I never expected to work in live sound and events—much less sports and television—but production has fascinated me since I was a kid. At theater shows, I spent more time looking at the lighting grid and PA system than the stage. By age twelve, my brother and I pooled our lawn-mowing money to build a basement studio, complete with a light truss, par cans, a sound system, and a 12-channel mixer. Most of my free time went into configuring and reconfiguring the signal flow, sparking a lifelong curiosity about how things work behind the scenes.
That curiosity carried me into college, where I studied Music Production at McNally Smith School of Music in St. Paul. I enjoyed the mix of talented musicians and well-equipped studios, but I soon realized that recording alone wasn’t a sustainable career path. After graduating, I took on odd jobs—including driving for Lyft and doing door-to-door sales—before landing an opportunity mixing at Westwood Church. Through connections there, I was introduced to live corporate events and live music, where I discovered the combination of technical challenge, fast pace, and rewarding work I had been looking for.
As I dug deeper into live production, I wanted to understand not just how to use the gear, but how it worked. My mentor, Mike Brown, encouraged me to pursue the CCNA certification, opening the door to the networking side of the industry. That experience helped me “open the black box” of IP and develop a new level of technical confidence. Around the same time, Mike introduced me to the world of sports TV broadcasting, where I began working as an A2. I immediately connected with the intensity and complexity of broadcast audio.
Eager to keep learning, I started shadowing A1s to absorb their process and skills. Eventually, I took on my first A1 broadcast show—a complex production that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It wasn’t perfect, but it was an invaluable learning experience. Since then, I’ve focused on building my confidence and taking on shows I know I can execute well.
Today, I’m enjoying the challenge of mixing college hockey and other local sports broadcasts, while continuing to grow as an A1. What keeps me engaged is the blend of technical depth, problem-solving, and collaboration that live production demands. Whether it’s corporate events, music, or television, I’m motivated by the constant opportunity to learn, adapt, and deliver great results under pressure.