Sam Surprise, President
Prior to founding Surprise Advertising in 1989, Sam worked in New York City for The Movie Channel/Show Time, for Direct Broadcast Satellite, Inc. and for a variety of advertising agencies. Sam has nearly thirty years of advertising and marketing experience.
Favorite Movie(s):
To Kill A Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia, Apocalypse, Melvin & Howard, Miller’s Crossing, No Country For Old Men, Angel Heart, The Road.
Favorite Author(s):
There are few bad stories just poor storytellers. Cormac McCarthy, Jim Harrison, John Connelly, James Lee Burke, Norman Mailer.
Favorite Musicians: Ricki Lee Jones, Doc Watson, James Brown—and most all between.
Dream Car(s):
’93 Lotus Esprit Sport 300, Volvo P1800 ES, ’67 Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Coupe Convertible.
Dream Vacation:
Paris for elegance & Italy for food, Home for everything between.
Passions:
Alfa Romeos, wine, antique toys, Jameson, Swatches, large home dinner parties.

Jennifer Blake, Account Executive
Jennifer holds a BFA from Maine College of Art with a concentration in photography. Jennifer brings to Surprise Advertising over 10 years experience in business-to-business sales, advertising and marketing.
Favorite Movie(s):
Shakespeare in Love, Pride & Prejudice, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Bourne Series, A Fish Called Wanda, Inglorious Basterds , Shawshank Redemption… to be continued.
Favorite Musicians:
When I’m not listening to Howard Stern, I am CYY!
Interests:
Photography, design, art, advertising, music, hiking, skiing, laughing, movies/theatre, wine, sushi…….
Things I want to do:
Travel throughout Europe and visit Ireland again.

Chief Doggy Dog, Gatekeeper
As a Bernese Mountain dog receptionist, Chief has demonstrated an excellent ability to keep unwanted vendors at bay while opening doors and fetching slippers for our favorite clients, which is everyone on our roster.
Favorite Movie(s):
A Boy & His Dog (17-year old Don Johnson’s first film)
Favorite Book:
Dr. Dog
Favorite Music:
Snoop Doggy Dogg and Church Bells
Dream Car:
Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile
Dream Vacation:
Swiss Alps
Passions:
Digging in the garden, chewing the underlayment of an Oriental Rug, shoes, pool table legs, trim (walls), eating garbage and snoozing

David Gillis, Designer, Art Director
With over 25 years of comercial design and art direction experience and owner of David Gillis Design, David has provided visual solutions for a wide range of clients including Maine College of Art, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, and D.L. Geary Brewing. Prior to partnering with Surprise Advertising, David was an art director at L.L. Bean for the outdoor and travel catalogs.
Favorite Movie(s):
Bram Stoker’s Dracula; The Princess Bride; Reservoir Dogs; The Millennium Trilogy; The Lord of the Rings; The Cook, The Theif, His Wife and Her Lover; Best In Show
Favorite Music:
Just about anything
Passions:
Raising his four children with his wife of nearly 25 years, photographing everything, creating 3-D photos, bad puns
Dream Vacation:
With four kids, any vacation is a dream… or a nightmare