It all started with a mop. 

Back when I was in high school, I always wanted to be a cashier at SportsTown USA. However, the only job that was available at the time was the “Maintenance Specialist,” or to put it bluntly, “Janitor.” 

I took the Janitor position because I wanted them to see that I wasn’t afraid to scrub toilets, and I had hoped they would eventually promote me to cashier.

They did. 

Six months later, I was counting back change and selling Nikes to the masses. 

Because of my job as a Janitor, my life has been filled with many incredible experiences…all happening for a reason...

• Merchandise Host (twice...yes, there’s a good story here) on the Walt Disney World College Program…where I learned perseverance, how to have too much fun, and where I met my wife.

• Volunteered at Give Kids the World and Make-A-Wish…where I discovered how to bring a smile to the faces of those who need it most.

• Found my calling as a creative and artistic dude through the Creative Advertising program at The University of  Texas at Austin. Deb Morrison was my professor and introduced me to the creative sequence because of that College Program mishap. She had such an incredible influence on my life and helped shape the person I am today. We are still friends.

• “Vendeur du Magasin” at Disneyland Paris…where I learned French, adapted to a new culture and way of life, gave birth to my travel bug, and discovered how wonderful it can be to leave your comfort zone.  

• Graphic Designer/Art Director for two small ad agencies in Texas….where I learned the basics of creating ads, how to “clobber big-city prices,” and how to get a 300-pound pro football player to properly say “Isuzu.”

• Art Director at Colby and Partners/Dentsu America in Los Angeles…where I conceptualized with the best in the business, learned the ins and outs of the ad biz, and grew professionally like never before. Not only did I sell many concepts to numerous clients, but I also made lifelong friends along the way.

• Brought new leadership, fresh ideas, Texas BBQ, and $10,000 worth of scholarships to the University of Texas Los Angeles Alumni Group as Vice President and Scholarship Director. 

• Discovered Hawai’i, how to chill properly, and live with Aloha. 

• Completely transformed the API Study Abroad brand as the Creative Director…where I created a cohesive identity and inspired thousands of students to explore, learn, and live with the world.    

• Chaperoned and led groups of high school students on three study abroad programs in Salamanca, Spain, and Paris, France…where I learned patience and helped give Americans a broader perspective of the world. 

• Adjunct Instructor at the University of Oregon... where I inspired and mentored more than 200 students by leading Art Director/Designer Bootcamps, providing crash-course seminars on art direction, graphic design, color theory, composition, and typography.

• Senior Art Director/Graphic Designer at the University of Southern California...where I have elevated the art direction and design of 100+ creative projects for the USC Alumni Association and USC Advancement. During my time at USC, I have used my skills in art direction, concepting, layout and design, photo retouching, motion graphics, and video editing to strengthen every project I've touched.

Funny how life works. A mop got me my first opportunity. Everything that followed…from Disney to Paris, from advertising to higher education, from travel to teaching…started because I was willing to take the job nobody else wanted. I have no idea where the journey leads next, but if the past has taught me anything, it’s that the best adventures often begin with saying “yes”…or “oui”…to an unexpected opportunity.