HERE AT YOUR SERVICE.

My creative passion bloomed early on as a child. You could catch me trying to emulate Steven Spielberg movies in my backyard with the home camcorder or tinkering and modding an old flight simulator game on my Indigo iMac. I knew from a young age that whatever I did in life ⁠— whether it was designing, filming, animating or shooting ⁠— if included the opportunity to create something I would be happy. So far, twelve-year-old Sean was right.

Luckily, my creative pathway has been a rich one, even if it’s taken me in directions I couldn’t have imagined at the outset. Early in my career I found my fulfillment teaching the same creative skills that I was eager to learn to younger students. Specifically, I designed and taught cutting edge online technology courses such as Minecraft programming with Java, video game design with Unity, 3D printing & modeling, and 3D animation. It was quite rewarding to empower students and provide them the same tools and instruction I desperately looked for as a child. 

After a few company mergers and buyouts I was ready to leave the startup culture to settle down and start a family. I was luckily enough to use my wide ranging multimedia skills to help the Peace Corps develop their online learning content for posts across the world. I took the same award winning formula that worked for kids and applied that same energy to adults.

To keep my creative muscles in shape, I continue to accept freelance projects. I enjoy working with different clients and stretching my skills into areas where I might not usually dive into. These project have included wedding photography, graphic design, and video production. You can see an assortment of my most recent projects in the portfolio section.

EXPERIENCE

Multimedia Specialist | Peace Corps | 2022 - Present

Senior Instructional Designer | Apex Learning / Edmentum | 2019 - 2022

During the COVID pandemic online education exploded and rapidly expanded the industry. One of the impacts of this change was the merging of Apex Learning into Edmentum. My role as a senior instructional designer included supporting the legacy Technology courses from Youth Digital and translating these courses into Apex’s platform for the public school sector. I was also tasked into developing standard aligned computer science courses for CA, SC, NV, and MD schools. I wrote and edited content for Computer Science Essentials, designed code samples, created art assets, and collaborated with instructional designers, copy editors, and a multimedia specialist.

Youth Digital / Apex Learning | 2012 - 2018

As one of the first few early employees of a small startup, I wore many hats. I was recruited in the company’s infancy for my 3D design and teaching skills, which we used to expand our course portfolio.  Over the years, I helped create cutting-edge online & in-person technology courses for kids ages 8-14, including skills as varying as computer programming and fashion design. I loved getting my hands dirty and diving into new roles quickly to help us rapidly become a leader in online technology courses.

All told, I helped develop, design and teach online technology courses to over 100,000 Youth Digital students. As a part of the products department I worked closely with multiple teams to help design course technology and project assets for students alongside serving as the primary instructor for 3D Game Design, Animation, and 3D printing and Modeling courses

In 2018, Youth Digital was sold to Apex Learning, where I worked as a Senior Instructional Designer, working to translate the technology courses I helped build to Apex’s larger platform and into school settings.  This transition offered me the opportunity to scale up the skills I had honed in a startup setting to a national online education context.  

Senior Instructional Designer

Focus on the market needs and the learner experience to ensure Apex Learning's Technology courses support student learning and promote positive student outcomes. Appeared as on-screen teacher in video lessons, including live action & screencaptures. Recorded & edited lessons, quizzes, & challenges for the course.

Lead Designer

Managed multiple artist and animators to deliver a slick polished aesthetic for our course assets. Provided clear art/design direction by producing conceptual work. Worked with developers to ensure seamless integration of assets. Worked within an agile workflow by utilizing JIRA to deliver assets on time and under budget.

Multimedia Designer

Created 3D models and game assets within Unity, OWL, and Blender that could be utilized by students easily. Designed promotional content used by our marketing & products team for campaigns and retail channels.

Video Editor

Edited course videos using Adobe Premiere, After Effects and Blender. Incorporated footage, dialogue, sound effects, music, graphics, and special effects together to convey an engaging instructional videos for students.

C3 Cyber Club | 2007 - 2012

In this startup company, I was responsible for developing the educational technology program for students in Kindergarten- 8th grade.  My role quickly evolved as I became the Head of our Educational Technology program, where I designed our in-house courses which we later modified for the public-school sector. We reached into over 50 schools in the Tri-State area (Northern VA, MD & DC), developed technology classes for After School Programs, and Summer Camps for upwards of 2500 students a year.

Head of Educational Technology

Led the research for new courses, and evaluated the potential & practicality of courses in a public school environment. Responsible for a team of 45 - 50 technology teachers, Set standards in training, education, and design. Mentored new teachers and district managers and provided onsite training. Coordinated logistical operations with our technology team to provide hardware/software for our public-school classes.

Lead Multimedia Designer

Created the visual style and messaging of the company. Developed in-house marketing content for online, video, print and motion graphics. Mentored new designers and oversaw marketing campaigns

Curriculum Developer

Broke down high-level content & concepts into step-by-step curricula & assessments. Developed Game Design, 3D Modeling/Animation, Graphic Design and Film Making curricula.

Technology Teacher

Taught technology courses for students ages K - 8th grade. Taught Film Making, Game Design, 3D Modeling/Animation, and Graphic Design. My Film Making class was awarded a Shorty Award in 2009 for the "Attack of the C3 Monster".

EDUCATION

Art Institute of Washington | Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation | 2002 - 2006

Concentration in 3D Modeling & Animation. Relevant coursework included Film Making, Photography, Web Design, and Graphic Design. My artwork was displayed at SIGGRAPH for the Art Institute’s Best of Class category. Dean’s List, 3.4 GPA.

ACHIEVEMENTS

FAA Part 107 Drone License | January 2022

Licensed and registered through the Federal Aviation Administration to provide commercial drone photography/videography services.

Film Finalist | “Nintendo Shortcuts” Film Contest | June 2007

Created and filmed a short 5 minute Nintendo themed film which was ranked in the top 10 among a nationwide film contest. My film was premiered at The Rockefeller Center and later was used in the opening presentation of Nintendo’s 2007 E3 Press Conference.

Film Award | Myspace/Nintendo “How Wii Play Contest” | September 2006

Created and filmed a 30 second Nintendo Wii commercial which came in first place in the nationwide film contest viewed by over 20,000 people. This contest was hosted by Myspace and Nintendo to help promote the new Nintendo Wii marketing campaign.

FREELANCE PROJECTS

Graphic Design Project | Kendon Smith Lecture Series | 2023

Designed the Kendon Smith Lecture Series flyer for the Psychology department at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). This 300+ event brought internationally renowned experts from across the United States to discuss youth culture and development in the digital age.

Video Editor | 2022

Worked with K2 Productions to edit promotional video content for High Point University. Worked within Adobe Premiere and After Effects to deliver content for broadcast to national and local markets.

Wedding Photography | 2022

Shot and edited two separate weddings in North Carolina and Virginia. Over 1,500 of photos were processed and edited.

Video Editing Project | Parenting Adolescents Today Video | 2018

The Center for Developmental Science (CDS) contacted me to edit old video footage of their top researchers discussing whether traditional theories about parenting adolescents were in need of revision for the current millennium. The results of their work are featured in a special issue in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

3D Modeling | Laptop Stand | 2018

I worked closely with Hayats LLC to design a laptop stand that would be manufactured and sold to partners across the globe. My job was to rapidly create 3D prototype designs that fit the dimensions and requirements needed to create a 3D print and eventually be sent off to manufactures.

Video Filming/Editing Project | Machine Learning Video | 2016

For this project, I filmed an interview style research proposal for Dr. Mikey Jensen from the Interactions Relationship Laboratory (IRL) I shot and edited a brief introduction video into a research project that applies machine learning algorithms to text message communications to better understand social development in adolescence.

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