Hi I’m Nico.
I’m trying to cut through the noise.

I’m a Cuban-American creative, writer, and translator. As much as it pains me to say this, those don’t pay the bills! So I turned my love of writing into a love of writing ads. 

Currently at VML, I work in experiential and commerce. Cans in hands baby, cans in hands!
 
I’m a problem-solver, big idea thinker, conceptor with a flair for thinking the weirdest smart idea wins. And it usually does.

Ask me about my latin-american scifi/fantasy novel. I’ll never shut up. 


Experience


VML Live — New Yr, NY

Copywriter (September ‘22 - present)

Work alongside ACD partner and creative team on experiential, New Business, commerce, social, digital, campaigns. 

For: Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Vitaminwater, Smartwater, Lenovo, Pantene, Mastercard, BAT, Virgin, and UNICEF. 

Upshot Agency — Chicago, IL

Junior Copywriter (May ‘21 - September ‘22)
Concepting, Copywriting in OLV, OOH, Social, Digital, Retail, Experiential for Hispanic & General Markets.

For: Corona, Modelo, Pacifico, Funky Buddha Brewery, Johnson & Johnson (Aveeno, Neutrogena, Vivvi&Bloom), and Nature Made.

Colectivo Coffee Roasters — Chicago, IL

Head Barista (March ‘19 - October ‘20) 

Independent Publishers Group — Chicago, IL

Spanish Program Intern (May ‘18 - December ‘18)

Barnes and Noble — Vernon Hill, IL

Barista (September ‘18 - May ‘18) 
Wow I really like coffee I guess. 

Education


Chicago Portfolio School — Chicago, IL

Copywriting
“It’s about the benefit of the benefit.”

Kenyon College — Gambier, OH

Spanish, English, and Comparative Literature Major
I wrote so many long, pretentious essays about “hegemony” and “the modern vernacular.”

University of Salamanca — Salamanca, ESP

Year abroad in Spain. No, I don’t use the Spanish lisp. Yes, I talk about it all the time. 

Skills

- Native Spanish Speaker 
- I won an award for my poetry once 
- Translated a book of poetry in college: result
- Once ranked nationally in Mario Kart Wii
- Unbelievably good at a New Zealand Accent (thank my hours play D&D with friends)