Q: Please tell us about yourself.
I have a horrible time with work-life balance because I take everything that interests me and try to fold it into my career. I’m working on it.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
After 15 years in the radio business, I left to pursue my side business full time. Pancake Boy Productions serves up delicious multimedia creations for clients in the small business and nonprofit world, as well as producing talk shows and podcasts (and, this fall, our first feature documentary). I am fueled by the incredible feeling that comes from making something.

Q: What is your favorite book?
“How to Call Attention to Your Music” by Derek Sivers. It’s a free e-book I read in 2007 whose lessons laid the groundwork for my philosophy in everything I do professionally. Even if you have nothing to do with music, I cannot recommend this free book enough. Google it if you’re a creative trying to understand how to give people something they’re interested in, not just what you want them to be

Q: What are some of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Mode’s Bum Steer. 9 times out of 10, when our friends are getting something to eat, we’re trying to go to Mode’s. Also, as a pancake connoisseur, the best ones can currently be found at either S2S Sugar 2 Salt or The Burrow.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? What brought you to Grand Traverse County?
I was born here, but after college came back because of a part-time radio job that came out of a previous internship. That led to a 15 year career in broadcasting, focusing primarily on in-house commercial production and copywriting but that also covered on-air hosting.

Q: What advice would you give to people who want to visit our community?
Stay away from “Best Of” lists made by people from outside of the area; everyone hits the same highlights, and there’s so much more to experience here than the obvious choices. Don’t ask locals where you need to visit before you leave; ask locals where THEY actually go on any sort of regular basis. No New Yorker spends every weekend at the Statue of Liberty.

Q: If you could choose anyone today with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you all meet?
Pete Holmes, the comedian and host of the “You Made It Weird” podcast. I’ve been listening to his show for over a decade, and his balance of philosophical talk and incredibly silly humor is right in my wheelhouse. Let’s meet Pete at The Little Fleet (unfortunate rhyme).

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The opportunities are abundant to fill your life with whatever your heart desires.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
In the early days of social media, I went viral on MySpace after a TV show picked up a comedy video I was a part of that focused on a fake band, Construction Paper Hearts on Fire, recording their latest song, “You Don’t See Me.”

Q: Which yearly event in Grand Traverse County do you enjoy best?
Baseball season at Turtle Creek Stadium with the Traverse City Pit Spitters. Our friends buy season tickets and we spend a lot of great summer nights watching the game and having an

Q: What is your favorite season in Northern Michigan? And what is your favorite activity to do in that season?
You’re asking me to choose between my children. Every season in our region offers something unique and wonderful, but, if I must…I’ll choose early autumn and a color tour through Leelanau County.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Sanctuary. Playground. Opportunity.