iconic brands like Nike, adidas, Coca-Cola, Google, and T-Mobile, and worked at top PNW agencies including Wieden+Kennedy, Publicis Seattle, and NORTH. Her background spans packaging systems, global brand expression, and integrated campaigns—always blending craft, commerce, and just enough humor to keep the work human.

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