“Mike is easily one of my favorite creative people. From first working with him as a junior art director to more recently as a freelance CD/AD, a few things have remained consistent: he can generate great ideas, and he knows how to get things done. One of things I like most about Mike is that he understands that great work isn’t just a result of hard work and process, but that it’s also about work style and how you treat the people around you.

Mike is a leader in the the best possible sense of the word. He motivates the people he works with because they like him. And respect him. And trust him.

Mike has run a few pitches and big projects for us and he always approaches them with a level of ownership and responsibility that is rare in employees, let alone freelancers. It’s great to work with someone who genuinely cares that much about what he’s doing, not to mention the fact that he’s also one of the nicest people. All reasons he’s on top of my list of people I’d work with any chance I get.”

“I worked with Mike Pilato very closely over an eight-year period. Mike quickly became one of my top team members and emerged as a natural leader. He was the first name mentioned in any projects requiring quality work, and out-of-the-box thinking. His skills were in even more demand if there was a time-challenge overlay. He is very adept at getting to great, quickly.

Another strength Mike has is that he shares his strengths and actively mentors. There are a number of creatives that went through our doors over the time Mike was with PRECISIONeffect that will credit Mike with their rapid growth and ability to perform at a higher level.

He understands business and he’s very strategic, not just about the work, but how the work is presented and how it addresses the client’s problems.

I would, with no reservation, recommend Mike as someone who will solve whatever challenge he’s presented with and provide great value.”

“Mike is the walking and talking and working embodiment of the go-to guy. He’s the guy you go to for great concept immersed in smart, strategic thinking. He’s the guy you go to when you want something executed to a tee all the way through to the very end. He’s the guy you go to that makes the whole creative process seem fun and effortless even though it oftentimes isn’t either of those things. He’s the guy you go to when you’re looking for that precious shared space between awesome work and happy clients. He’s the guy you go-to when you want to hire an absolute pro, a world class talent, a phenomenal team player, and an outstanding person. Yeah, he’s the guy.”

“I have worked with Mike on lots of international pharmaceutical creative pitches and creative work for about 5 years and this guy is one of the best. Smart, incisive, daring and talented, he also produces work that is both gorgeous, surprising and on strategy. Honestly you can’t go wrong if you have Mike on your team. On top of all that he is also a fun guy to work with, positive and always ready with a quip. His DJ skills are not bad either.”

“Mike is the rare kind of Creative Director that provides strong leadership while making you feel like you’re working with him instead of for him. He’s smart and focused with his strategic direction, but doesn’t force his ideas on your work. So instead of leading his creatives to come up with a form of some preconceived notion of his, he guides them to places where they find a wider range of bigger, smarter, better solutions. This greatly benefits the agency, those working for him, and ultimately his clients. It should also be noted that I had an exceptionally good time working under Mike at Forge. And if you’ve ever worked in an ad agency, you know this is not to be taken for granted. Not only do I feel he was a solid, extremely positive leader for our Creative Department, but he’s also a damn swell guy with a great sense of humor and a genuine caring for his co-workers. I’d give Mike my highest recommendation. And to anyone who wouldn’t, I give my highest middle finger.”

“Primo Italiano. I don’t speak Italian, but it sounds right for Mike. This guy is good, great actually. Great art director. Great designer. Great idea guy. Great Creative Director. Great with clients. Great friend. He’s an all around great guy. Trust me, this guy will not only do a bang-up job on anything thrown his way, he’ll do it without attitude and whining—a rarity these days.”

“Mike is a creative director who truly cares about the work and the people more than himself. He is all heart and no ego. He makes things beautiful; he makes the office more fun and more productive; he makes the team better than they knew they could be. He is thoughtful, sharp, strategic, kind, and insanely talented.”

“Having worked with Mike over the last several years, I’ve come to appreciate his can do attitude and mentorship with his creative teams. He’s extremely talented without an ego, funny, smart, and passionate about every project he touches. Mike not only elevates the work, he elevates the people around him to do better work, and that’s not an easy thing to do in this industry. So I will add my name to the long list of clients and agency folks who would be happy to work with him again someday….”

“Mike has the ability to see things very logically and to solve problems very inventively and memorably. It’s the essence of the marketing business. He also has great patience and a great ability to bring out the best in people – those who work for him. And those he works for. As a Creative Director, he has a rare ability to manage process while inspiring people. He makes work fun. He makes work efficient. He makes work work.”

“A long way to go for a ham sandwich” is a borrowed saying that one could occasionally hear Mike quote around the office in reference to ideas that are too complicated or just too full of crap.

Admittedly, I’ve heard it from him once, or twice, while on his team at Forge. While it’s not something a creative wants to hear often, it’s solid feedback. And Mike is really good at this. He spots the good ideas in the pile and knows how to make them bigger and better. His excitement for the work and attention to detail is infectious, and teams really rally around him.

As I look forward to a new start at Sapient Nitro, it’s no doubt that Mike’s high standards have made me a better art director. He made the agency’s work better. And he made day-to-day office life better. He is passionate, fun, and above all, a really awesome guy. You’d have to go a long way to find someone better than Mike.”

“Mike likes to fix and to create stuff – stuff like ideas, or teams, or agencies, or you know – complicated machinery. He is kind, generous, smart and thoughtful. He is loved by his team and he is loved by clients. He is a partner and a friend. He’s the kind of guy who makes advertising fun because he builds people up and he has amazing stories about his karma with chipmunks.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Pilato as our Creative Director at Forge Worldwide for over three years. Mike is a tireless perfectionist doing whatever is needed to make the work great, motivate the team, and lead in a ultra fast-paced environment. Mike is not only skilled at managing and mentoring the creative team, but he’s an amazing Designer and Art Director on his own, consistently driving strong ideas and beautiful work. Clients connect with Mike’s proficiency and his warm personality – the same traits that make Mike a key player on the Forge team”