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After graduating form Moline Senior High School in 1984, I briefly attended Western Illinois State University. When my father retired from John Deere in 1985, my parents and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Here I attended and graduated from Dekalb Community College (Now Georgia Perimeter College), in Dunwoody, Georgia. Afterwords, I went on to graduate with honors from Georgia State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Film Studies. While there, I was inducted into the "Golden Key National Honor Society" in 1990 and received three "Outstanding Scholarship Awards." I also studied in England at the Lichester Polytechnic Institute, the BBC and TV Granada, where I interned on the long running series "All Creatures Great and Small."
After graduation, I began working as an Account Executive and Creative Director for a small Low Power station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Here I was a One-Man-Band; selling, writing, producing and often staring in local productions and commercials. While in Murfreesboro, I was asked by Middle Tennessee State University's Dr. Eliot Pood to participate in the new graduate communication program. After working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for 3-years, I was among the first three to graduate with a Masters of Science in Communication Management from the program in 1995.
With an advanced management degree, I went on to have an exciting career as a Producer and Manager for several television stations in the southeastern United States. Working as an Account Executive for WOWL in Florence, Alabama; an On-air Promotion Manager for WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama; and finally culminating with a position as the Senior Creative Producer with WSMV in Nashville, Tennessee. It was at this time, while at WSMV, I began teaching part-time at MTSU.
After winning several awards for excellence in writing and producing, I found the industry to be more and more about the business and less about the show. It was then I took a position at The University of Tennessee's Center for Industrial Services in Nashville, as the Marketing, Public Relation and Advertising Manager. During this time, I continued teaching as an Adjunct Professor and Instructor for MTSU, and began teaching at Motlow State Community College and Columbia State Community College.
In 2008, I took the leap into teaching full time by accepting a Senior Lecturer position at MTSU. There I taught everything from media writing to graphic design and lay-out in the School of Journalism, to nearly every broadcasting course offered in the Electronic Media Department. I have also lectured at Austin Peay State University and The University of North Alabama. I have consulted and advised Volunteer State Community College, developing two complete broadcast production courses in compliance with the Tennessee Transfer Pathway Initiative.
In 2014, I accepted a 1-year position at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. I was asked back for a second-year. In this position I taught public speaking, public relation writing and public relations research courses. After retuning to MTSU for the 2016-2017 academic year, VSU once again asked if I could return to teach Adobe and PR skills courses.
In my spare time, I run a small consulting and advising service out of my home. Focusing on fresh college graduates through experienced market 30 job seakers in Radio and Television. I offer Voice Over work to Radio & Television Stations and Production Houses nationwide.
Finally, I enjoy the quiet life in my home area of Nashville, Tennessee with my wife Tonya (MTSU Distance Education Coordinator) and 2-children Logan and Zachary. My family and I enjoy being debt free, snow skiing, visiting the Gulf Shores area, family and friends in Middle Tennessee.
