About Me

As far back as I can remember, I've known that I am an artist. That knowledge has taken me down countless roads, but it's something that drives me everyday. The need to create, to express myself and my thirst for knowledge motivates me to take my life and my career to the next level.

I was active in the arts all through my first 12 years of school, taking part in advanced art courses, music and acting in several plays and musicals. In 1993, I began attending classes at the University of Akron under the "post secondary" option, which allows high school students to gain experience at the college level.

The next year, upon graduating, I was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Akron by the Scholastic Art Awards. After 2 years of attendance, however, I decided to leave school to pursue music, a decision I later regretted. I was constantly doing freelance work, creating logos and flyers for local businesses, painting and drawing. I took classes here and there, but just couldn't afford to jump back in full time.

In 2000, I managed to find my way into the graphic arts industry, sans degree, through a friend who owned a local sign company. I started by "weeding" vinyl adhesive sheets, cleaning up the shop and digging holes, eventually working my way up to running the CAD machines and large-format inkjet printers, and finally to layout and design.

From there, my portfolio afforded me the opportunity to move into a full time graphic design position at a large home decor wholesaler- one of the biggest in the world. There, I learned to fine-tune my skills, and to adapt to a fast-paced corporate environment. The hectic, constantly changing position was one I grew to enjoy. But I knew that without a degree I could only go so far.

That's when a new opportunity came knocking. After my wife Lisa and I were married in 2004, she became a full-time instructor at Cuyahoga Community College. At that point, she convinced me to try a couple of courses in their VISCOM program. I was instantly hooked, and with the rush of being a student again, I knew I finally had to finish what I had started years ago. I left my job and my wife took on extra classes to get us by.

The administration at Tri-C made it an easy transition, working with me to essentially plan my own course of study. Based upon the strength of my portfolio, my credit from UA, and my work experience, I was able to complete my degree in one short, albeit extremely intense, year.

Coming back to school after such a long time away was a truly wonderful experience. The knowledge I gained and the people I came to know are invaluable. And I know that my work is now at a much higher level than it ever has been.

In my senior high school yearbook, I stated that I ultimately wanted to end up in advertising, a dream that has become a reality. In January 2006, I became a full-time Multimedia Designer at Ashby Dillon Advertising in Rocky River, Ohio, a job that I absolutely love. It allows me to use the full gamut of my skills on a daily basis and provides me with a highly challenging and rewarding environment... the kind in which I thrive.

September 2007 brought a new chapter to my life as Lisa and I welcomed our daughter Aven into the world. It's all about her now... she really completes our family and provides plenty of comic relief along the way. We love her so much.

So that's me in a nutshell. Artist by day, rock star at night, dad all the time. Who could ask for anything more?