Leadership

Robert Solis graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism with a Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his training at the renowned Portfolio Center in Atlanta, GA, where he earned an advanced degree in Advertising Art Direction.

He spent more than a decade building his career as a designer, art director, and copywriter in Atlanta, Tampa, and San Francisco, gaining deep experience across regional and global brands. His client roster has included Microsoft, Coca-Cola, IHOP, Cadillac, Florida Tourism, McDonald’s, GE, and many others. Along the way, his work earned industry recognition and was featured in publications such as Adweek, Ad Age, Variety, and Creativity, as well as major news outlets including CNN, PBS, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, AP, and CBS.

In the aftermath of the 2001 attacks and the economic uncertainty that followed, Robert founded Engine as a lean, cost-conscious alternative to traditional advertising agencies. Built on a remote, contractor-based model long before it became industry standard, Engine leveraged a global network of talent to reduce overhead while maintaining tier-one creative quality. What was once considered unconventional has since become widely adopted; a model validated by its resilience through multiple economic cycles, including the 2020 pandemic.

Today, Engine has been supporting brands for more than 25 years, serving a broad range of industries with the same passion, discipline, and brand-first conviction that defined it from the start.

Robert lives in West Marin County, California, with his wife, Amy, and their strong-willed pup, Enzo.