Theater is an exciting social medium that brings together some of most creatively brilliant people around the world. Theater both inspires and critically challenges the status quo, bringing to light questions that make society stop and reflect upon itself.I am an award winning, ETCP Certified, theater and lighting industry veteran with over 10 years of experience. Currently, I am the R&D Rigging Project Manager at ETC where I help to oversee the development of ETC’s latest generation of rigging products. As a theater professional, I hold dual certifications as an ETCP Entertainment Electrician and Theater Rigger. I am also the owner and founder of Stagewerks LLC, a theatrical design and technologies solution firm based out of Southwest Wisconsin. As the owner and operator of Stagewerks, I specialize in helping clients with dance lighting, theatrical lighting systems, architectural lighting systems, LED technology, concert lighting, event production, rigging, and rental services. I hold a Master of Fine Arts degree from UW-Madison in Theater Technology and was the 2013 winner of the KM Fabrics Technical Production Award through USITT as a result of my efforts in grad school. Some of my favorite moments in the industry are when you integrate lighting, sound, and scenic elements on the stage for the first time. There is something truly magical that happens in the space when all these pieces come together for the first time, like a breath of life that takes over the room. Outside of the theater industry, you can find me at my local fire station. I am a third-generation volunteer firefighter with Richland Center Fire Department where I have been serving for 14 years. I have also been involved in the movie exhibition business for over 30 years as my parents owned and operated the local movies theaters, which includes one of the few remaining drive-ins in Wisconsin. I have experience with operating and troubleshooting film and digital cinema systems through my time at the theaters. My experiences are quite diverse, and I find they really help give me a broad view of various entertainment markets in our world.