When the call came in from the local chapter of the Advertising Federation and they mentioned one of our founders’ names in the same sentence as “Hall of Fame”, two thoughts immediately entered his mind.
First, “Do they know I’m not done yet?” Followed shortly by, “We’re really not in advertising.” But this isn’t a story about the final chapter. Nor of placing the strictest of labels on a profession rooted in creativity and disciplined thinking. This is a story about a career rooted in belief. And putting others before one’s self. John Moes is the grandson of immigrants. His father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, pilot, electrical engineer and farmer. At age 10, his father taught John how to plow, disk and cultivate using the family’s two cylinder John Deere tractors. By 13, he was already building his own herd of Polled Hereford cattle with help from his father and his involvement with a local 4-H club. He’d later trade the registered livestock herd to fund his college education. Initially pursuing an electrical engineering degree like his father, John ultimately charted a new path for himself, switching majors and schools before earning a BFA from Mount Mercy University.
Early in his career, John oversaw design, publishing and business communications during an eight-year run at Rockwell Collins. He was with the company through two rebranding efforts.
Then in the late 90’s, John began collaborating with a Cedar Rapids design firm where he met designer Bill Bollman. Over the next few years, they found they shared a similar mindset about what design could do, and became fast friends.
The two opened FUEL in January of 2001.
They’d make design central to everything the shop did, while remaining nimble enough to tackle traditional advertising roles. But no matter the client, they’d bring utility and purpose to impact everything that client’s organization did.