A bit about me

I have always had a creative drive with music, learning instruments, writings songs and lyrics, and performing in various venues. With the advent of computers, I discovered a new fascination—digital design. Not only was I drawn to this new medium in the early 90s, but as a self-taught enthusiast, I would soon learn my designs were pretty good.

I cut my teeth on pro-bono work for churches and friends. Then I was recommended to the business world and was soon invited to contract with a start-up medical device company allowing me the freedom to practice in many digital mediums.

Beginning with print work, I’ve designed everything from branding to brochures, business collateral, posters, presentations, t-shirts, show booths, and more.

I then expanded into the video realm, with a documentary of a surf exposition, to be followed by marketing shorts for many different entities.

Websites and Kiosks came next, learning HTML, and using a very cumbersome FLASH application to make things look pretty and move. Soon came the beautiful evolution of CSS and Javascript, and the web would never be the same.

Working as a solo entrepreneur or with large teams, I’ve worked in many industries with all three mediums — print, web, and video. Some of my experience has been in Medical; Entertainment; Technology; Manufacturing; Ranching; Non-Profits; Hospitality; and more!

Coming full circle I brought my music into the digital world creating not only my own songs but music beds, background accompaniments, jingles, and more.

I would love to hear your dreams and would be honored to have the opportunity to make them into reality.

PRINT -
I am accomplished in any print format from brochures to packaging, and fluent in: Adobe InDesign • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Acrobat layout tools.

WEB DESIGN -
Originally building websites from scratch in HTML editors, I moved over to Adobe Dreamweaver for my early website-building years. I quickly adopted the new drag-and-drop, DIY cloud web applications like Squarespace and Wix, as they emerged, eliminating the need to bolt on Content Management Systems which were bulky, cumbersome, and rarely worked worth a darn. To do wireframes and mock-ups I use Adobe XD • Figma • InVision. I code in HTML, CSS, and Some JavaScript.

VIDEO -
My main tools for post-production video work are: Adobe Premier Pro • Apple Final Cut • Adobe After Effects • and Camtasia.

SOUND/MUSIC PRODUCTION -
Like most, I began my digital recording with Avid Pro Tools DAW, but have since migrated to Ableton Live • Logic Pro • Adobe Audition • encompassing multiple effect processor packs in Waves • Antares • Spitfire • and iZotope products.

Just when they said it was all over, my life began!

For 10 years living in Hawaii was very good, surfing, sailing, and enjoying the dream. Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, I spent two years traveling extensively in Mexico before moving to Hawaii. Little did I know, my life would soon take a very dramatic turn.

It was November of 1984 and I was living in Maui, full of life, hope, and health. I played tennis a couple of times a week and tried to get out in the surf daily, but work was slowing that down. I had my real estate license in Hawaii, and I was working for an amazing waterfront restaurant called the Oceanhouse on Front Street Lahaina. 

I had developed an earache, and having just recently received health insurance through my job, I decided to have it checked out. The problem was there had been a bump developing near where my right ear and jaw intersected which caught the doctor’s attention more than the earache. 

After some prodding, examining, and consultation with others on the phone the doctor said I want to get you into surgery asap as this doesn’t look good. I was surprised but not shocked, at least yet. They scheduled the surgery for the next day at Maui Memorial Hospital. 

I don't remember much of anything, but I was notified that the surgery took something like 8 1/2 hours, and they had to resuscitate me in the process.

It was Thanksgiving of 1984 and I was wrapped up like a mummy, not able to see my face, but I had been in the hospital for about a week or more. When they removed my bandages and I saw my disfigured and paralyzed face staring back at me in the mirror, I cried out "I want to die". Two weeks later the biopsy results came back and my doctor sat me down with a somber look on his face and told me I had 1 to 3 years tops to live due to the severity and rapidness of the growth of the cancerous tumor. Mucadermal Carcinoma of the right Parodied Lymph Node gland or lymph cancer. 

I went into shock, it was almost as if I could no longer hear the doctor as my life began to flash before me. I had got my wish and I would die.

I do remember very well one thing the doctor said to which I attach so much hope and gratefulness today, he said "I don't believe it has to be that way" when he said I would soon die.

I didn't have any faith in my creator yet or in my life at that moment and I remember crying for a week. There was a whisper in my heart but it wasn't discernible or I wasn't listening yet.

This led to a 3-year debacle spiraling me downward into drug addiction and a complete lack of hope, which landed me in prison. It was there, with a noose around my neck ready to end it all that I met my Redeemer. I will share more of this in my adventures later, but please know HOPE is real, it is yours and everything can change. Here I am 39 years later, beautiful family, amazing friends, and meaningful life that allows me to impact and change the world around me. This HOPE is yours in a simple prayer, not religion, but a relationship!

If you would like to hear more of my story you will find some of my blog stories interesting. I am also featured in a book called Testify by Destiny Publishing. My daughter and I are working on a long-time-requested autobiography which is way overdue. I hope to finish soon.