Making friends with a variety of people from different backgrounds and interests. Playing and being named a captain for various sports teams, participating in many activities/extracurriculars, and producing/hosting DSTN (DuBois Sports Talk Network)
Were there any teachers, coaches, or classes that had a lasting impact on you?
Lauren McLaughlin, Sam Bundy, Barry Gallagher, Rob Keith, Jason Shilala
What activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in as a student?
Football, Basketball, Track, Tennis, Volleyball, Student Council, National Honor Society, and Senior Video.
Tell us about your current career or professional role. What does a typical day look like for you?
As the Senior Manager, Creative Content for the Pittsburgh Steelers, I am heavily involved with all aspects of video production for the team's website, game day scoreboard presentation, and social media accounts. The work I do depends on the time of the year. The offseason consists of a lot of meetings, planning, storyboarding, and travel to different NFL events to capture content like the Pro Bowl, Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, NFL Annual Meetings, Pro Days, and The Draft. Training Camp and the Preseason consists more of shooting footage of players and coaches for all the features we're producing. The regular season consists of a lot more editing, but still shooting at every game and for certain special features documentary interviews, Color Rush/Throwback Uniform announcements, and holiday/community events.
What led you to pursue this career path?
My interest in playing sports started as a child and in middle/high school I began to enjoy using a camera to visually tell a story about a sport or a team.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I like to say that my videos give TLC: tears, laughs, or chills based on the goal of the video. Having the ability to make people feel a certain way or motivate them to learn or do something good is a great feeling as a video producer.
Have you received any recognitions, awards, or achieved milestones you're especially proud of?
Since 2019, I have won a regional Emmy and been nominated many times for other regional Emmys.
How did your experiences at the DuBois Area School District help prepare you for your career or further education?
I learned a lot in my time at DAHS, whether it was about academics, competing in sports, or being a positive member of my class/school. The work that the teachers/coaches put in for myself and my classmates was amazing, and I'm grateful to them for setting an example of what it takes to succeed in life.
If you could go back to high school, what goal-setting advice do you wish someone had given you?
If you think you are starting to go down the wrong path, seek others you trust for advice to more quickly get back on the right path.
How do you define success, and how has that definition evolved over time?
I think being successful is when you know that others can trust you. My wife, our kids, my friends, and coworkers can all trust me to do whatever is asked, and I worked hard to get to the place where that trust is warranted.
What skills or habits do you believe are most important for students to develop while they're in school?
Having a positive mindset and realizing there is always more than one way to look at a situation is very important. Working hard is great, but knowing when to rest is good too. The human body/mind can achieve much more than we think.
How do you stay connected to the DuBois Area School District community or give back to others?
I am always available to contact for advice or inspiration to any of the DASD students, my colleagues at Waynesburg University where I attended college, and anyone that has reached out to me over the years via LinkedIn, my website, etc. Since starting my Steelers job in 2013, I give a portion of each of my paychecks to the United Way. I am teaching my kids about donating and volunteering so that we can pursue a weekly routine of giving back via Special Olympics, United Way, etc.