Interview: Gary

Paper boy for the Coloradoan in Fort Collins, CO

What’s your favorite thing about being a dad? 
Snuggle time in the mornings, date nights with my oldest daughter and pool/beach time with my two crazy little girls.

How do you like your coffee? 
Black in the morning. Cream and Sugar in the afternoon (for iced coffee)… I really like coffee and partake of it often.

Pop Tarts or cereal?
Cold (day-old) pizza is my favorite breakfast ever. It’s even more of a WIN if it’s Canadian bacon and pineapple!

How long have you been into graphic design? 
Since childhood. My mom has pictures from elementary school of me compiling images and laying out graphics via Corel Draw. Then I studied it in college and have been passionate about good design for the past decade. I used my own photography in a lot of my student projects in college, and since then it’s hard for me to separate good imagery with compelling design. So working with photographers is pretty much all the ingredients needed for the PERFECT STORM.

What was your first design project? Are you embarrassed by it now that you’re a B!G DEAL?
My first real design projects were for the band I was in (back in the glory days). I enjoyed creating all the posters and CD artwork just as much as I enjoyed singing/songwriting/performing. I’m not embarrassed by the designs themself (they’re nicely designed – clean and attractive still to this day). For me, designing is about helping solve communication problems. The real goal is to easily and attractively communicate what you’re all about, or what your product is, in an appealing and relevant way. I believe that clear (easy & simple) communication is key (it trumps trendy graphics every time). That’s a principle I’ve always designed by, even in those beginning years.

What caused you to start emote360? 
4+ years ago we cofounded a 501c3 nonprofit organization called emote360 (www.emote360.com). Our goal was to assist other nonprofits with their multimedia needs (basically acting like a media-firm for npos). Npos are doing some of the most important work on this planet (literally saving lives) but most of the time they kinda suck at telling their story (or effectively using multimedia of any kind). So we help them tell their unique story better (utilizing new media) to help advocate for their cause and ultimately increase donor support. Our team has traveled to dozens of countries around the globe (from Asia to Africa, South America to local npos here in the states) helping create documentaries for deserving ministries and nonprofits. We even got recognized for our efforts and won an award at the Hollywood Film Festival. Pretty cool stuff. Our team is made of real world changers with some of the most giving hearts I’ve ever known.

Where is your favorite spot to surf in all the world?
One of my favorite waves so far is a place in Maui called Honolua Bay. An amazing right that blew my mind (and stole my wedding ring when I got smashed by a huge set wave).

What’s the sexiest thing about your wife?
Her passion for adventure and her selfless love for our little family (and for the needy around the world)

Where is your favorite place to go on a date?
It’s a little sushi place in Maui called Sansei. We make a point of going on dates there at least a couple times on each of our visits. Follow that with a sunset stroll on the warm beach and I’m in heaven.

Out of all the places you’ve traveled, which place was the most adventurous?
India. I didn’t really love it, but man was it an adventure! It took almost 60 hours of transit just to get to our final destination… everything from flights, taxies, buses, and a crazy long train ride. It was a whirlwind and really out of my comfort zone. But truly a powerful and memorable trip. A close second would by my time traveling all around China with my folks (when they were living there for couple years). That was pretty adventurous too. Got to travel to almost every corner of China, it was exhausting, but beautiful.

What is it about the water that you love so much?
I’ve always been a water-person. I grew up boating with my family in the cold lakes of Montana and Colorado (we’d even scuba dive in the lakes and rivers – my dad is a Master Scuba Diver). We’d fish a lot, cliff jump and do a lot of hiking to hidden lakes and streams. We’d vacation to places like the San Juan Islands (in the Puget Sound) and Hawaii, and I’d spend countless hours just playing in the water. Everything I enjoy doing mostly revolves around water. It’s “life” to me. It energizes and focuses me. Especially now that I live here in SoCal. Getting out in the ocean for a surf session is like my own personal “wilderness”. It lets me escape from the computer and the noise, and get centered… plus it’s a great form of exercise. Win, win, win!