So many people have asked me lately to write a post about where I went to school, and the design path that was given to me throughout my career. The biggest thing I would say is my willingness to do just about anything and everything is what has allowed me the experiences that I have had. I really don’t like talking about all the gigs I have done, but I have no problem sharing the information and bragging on the people who helped mold and make me who I am today.

Let me start by saying I went to Glencoe High School in Hillsboro Oregon. It was a fairly large theatre program with a full proscenium space (approximately 80′ wide by 40′ deep). There were also right around 25 linesets (if my memory serves me right…but I could be wrong LOL). I was taught how to hang my first light in 9th grade by a man named Dwayne Thomas. At the time he worked for a company called Superior Lighting, they were then bought by Hollywood Lights in Portland Oregon. Dwayne now owns his own design firm called Green Light Creative and if you are looking for design or event solutions in the Northwest I would definitely recommend checking him out.

Anyway, back to High School, We did one major Drama and one major Musical a year. My teacher was Janine Stassens and she was amazing. It was cool to have a teacher who used to be a nun in her younger years. We had a great time and I found myself very involved with technical theatre and also acting onstage as well. Some of my closest friends were from the fine arts groups in High School and I have amazing memories with them.Not the least of which was when I was supposed to be in a show, but after not listening to my director and going downhill skiing I ran lights for “Anything Goes” my Junior year. I pretty much focused on lighting from that point on.

I decided on College very late, and decided to go to George Fox University in Newberg Oregon. I really thought I was being called to go into Elementary Education. Or should I say, I knew my passion was lighting but I didn’t know I could make a career out of it. This is where my real serious training began. I studied under Derrick Johnson who was a professor that was brought in to change the program at Fox. He is a visionary and is known all around the world for his work. Something you would know him for is Candle Light at Epcot, he was one of the arrangers for the music. Also he was the creator of voices of liberty at Epcot. Under his tutelage I was taught that it was ok to dream, it was ok to think big and to ALWAYS think outside of the box. He was an amazing mentor and still is a major part of my life.

I also had some amazing mentors who helped me in my journey at George Fox that I will never forget. Mel Schroder was an amazing technical director who has retired now, but he is a great man of God who taught me that I need to be much more patient and there is always a price to how hard I push in regards to my career. Never has a man been so patient with me as I was growing in the beginning part of my career. He was an INCREDIBLE designer, and probably one of the most humble person when it comes to his design talent. We would consistantly learn new things almost daily about him and his career path that we would not have previously known had we not pry’d just a little bit =- )

The second person who had amazing impact on me was Dr Jo Lewis. She was the artistic Director at George Fox and let me say that she was definitely the one who pushed me to a high level of execution. She pushed me to be my best for her shows and she never allowed me to settle for anything less than my very very best. She constantly kept me humble and she never let me forget that I had much more to learn. I appreciated this from her and I thank God that she was in my life.

Beyond this my career really took off. I continued to try and remember the following:

1. Never let your Ego control you (I learned this especially once I started working for my current job at the church)

2. Once I learned that God was in control and my career doesn’t matter, that’s when things really started going well.

3 .Be willing to do absolutely anything. This was really hard for me because I like lighting, but if you have to watch kids because there is a need…then do it.

4. The most important one by far is…be willing to share the knowledge I have with the next generation of lighting designers. Don’t hold back…and make it my goal to help them be better than me.

I of course can’t miss some of the great people that are in my current job!! Jon Marks has been an inspiration and has really been patient in guiding me in the world of how churches work and one of my closest friends who has always stood by my side. Scott Link and the rest of the technical team here consistently keeps me humble and on my toes to push to be the best I possibly can. David Uth is one of the reasons I still work in a church. I found myself ready to leave the church world after two years. His first words to me were literally “I hear you’re thinking about leaving”. After I reponded that I was he said ‘ I hope you will give me a chance’. I am sure glad I did because it’s been an incredible journey that has taken me all over the world. When my life seemed to turn upside down, ths church was here for me, and the members surrounded me. To you all at First Baptist Church Orlando, I truly thank you and I am so thankful that God has used you to touch my life. The students that I work with have educated me as much as I have them, and I am so proud of each and every one of you. A special thank you to Keith and Jackie Harmon…even though you are no longer here at FBCO God used your ministry to help pull me out of some of the darkest days of my life.

As you can see, this post has very little to do with me, but those that God has surrounded me with. My successes are a direct result of others believing me in and God guiding me through it all. So that’s it for now. I hope this gives you a little insight on the path that I have taken and how God has blessed me and my career…and more importantly the people who have been there to help me along the way.