My production work started in TV news, moved to commercials and rock videos, theatricals and made-for-TV movies. I was Production Coordinator on Purple Rain, the movie, and then moved into producing historical documentaries.

How many years have you been a judge?

5+ years

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

Seeing new images and ways of editing is the most interesting thing about judging.

What was your first job in the industry?

My first job in the industry was organizing and permitting scenes for a small independent feature’s shoot in a park.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

I’m most proud of writing and directing five Holocaust Survivor Stories currently used for Holocaust Education in the Upper Midwest.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

The most challenging part of my work is being sure I understand what the client wants.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Excellence is in the details of shooting and editing…getting a point across quickly.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

Currently I’m producing a play, which requires far different skills from working in video.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

Talking to anyone and everyone, traveling, roaming bookstores spark my creativity.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

In my career I sought out constant change in environment and working with smart people.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

The biggest change in the TV and film industry is the constant change in technology, whether the advent of stedicam or AI.