When I tell someone what I do for a living I consistently get the same response. Somewhere in the neighborhood of, “that sounds really cool” or “wow, what a fun job!” and my reply is always that it is incredibly satisfying. Working in exhibition design, installation, and collections management really is awesome. The constantly changing nature of the challenges, the advancements of technology, and working with objects that describe the most intriguing aspects of what it is to be human are unparalleled. I get the chance every day to explore my creativity, organizational skills, and ability to communicate ideas. I would describe my work as playful yet rigorous. In the galleries, I try to create environments that allow art to effectively tell its story and viewers to effortlessly enjoy it. Behind the scenes, much as with exhibitions, my focus is on safety, accessibility, and efficiency. The whole reason I’m in this field is my love for creativity so I try to give myself and my staff plenty of room for the exploration of ideas, materials, and processes. Collaboration and communication are key components to my style of working and I try to foster an environment where the exchange of ideas can progress into excellence. I focus on meticulous planning and preparation, not with the expectation that things will go exactly as planned, but with the idea that the more thought I’ve put into a project in advance, the more room I’ll have for adaptation and a continually improving standard of quality. I have 20 years of experience in museums preceded by a lifetime of working with my hands (and brain) in ways very relevant to what I do now. I’ve worked in construction, museum security, operations, registration, collections management, as an artist, a preparator and a designer. When I’m not at work I spend much of my time encouraging the creativity of my daughters, painting portraits or roaming other cultural institutions. I’m on a constant quest to improve myself, the way I see the world, and the things I produce.