Talking to Jim Lawrence, you get the feeling that he’s not particularly enamored of being in the spotlight. But Skybridge’s new Client Services Director for Sweeps & Games sure knows how to turn it on others.

“Well, there was Martha Stewart and Justin Timberlake,” he says when asked about his former position as a senior manager of event marketing at Best Buy. “And Will Smith and Ashanti. And The B52’s and All-American Rejects. Let’s see... Fabio, Steven Segal, Richard Dean Anderson, Carson Kressley and a bunch of others.”

“It was at Best Buy, actually, that I first worked with Skybridge Sweeps & Games,” explains Jim. “They were our preferred vendor.” In fact, Jim was so impressed by the team’s work that he decided to join them.

Along with a bounty of celebrity stories, Jim brings to Skybridge brand-building experience across multiple marketing disciplines, including brand strategy, direct response, promotions, public relations and events, on both the agency and client sides of the industry. In recognition of his unique skills and track record, Event Marketing magazine awarded Jim its coveted “EX Award” and named him to its marketing “Dream Team.”

Reaching the pinnacle of event marketing wasn’t an achievement the Omaha native ever imagined for himself. “Originally, I intended to be a writer in advertising,” he explains, “I graduated from Creighton University where I studied creative writing and advertising. But I discovered a broader range of interests, and today my diverse background allows me to relate to clients from all angles of the business. I understand their roles, objectives and strategic goals and can work out the best solutions for their marketing needs to keep them on the cutting edge.”

The blade metaphor comes naturally to Jim, a foodie who keeps his chef’s knives ever sharp. “I really enjoy cooking and entertaining,” he says. “I’m a big fan of Ina Garten, the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa. I love her approach and her recipes.”

When he’s not hosting guests, Jim cooks for his partner of 12 years, Jef, while providing homemade morsels to Boomer and Buster, their Golden Retrievers, and Gizmo, the Himalayan cat.