When he was 10 years old, Tate Gunnerson went door to door selling a homemade newspaper, The East Side Story, to his neighbors along the historic I&M Canal in Morris, Illinois. His mom edited and produced the final version on a noisy vintage Smith Corona. While the endeavor lasted all of one issue, he knew he had found his niche in writing and media.
It took a while to get there. What was intended to be a temporary post-college gig turned into a decade-long stint in corporate sales. Seeking a creative outlet, Tate started a hobby blog in 2008 featuring home tours and other design-related content. Finally following his passion, he soon left sales behind and began writing for publications such as Chicago Tribune, Dwell, Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design, and The New York Times.
After 15 years as a freelance journalist, Tate was thrilled to combine his journalism and client relations skills as a senior account manager at Taylor Johnson, a firm he had enjoyed working with for years as a writer researching stories and seeking sources. He relishes the friendly, fast-paced environment, unwavering commitment to excellence and endlessly engaging work.
In his free time, Tate enjoys reading just about anything, binging prestige (and not-so prestige) TV, walking along the lake, hiking mountain trails, camping in the woods, traveling and staying in posh hotels. He’s currently pursuing his 50 by 50 initiative and is determined to visit his final nine states by the end of 2024.
BEYOND THE BIO
Name: Tate Gunnerson
Title: Senior Account Manager
With Taylor Johnson since: 2023
People around the office come to me for: A freelancer’s perspective.
Three words that describe me are: Grateful, Creative, Sarcastic.
When I was growing up, I thought I’d be a: A newspaper reporter or novelist.
I never thought I’d be: A professional athlete. I’m a klutz and have no coordination!
The best professional advice I received was: Your first draft will always be horrible, so just get something on the page. Thanks bro!
Favorite Chicago building: Sears Tower, aka Willis Tower. I worked on the 87th floor in 1998 and loved everything about the iconic building from the brushed metal paneling in the lobby to the miles-long views.
Favorite Halloween costume: I dressed as an old-school, Bela Lugosi-style vampire for a second grade Halloween costume contest, complete with fangs, flowing black cape and gaudy medallion. I’m still sore I didn’t place.
Last good book I read: The Overstory by Richard Powers.
On my playlist: I love 70s rock, particularly Pink Floyd, but my playlist includes a healthy dose of Nina Simone, as well as contemporary artists like Michael Kiwanuka, improvisational jazz, nostalgic 80s chart toppers, and way too many sentimental movie scores.
My favorite app: Merlin Bird ID by the Cornell Lab.
Favorite pastime: Hiking + Hot Tubbing.
What I like most about TJ: The people are fun, friendly, collaborative and committed to excellence.
Most people don’t know that: Thanks to my mother, I have a near-encyclopedic knowledge of long-cancelled ABC daytime soaps.
My guilty pleasure is: It’s a tie between ice cream and French fries!