WHEN & HOW I GOT MY START...
In 1959, when I was 11, Santa left me a new typewriter. My first project was a single-copy newsletter called The Daily Home.
The front page included info about my family's Christmas gift-giving. On the back, a list of the local (Detroit area) TV programs.
In 1960, 6th grade, I got a (rare for me) "A+" on a 6th grade history report that included a couple of drawings I'd done of King Charlemange, Up until then, I had no idea I could draw. I amazed myself at how well they'd turned out. From then on, I began to draw more and more.
During four years of art at Regina High School (Harper Woods MI),
I won several awards, one of them a Scholastic Art Award.
After high school, I attended classes at the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts (now the Center for Creative Arts). In 1973, when I moved to Atlanta, I attended the Atlanta College of Art.
MY CAREER
Two years with J. Walter Thompson Detroit in public relations
Five years as Graphic Arts Manager for Hyatt Regency Atlanta
and co-editor of the employee newsletter.
Five years with Diamond's (now Dillards) as a Retail Trainer, then
as Communications Specialist.
Eight years with Broadway Southwest (now Macy's) as an
Advertising Designer and Production Manager.
In 1986, while working fulltime for Broadway Southwest, I formed Parallel Productions, a part-time, homebased picture frame and poster business. During that time, I invented a unique CD and
video storage cabinet I called Behind The Scenes Storage Frames. (Sorry, they're not currently in production.) After eight successful years of framing for more than 200 customers, I sold the business
in 1994.
In 1992, I co-founded the HomeBased Business Association of Arizona ("HBBA") and served as its president, catering specifically
to entrepreneurs who were running their businesses from their homes. At its peak, HBBA's membership reached nearly 225. I was also the publisher and editor of the association newsletter and annual directory, a frequent guest speaker and seminar leader, and a monthly columnist for the Arizona Business Gazette.
In 1998, HBBA's membership was merged with the Arizona Small Business Association, and the Home Business Council was formed.
It was then that I returned to the corporate world with Bowne of Phoenix, a world-wide financial printing company, where I have a great job with numerous benefits -- the best of which is a 4-day work week that allows me to work on my own creative projects, one of which is...
Home of "You Know You're From Detroit If..."
For more information on my Detroit and St. Clair Shores, Michigan connections, click here.
I've lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 1979 and can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. It's a beautiful state. My two adult children, Marchelle and Todd, and their families live in Altadena and Hollywood CA.
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