My educational background is in marketing and printing, and it’s an excellent foundation for the value and skill set I’ve built since college. I’m an avid reader and enjoy a variety of topics, from psychology to marketing, history, and fiction. All the genres expand my interest and understanding of what I do professionally. To be candid, what I’ve learned and experienced in the real world far outweighs the traditional learning to achieve the degrees.
I did not specialize in any one area of creative services and marketing. As a generalist, I found it more satisfying to gain experience in graphic design, photography, copywriting, and WordPress. I started in a printing plant’s shipping and receiving department, eventually working up to the prepress department. It was a union shop, and I was ultimately allowed to work in five different journeymanships. After 15 years, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and took a position with a commercial trade printer. I taught myself desktop publishing and built up enough of a client base to start Mediarail.
New challenges inspire rather than intimidate me, whether it’s a new discipline or marketing in a new industry. Some clients prefer someone who has worked in their category, but I’m afraid I have to disagree. Bringing a fresh approach is a catalyst for finding a creative solution that may not have been considered in the past.