Andrew
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: My job? You’re reading it! Plus, I handle bulletins, websites, Facebook pages, videos, worship livestreams, posters, banners, and A/V requests. I’ve even been known to run (in a very safe manner) across rooftops and climb through ceilings when needed.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? It’s hard to say what prepared me most for my work as Director of Communications and Media. My arts degree from Columbia College in Chicago certainly provided a foundation in graphics and film production – but we used 16mm film back then and things have changed a lot. My time at the front desk of the Elms Hotel taught me a great deal about working with a wide range of people (and how to deal with emergencies like building fires in the middle of the night.) I’m sure that my time as a UAW assembly line worker, Stanley Steemer carpet cleaner, building manager, and in-home sales rep helped as well. Of course, the 11 years I spent as a media producer and project manager at the American Bible Society in New York was relevant to much of what I do today. I’m not sure whether my time at Movies To Go or Watt’s Woodcrafting are relevant, but they were definitely interesting jobs!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? Any day I get to dress our Children’s Director Stanley in a silly costume to make a video is a good day. But, my favorite part of the job is seeing new people connecting with the church and knowing I played a part in reaching out to them and bringing them together with this wonderful church family.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: I have been happily married to my wife Ellen since we exchanged vows at the Hargis Retreat Chapel in 2003. We have 2 daughters, Maizie (12) and Emma (10), who seem to be growing up faster every day. We live in Bluff Park and have an entire closet in our house dedicated to storing crafting/creative project supplies—and the rest of the stuff that doesn’t fit in that closet is stashed all over the house wherever we can find space.
FAVORITE THING TO DO AWAY FROM WORK? There are way too many interesting things in this world to have just one favorite. These days I garden, keep bees, build stuff, do home improvement projects, and run a few YouTube channels.