I didn’t grow up in a creative agency. I grew up in Maine — hunting, fishing, skiing, and spending most of my time outdoors. That lifestyle taught me early on to pay attention: to small details, to quiet moments, to the things people overlook. I didn’t realize it then, but that awareness would become the foundation of my work as a storyteller.

At 19, I got the opportunity of a lifetime: joining OriginUSA right as the company was entering massive growth. I walked into a factory that wasn’t just making products—it was buying buildings, reopening mills, hiring local people, and breathing life back into American manufacturing. I had a camera in my hands and a front-row seat to something bigger than business.

My job was to document it all.

I spent years capturing craftsmen at their benches, founders in raw moments of stress and excitement, jiu-jitsu athletes on the mats, and everyday workers who were proud to be part of something real. That experience reshaped my understanding of storytelling. I learned that the most powerful content isn’t staged—it’s human. Emotion, honesty, and real people are what make a story worth watching.

That became my focus: highlight the human element, make people care, and show the heart of a brand, not just the product. And through that process, I learned the most important lesson of my career so far: brand is everything. A company’s success depends on the identity it builds, the trust it earns, and the way its audience feels when they see its story unfold.

Those four years at Origin were an intensive education in leadership, business, storytelling, and technical skill. I learned hard lessons about responsibility, deadlines, pressure, ego, and what it actually takes to build momentum behind a mission. It shaped me into who I am today—not just as a creator, but as a professional.

Since then, I’ve taken that foundation and applied it to new opportunities, working on projects with Leupold, DECKED, and the Travis Mills Foundation. No matter the industry, my approach stays the same: capture real people, tell honest stories, and create content that builds lasting connection.

I grew up in a factory, but more importantly, I grew up around purpose, grit, and people who believed in what they were building. That’s the same energy I bring into every project today.