Meet the Board Members

Describe your background and career.

Born in DC. I grew up mostly in Omaha. I came up through lived experience more than a straight academic path. I attended college for engineering, but my real education came from building, failing, listening, and learning in real time. I founded Surreal Media Lab over two decades ago, and my career has spanned visual storytelling, branding, film, photography, and strategic media work. Over the years I’ve worked with artist, nonprofits, businesses, civic leaders, and cultural institutions, often serving as a creative director who helps translate complex ideas into stories people can actually feel and understand.

Describe a meaningful moment from your career in visual arts and media.

One of the most meaningful moments wasn’t a big award or a headline. It was realizing that a story we told helped someone feel seen for the first time. Whether it was a nonprofit client finding its voice or a community member seeing themselves reflected with dignity, that moment confirmed why I do this work. Visual media has the power to shift perception, and once you see that happen up close, it changes how you approach everything.

What type of arts do you like to be involved in or continue to support?

I’m drawn to arts that center people and culture. Film, photography, storytelling, performance, and multidisciplinary work that blends history, identity, and modern expression. I especially support artists and creators who are rooted in community and using their work to challenge narratives, preserve culture, or imagine new futures. I also care deeply about creating access for emerging artists who may not see a clear path into creative careers.

Why are the arts essential in sharing one’s cultural background with others?

Art speaks where language sometimes fails. It carries memory, history, pain, joy, and pride in ways that data and policy never can. The arts allow people to share who they are without asking permission. They build bridges, create empathy, and help others understand lived experience beyond stereotypes or surface-level exposure.

 Please share anything else you would like about yourself.
Much of my lifestyle  work is informed by my upbringing and the communities that shaped me. Growing up in a mixed, working-class neighborhood taught me early on how culture, class, and access intersect. Family, community, and mentorship have played an impactful role in my life, and I see my work as a way to give back by opening doors, creating platforms, and helping the next generation find their voice and their agency.