I graduated from Full Sail in 2000 with a degree in digital media and animation. This lead to a position as a paid intern with an advertising agency in my hometown of Sarasota.

I worked with an Addy-award-winning team. Our biggest account at the time was Arthur Anderson. Under the direction of our art director, I researched, sourced stock imagery, wrangled file storage and management, designed newspaper ads, negotiated with magazines, proofread and edited, and designed websites.

A more lucrative position with steady full-time hours opened up at a publishing company and I moved on.