What’s your backstory — how did you end up starting (or joining) an agency?

I went to college and got my degree in Mass Communication or Broadcasting.  I worked in Journalism, Television and Radio.  I found that radio is what seemed to appeal to me the most.  I worked in radio for nearly 25 years around 2017/2018 I found auditioning for voice work online was a possibility and I never looked back!  In 2018 I started my own business and started taking on clients.  I have done multiple audiobooks, animation, video games, commercial work, corporate narration,  apps and supplied voice work for a board game!  I was working for an agency in San Diego  supplying voice work for gas pump ads for a gas station chain.  When that job ended the head of that agency invited me to join a new agency that was starting in San Diego, CA.   Although this business is feast or famine I wouldn't give it up for anything!

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What was your first entrepreneurial moment as a kid or teen?

I grew up in an extremely rural midwestern town in north Missouri as a teen I started a lawn mowing business (with the help of my Dad).  We were mowing 25 yards a week at the peak of our mowing years.  This job taught me a lot about what it means to stick with a task and stand by your word!  It helped me purchase my first car before I headed to college!

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What’s a belief you’ve changed your mind about in the last 3 years?

Voice work or acting or whatever you would like to call this industry is not for the faint of heart!  The last 3 to 5 years has shown me that for every victory and job hire you gain you will receive many more rejections  and almost got 'em moments that can suck the wind out of your sails.  At the end of  2019 I was cast in an animated movie and then the pandemic killed the project.  It was one of the most difficult disappointments I've had since I started my business.  However, I kept in contact with the director and I ended up getting 2 audiobooks and a great friendship out of the deal.  What I've learned is to look for what can be gained out of any situation.  Truth is a loss is never really a loss!  What did you learn?  What relationships were gained?  What new skill or perspective did you gain that you can take into your next audition/job?

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When do you feel most energized at work?

The creative process is what energizes me the most!  Working with a great director is one of the things I look forward to the most.  To see a script from another perspective that I hadn't thought of before can bring a whole new element to the performance and produce a great product!

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What’s a day in your life really look like (no filters)?

Audition, Audition, Audition.  This is the grind!  But it is so much more than that!  My wife and I have 12 children, I help co-pastor a church and I manage a small radio station.  Finding time for everything is a HUGE challenge!  I do manage to audition for 30 to 40 projects a week.  I will go through cycles of getting many projects and then stretches of time that I may not be hired for much voice work at all.

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What’s one mistake you made early on that taught you something lasting?

I avoid certain projects in the voice work world that deal with adult content and profanity.  I was hired for a job to voice the main character for a video game and when I received the script I found out there was profanity in it (even though there was none in the audition script).  I did not disclose my desire to avoid profanity in my agreement.  I tried to work with the writing team to meet a compromise but they would not.  After that I made sure to update my agreement so everyone is on the same page when I do get hired for projects.  Since I have added that to my agreement I have been told that it helped sway some casting directors who like how 'bold I am in my convictions'.

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What do you do to recharge outside of work?

I am a movie buff/nerd and I love being home with my family.

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What’s your definition of “success” right now?

Every day I get to pursue my goals, walk in my faith and care for my family it is a successful day.

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What type of clients or projects are a 'no' for you?

As a talent I avoid projects I can't show to my kids.

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What’s a principle or value your agency lives by?

As a talent I strive to be fast!  Fast turn around for all projects, fast to respond to any question from a potential client or a current client and act with precision to minimize any errors from my side of the process.

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How do you foster creative thinking on your team?

As a talent when I consider a script I am always trying to visualize who am I talking to, who am I and why do I care about what I am saying.

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What’s one resource (book, podcast, etc.) that changed how you work?

Mindset The New Psychology of Success  by Carol S Dweck, PhD.

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Remote, hybrid, or in-office — what’s your ideal setup and why?

As a talent remote!  I have been so thankful for the technology that has brought an industry like this into my backyard in rural Missouri.  I would never of had an opportunity to work on the projects I have if not for the capabilities of technology in the last 5 to 8 years.

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What’s your favorite thing about being in this industry?

As a talent... Performing and Collaborating!  There is nothing like hearing the vision behind the script, directors and creators and then delivering a performance that can bring all those things together and have the project come to life!

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What is one (1) fact or statistic about your industry that most people don't know?

The voice-over industry is growing at an average of 9% a year.  That is the same as the online food and ordering and delivery industry!