I grew up mostly in Orange County, Southern California, with the exception of a couple short residences in Connecticut and Texas before I was even 12 years old. In high school, I began courses in Computer Assisted Drafting. I continued on to community college taking courses toward transfering to a 4-year university to study architecture. The ability to afford such a degree, and an out of state education, became a concern and thus fizzled that road.

I held a few interesting employment positions while attending community college and trying to find my niche. The first of those positions was working as an assistant investigator right after graduating high school, at my mother's private investigation company. I worked on the Orange County Bankruptcy case of the early 1990's which made national news. My mother, an investigator, was the main vehicle in which the story of MEAN JUSTICE was written, a book by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Edward Humes. I learned much about criminal investigation in the three years working there, but mostly learned it wasn't for me. On occasion, I worked at my father's business. This would be sometimes greasy, dirty, manual labor, but was a great learning and physical experience. I also held odd jobs like pizza delivery, selling faux perfume and cologne on the street, and other temporary jobs. I held a sales position selling Cutco knives basically door-to-door using friends and contacts from friends to begin. There, I learned about putting on a professional presentation and many useful sales techniques I still use even today when selling my design ideas to clients.

I later landed as a file clerk at an automotive parts warehouse where I discovered my organization ability by bringing a file room of thousands of files up to date from six months behind and won the approval of the office manager. I was key in developing new systems for organization in the file room. These skills I also use daily in my own computer file management, and hold as a very important strength of my ability.

Then I had the bright idea to start my own business which started as a candy machine vending route around the Disneyland area in Southern California. Later, I added a website where I provided home business opportunities, and also trained to be an Internet Advertising Consultant where I played middleman to finding business needing a website designed and connecting them, through me, to a company who designed them. This was a great learning experience; however, I could not make any of the three businesses turn a profit due to the catch 22 of not making enough to advertise.

So obviously I am not afraid to try anything, and I do learn from all my experiences. I know that all of these small experiences have enhanced my abilities to better communicate, understand, and sell ideas. Even the bad experiences are learning experiences.

THEN I FOUND MY NICHE...

In 1998, after figuring out my own business wasn't the way to go at the time, and not confident in any direction to go, I did some research on graphic design courses and schools. That's when I discovered that I could be a graphic designer. I started Platt College in Newport Beach, CA in February of 1998. I know I applied myself diligently and worked as hard as I could because, well, fear of nothing else to do but flip burgers if I didn't succeed.

As I worked toward my Associates Degree in Graphic Design, I achieved a 4.0 GPA, achievement awards and an attendance award. I won't mention my high school records, but let's just say I didn't do as well in high school, so this was a big improvement and achievement. I think I had to gain the experience I mentioned before in order to mature enough to take this opportunity seriously. I also completed a Multimedia Certificate course, which included introductory classes in Web Design, 3-D Animation, CD-ROM authoring using Macromedia Director, and Video using Adobe Premiere and After Effects. Samples of my Graphic Design and Multimedia projects are featured on this website. During the courses at Platt College I became very interested in video editing, but continued tuning my graphic design skills. A month after graduating Platt College, I took a video production course at Time Warner and learned the basics of video production in a cable studio environment. I held a couple web design jobs between graduating Platt College in August of 1999 and February of 2000 when the creative department of the company I was working for was discontinued leaving me without work. So went to work for dad, again. This time I was Purchasing Agent, setting up pick up and delivery of product...much less greasy and dirty work and was in the office with dad, not in the shop. From the time I started learning graphic design I had a burning desire to work for the country music industry, whether it be graphics or video. Through a few turn of events in personal life, it was time for me to move on and chase that dream. That landed me in Nashville in August of 2000.

When I got to Nashville I joined the Film & TV Connection which helps get entry as an intern into video companies to learn the trade. That landed me at Sound City Productions on Broadway in Nashville. Starting in September 2000, I worked as an intern on the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) "Outstanding Fund Raiser Awards" video program to be held October 17, 2000 as a production assistant and assistant editor. The company was a small 2 man crew video production company with few consistent projects, and I had my sites set higher. After leaving Sound City Productions in October, I went hunting for an opportunity to be more involved in editing. In January 2001, I found myself at Cummings Video & Film with an opportunity to start interning as Assistant Editor to the Online Editor. You can read more about my time at Cummings Video & Film in the Video section of this website.

At the end of June 2002, the opportunities for me to learn beyond what I had learned and applied as a first-year AVID editor became non-existent. At that time, I was production manager for Home Center Network, a real estate television show, and was not quite the creative opportunity I was looking for. I learned when I first started graphic design training that I am project orientated and work well in a team environment. My duties at Home Center Network did not allow an opportunity to gain more experience editing other video projects. As graphic specialist and video editor, as far as all visual aspects of the show, I was the creative team. I know I would excel in a more team orientated environment with a variety of creative projects to which I can contribute creatively. During my time at Cummings Video & Film I began working at Image Builders, a print shop in Nashville, in May 2001. I was a prepress graphic designer; samples of that work are included in the Graphic Design section of this website. I started immediately with only an education and no professional experience and received no formal training. Although I could use Quark, Illustrator, and Photoshop, I needed assistance at the end of each project. I learned much about prepress, so it was valuable experience; however, prepress work involves very little creativity. I felt as though I could do so much more creatively but the opportunity was not there, but valued the experience I gained learning the finishing end to graphic design that goes to the printing press. I left Image Builders in August 2001 to begin as AVID editor for Home Center Network. Since then, I continue working with Image Builders for all of my graphic design print projects.

Since February of 2003 I have been working as a freelance graphic designer for Lofton Creek Records. I enjoy the creative aspect of creating concepts for the CD Packages and carrying them through all the way to print. I also enjoy the creative aspect of creating supporting Music Publication Ads as a promotional tool for the CDs. Many of the projects are listed under the Professional categories of Graphic Design and CD Covers.

WHAT I CAN DO & WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR...

This website will show what I've done, and what I can do. In the years that I have been in Nashville, the majority of my experience has been on my own as a video editor and graphic designer. I feel I need a bit more training before I can stand alone on certain projects. Mostly, I feel I need training in the areas of set-up and output of projects, I can guess, but I'd rather know. Since every company has diffrent procedure in the areas of set up and output, this is almost to be expected. I am team oriented, it is possible that the right team environment would help to fill the gaps. This is true in most aspects of my creative ability. I understand the principles of all aspects of design, print, graphics, video, and multimedia and have extensive time working within all the software programs in all these areas. But, when it comes to finishing and setting up, there are settings and procedures with creative projects such as CD-ROMs, Videos, and Print, that I do not know as "second-nature." I am confident with a short training period, maybe as an assistant or similar position, my talent and ability could be combined with professional experience to be a creative asset to any team. Given the right learning environment I bring with me an ability to learn, and the aptitude to apply what I've learned. Some companies produce projects like the professionals would, I don't want to be like the professionals, I aim to "be" professional.