BIOGRAPHY:
I'm an award-winning filmmaker with two decades of experience in video production and millions of YouTube views to show for it. I'm a creative with a passion for storytelling, but I'm also a producer who builds the production workflows and digital strategies that maximize ROI on video performance.
WORK HISTORY:
MORNINGSTAR | May 2015 – Present
I lead end-to-end video and podcast production for Morningstar, including two flagship shows, Investing Insights and The Morning Filter, and managing both our Apple Podcasts and YouTube channels. I apply platform-specific best practices to drive an average of 2,000 new YouTube subscribers a month, alongside consistent month-over-month growth on Apple Podcasts. I work with editorial to incorporate off-platform success into a broader digital media strategy that strengthens the brand.
FORTIFIED FILMS | October 2022 – Present
Founding member and in-house director/producer at Fortified Films. I directed and produced the award-winning feature I Agree With You, made for $22,000 and shot over five days at a single location with a two-person cast and ten-person crew in August 2023. I coordinated post-production across editing, color, and sound, delivering a completed film by June 2024. During the festival run in 2025, the film earned Best Feature at the Lake Michigan Film Festival, Royal Starr Film Festival, and Sheboygan Film Festival, plus Best Director and Audience Favorite at the Grand Rapids Film Festival.
ENVOY GLOBAL IMMIGRATION | August 2013 – April 2015
I wrote, shot, and edited videos that simplified the complexity of the U.S. immigration process for a general audience. I launched the company's YouTube channel, using SEO strategy to position it as an educational resource on U.S. immigration and build brand awareness. I also partnered with the marketing team to conceive video concepts and shape social media release strategy.
EDUCATION:
Columbia College Chicago (2005-2008) Bachelor of Arts in Film and Video
MEDIA APPEARANCES:
13 On Your Side - West Michigan native debuts feature film
Fox 17 Morning Mix - Muskegon's Cinema Carousel to Screen Award-Winning Indie Film
The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - How to Make a Microbudget Movie