Sharing a little about myself...
Values
Before diving into leadership or work style, I believe it’s important to start with values—because leadership and work habits are really just extensions of what we believe and how we choose to show up. 
I was raised in Northeast Ohio by good, decent parents and grandparents, and I carry with me a deep sense of Midwestern values: hard work, fairness, and respect for everyone, regardless of title or status. 
I believe in doing the right thing simply because it’s the right thing—not for recognition or reward. Whether you’re in a good mood or not, or whether a raise is on the table or not, you show up, do the work, and give good value because that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Inefficiency and waste make me cringe.
I believe integrity should be baked into every part of business—from the small details to the big decisions. Say what you do, but do what you say.
In business negotiations and transactions, if everyone doesn’t win, then no one wins. Being a strategic and shrewd business professional is important, but not at the expense of fleecing partners, employees, and/or customers. 
At the core of who I am is my faith. I’m a follower of Christ. I know the word “Christian” carries weight, and I also know there have been times when Christians—including myself—haven’t lived up to the ideals we profess. I, and we, have to own up to sometimes being less than Christ-like. But acknowledging where I fall short helps me strive to be better: to lead with humility, to respect others who are different from me or disagree with me, to honor my word, to collaborate rather than dictate, and to support and edify the people I work with. 

This is me filming at the Arizona Capitol during a lobby day—somewhere around 2011 to 2013. The tripod I'm using looks like it could've been a cereal box prize, and that black arm phone holder? Total throwback. Definitely old school.

LEADERSHIP
Leadership is one of those words that gets thrown around often, but in the process, it sometimes loses its meaning. So, I’d like to take a moment to share what leadership means to me. At its core, I don’t believe leadership comes from a title on a business card—it’s an attitude and a way of showing up.
I believe everyone has the potential to lead, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone is a leader.
The leadership style I aspire to is best illustrated in John 13 of the Bible: Christ washing the disciples' feet. That image has always resonated with me. True leadership, as Christ demonstrated, is about serving others. While there are many different styles of leadership, I’ve found the most impactful leaders are those who prioritize service and support above all else.
Beyond service, I believe empathy is a cornerstone of strong leadership—something I’ve aimed to embody when managing creative teams. I believe good leaders consider challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives, not just their own.
I also try to lead by example—being the first one in, the last one out, and consistently showing that every team member is valued. I believe the best way to bring out the best in people is to ensure they feel heard, respected, and secure in their roles.
EQ is as important as IQ.
Results matter—I get that. But I also believe a leader’s true effectiveness is equally measured by whether those they've managed would willingly choose to work with them again. I will always have leadership skills on which to improve, but I am betting almost all of the creative professionals I’ve led over the years would be open to teaming up again.
Personality type plays a big role in how someone leads, so I’ve taken the time to understand mine. 
I’m an INFJ—a diplomat and an advocate. Nelson Mandela, MLK, Mother Teresa, and Aragorn from 'The Lord of the Rings,' are listed as INFJs. So is Lady Gaga, but I am still wrestling with that one :)
If you’re unfamiliar with that personality type, the breakdown on 16personalities.com offers a pretty accurate snapshot of what makes us tick.

Using that resource (and a little help from AI), I came across the following summary of an INFJ’s leadership style. I didn’t write this, but I believe it captures my approach well—and I think the creative professionals I've managed over the years would agree:

“INFJs lead with purpose and a strong sense of what truly matters. They’re not the loudest person in the room, but they care deeply about the people they work with and the impact their team is making. They lead by example—through integrity, empathy, and a clear vision of where things are headed. Creating an environment where others feel heard and supported is important to them, and they believe trust and meaningful communication go a long way in bringing out the best in a team.”

I love this photo that my stepdad snapped at Christmas. This is the first time I held my own camera: the X50 Magimatic—wow, that's old school. My brother is looking to get a piece of the action, maybe try out the camera, but it wasn't quite ready to let it go at that point. To be fair, the first photo I ever took was of my brother kneeling behind a toy firetruck. I thought I was making history.

WORK STYLE
My workstyle is a blend of structure and creativity—Dad was a CPA and a left-brained, methodical thinker. My mom was an artist and antique collector who was creative and right-brained. I’d like to think I am a good blend of the two of them.
I thrive in environments where I can collaborate across departments toward a shared goal, but I also value the quiet focus of working independently. 
I’ve played team sports since I was young, so being a reliable teammate and putting the group first comes naturally to me. I find the most fulfillment when I’m generating meaningful ideas and seeing them through to completion. 
Being late and/or missing deadlines makes me nervous. 
I’m deeply curious and continuously explore ways to work smarter, especially through the use of AI. I invest time every week experimenting with new tools and approaches to be more efficient. It's play time for me. That said, while I’ve integrated AI into my workflow, I am not held hostage by it. I am old school and have already learned how to analyze, think critically, create, write, edit, design, create proposals—all of the things AI can assist with. 
AI hiccups and has hallucinations, so simply relying on it without discernment and experience is a mistake. I can leverage AI to its fullest, but I come behind it and verify the results are helpful and accurate (just as I did with this section of text).

I wanted to wrap up this "About Me" section by highlighting two sides of who I am: focus and fun—with a touch of humility. The first photo captures a moment while filming Dr. Hishaw and her son at a dental practice in Tucson. When it's time to work, I’m all in—and I think you can see that focus in my expression. I’ve even had people ask if I was upset while filming. Not at all. What they’re seeing isn’t frustration—it’s concentration. I genuinely love what I do, and when I’m behind the camera, I’m fully present.

The second photo was taken after a long day of shooting with dentists and dental students at the Renaissance Resort and Westgate Shopping Center in Glendale, AZ. Taking selfies isn’t exactly my thing, but it’s a reminder—to myself and hopefully to others—that while I take my work seriously, I try not to take myself too seriously. 

↑Back to Top