Resume Highlights

I am a native of North Carolina who moved to Texas in 1982 to begin serving in the US Army. I studied finance and communications at The University of Central Texas. I have been a storyteller and trainer for 20 years, entertaining and teaching audiences in San Antonio and beyond. I have just completed three years of service as president of the San Antonio Storytellers Association. I employ a speaking style is best described as “Full-Contact,” involving the audience as much as possible insuring that everyone has a great experience. Some of my most requested stories contain specific points for the audience to join in on the fun. PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING HIGHLIGHTS: Special Event - Participated in a tandem presentation with Texas Storyteller Donna Ingham in An Afternoon with O. Henry in South Texas. The Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Texas organized this event. Donna and I told favorite O. Henry stories selected from among his three-dozen tales set in Texas. The event celebrated America's master of the “twist-at-the-end,” in conjunction with the “Photographs and Paragraphs: The Images of I.N. Hall and the Imagery of O. Henry” exhibit. Non-Profit Outdoor Program - I presented six campfire programs for campers and staff members for Camp C.A.M.P. in Center Point, Texas. This camp provides outdoor summer-camp experiences for severely handicapped children ages 5-21. My programs were specifically designed to entertain campers ages 12–21 with varying degrees of physical or mental challenges. Each program was one hour long and was crafted to be quick moving with actions and character voices. Festival Work - For the Fabra Elementary School Storytelling Festival and George West Storyfest, I have presented daylong programs for school children from Pre-Kindergarten to High School. These programs involved selecting and performing age appropriate stories, encouraging group participation and interacting with school personnel. Teacher Workshops - I presented my Storytelling for Teachers seminar to under-graduate students in the University of Houston Business Department. This seminar was built to show benefits and options specifically for business teachers and was presented as a component of a “tools of the trade” class. Each participant received a booklet detailing the curriculum, discussion points, and resources for further study. I presented my Telling Stories from the Bible workshop to educators for the Hill Country Bible Church in Austin, Texas. This seminar is high-energy and encourages participation. Each student had the opportunity to practice storytelling techniques and present a story during the seminar. PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS: Festival Work - In 2006, I participated in the George West Storyfest as performer and emcee for two concert venues. Emcee duties included introduction of performers, performer schedule development, concert area layout, and stage manager interface. Since 1999, I have participated in the Texas Folklife Festival as stage emcee. Emcee duties have included introduction of performers, welcome audience members, promotion of other venues and activities, coordinate and accommodate the arrival of the performing artists, and assist groups with requested narration or program highlights. Conference Workshop - I presented The Story Thread workshop for the Association of Experiential Educators in 2005. This workshop offered learners the opportunity to learn techniques for working a single story thread throughout a daylong experiential learning program. The audience included outdoor learning professionals from across the country. Experience levels varied from one to twelve years. The workshop included a facilitated discussion, handouts, and developmental activities. Presentation Workshop - I designed and taught two presentation skills workshops for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2006. These workshops offered learners the opportunity to improve delivery and performance skills. Participants were members of park staff who interface with visitors. We concentrated on delivery of information about parks, regulations, and visitor information in an enjoyable, complete, and relaxed manner. Workshop attendees practiced skills and participated in activities designed to reinforce learning. AFFILIATIONS • San Antonio Storytellers Association • Tejas Storytelling Association • National Storytelling Network • American Society for Training and Development • Boy Scouts of America