Hometown: Eastford, one of the best small towns to grow up in!
WA Class of: 2003
Currently Living in: Huntington Beach, California
Favorite WA memory: The people. The friendships I created and the teachers who helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m lucky to have a legendary group of friends I’ve known for more than 30yrs.
Favorite WA teacher: That’s easy, Mr. Smith (American History) along with a couple other classes and Mr. Parkinson which was multi-media and the class that influenced my passion in the Industry I’m in today. Special shout out to Mr. Anderson’s civics class!
After WA graduation: I attended the Art Institute and studied Video Production and Cinematography and ended up moving to California in 2005. Early in my career I worked at Brinker International who owned a handful of restaurant chains where I worked with mid and upper management focused on operations.
In 2009 I joined a startup technology company specializing in making 4K cinema cameras called RED Digital Cinema. I spent over ten years at RED where I focused on working with filmmakers and productions when the industry was transitioning from film-based workflows to digital. I helped create technology solutions to standardizing 4K and 3D workflows on films such as “Prometheus” “Underworld: Awakening” “Social Network”, “Book Of Eli” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. The last years at RED I spent overseeing Global Strategic Partnerships.
I became a recipient of the Scientific and Technology Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures in CMOS imaging technology, and an Associate Member of the American Society of Cinematographers and a member of the Visual Effects Society.
Life Today: Seven years ago, I joined the executive team at Netflix focused on Production Technology supporting a global slate of films and series. I’ve been happily married for almost 9yrs and I’m a father of two. When I’m not working and traveling, I’m out paddle boarding with my kids, hiking in the desert and I’m a volunteer lacrosse coach at Edison High School. Over the past two years I’ve led a team focused on Industry Relations and Partnerships focused on working to identify better production, VFX and post workflows, and advocating for new technology adoptions (HDR, Color Management, Virtual Production) while helping create open-source resources with industry organizations such as the ASC, VES and SMPTE. I’m also an active member of the Television Academy.
WA Take-away: My last “take-away” skill was being part of a team. Between the relationships I created on various sports teams at the Academy or the lifetime friendships I have created, it was built on a team mentality.
Advice for Future Centaurs: Take advantage of every opportunity WA gives you. Between educational programming, athletics and community, WA gives you an ability to build a network both personally and professionally that can last a lifetime.
