Biography

PROFESSIONAL

The book "All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten" (written by Robert Fulghum) emphasizes that people learn many of life's most essential lessons by the time they finish kindergarten. Similarly, all I needed to start my career in event production, I learned in high school!  As an aspiring actor, I played the leading role in most of the school shows, and at the start of my junior year, my beloved theatre teacher left the school and all but shut-down the theatre program. I stepped forward and offered to direct and produce the three shows annually, and did so with an overwhelming amount of success.  Though I didn't know it at the time, that was the catalyst that began my love for producing events!

Through the years, I have had the honor of working on a very wide variety of project types with a diverse set of clients. Early in my career, I wore many technical hats (lighting, audio, video, etc.) before evolving to the key roles of Executive Producer, Show Caller, Technical Director and even creative visionary. Projects have included in-person, broadcast / livestream and virtual events on a global scale. From sporting events, award shows and conferences, to exhibits, parties and concerts, I have enjoyed, learned, and created many fond event experiences that have delighted a countless number of attendees and viewers around the world.  

My mother has always said that I work well under pressure. She's right.  I thrive on challenging projects with massive logistics and schedules. Staying organized is an art form that I love perfecting.  One of the more exciting parts of my career has been traveling to, and working in some of the most amazing and unique venues on the planet. I certainly have my favorite traditional venues like resorts, convention centers, arenas and stadiums. However, creating and managing an event in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert, on a lake in Florida, or aside the River Thames, is a thrill and rush that really gets my adrenaline going. The heightened sense of logistics and attention to detail is truly awesome. In the end, the highlight of my career to date has been the incredible people I have had the privilege to work with all over the world- many who have become extended family through the years.

PERSONAL

On a more personal note...  I have managed to stay married for twenty-eight years (it's nothing short of a miracle that Erika has found a way to put up with me) and have three incredible sons (25, 23, 20). 

I am a pilot and enjoy the view, freedom, responsibility and logistics that go along with my ability to hop in a plane and go somewhere. My sense of adventure takes me to unique places both personally and professionally. The boys have loved flying with me since they were in diapers and car seats (though none of them ever stayed awake long enough when they were that young to enjoy the flight... they typically fell asleep in their car seats while taxiing to take-off!). 

Camping and the outdoors has always played a big role in my life. I remember camping trips with my father as a kid, and today, enjoy the same with my own children (along with my father too!  Mom had never been one for the outdoors). I especially love camp cooking and have taught my kids how to cook some pretty amazing things using a Dutch oven or a camp stove. My sons know that the things I like cooking the most on a camping trip are dishes that would surprise and delight people:  "How the heck did you make that in the middle of a forest?!!???"  Soups, pies and bread from scratch somehow taste even better on a camping trip!

I am grateful for my family, friends and clients (many of which I am thrilled to call friends). I consistently bring my joy of life to the projects in which I am involved.  Life is too short to not have a great time doing what I love to do!