About

MY CAREER: With over 40 years of experience, I began my career right out of college using exacto knives and developer. I have seen all phases of the advertising business through the years, freelancing in agencies, recording studios, manufacturers, distributors and print shops. I've perfected the art of mechanicals using rubylith, pressing individual letters to create newspaper ads, drawing borders with pen and ink, and creating storyboards with Pantone Markers. The first computer I ever used while working at a print shop was revolutionary, trying to operate Quark Xpress, Illustrator and Photoshop on a Macintosh IIcx with 4mb RAM! I shot my first wedding with 5 rolls of 36 exposure Kodachrome, on a second hand Pentax Superprogram SLR. I developed the film in total darkness, then printed the photos in various sizes to create a complete package for my clients. They always came out great and it was a fun and satisfying experience! As technology has advanced, I now shoot with two Canon DSLRs, various lenses and accessories. My studio runs an iMac complete with Adobe Creative Suite for professional photo editing and top quality designing. L A Promotional Design & Photography has worked tirelessly for countless clients who needed logos designs, corporate identity, signs, cards, web content, photos... you name it, I have probably created it by never EVER missing a deadline. I've worked on NYE, Christmas, midnight, noon, last minute, and continue to this day. ME: I am a true New Yorker, Buffalo born and raised, but lived in Hawaii for 5 years. It is my dream come true: playing in the ocean daily, while volunteering as a NOAA certified environmental and Marine Mammal educator to save this delicate ecosystem from devastating collapse. The oceans are the planet's lungs ~ if they die, we die. I'm vegan for the animals, but the huge bonus is contributing to the reduction of my carbon footprint. I am Level 3 certified for Large Whale Entanglement Response. I have sat on (!) and tube-fed critically endangered Monk Seals at Ke Kai Ola (the Healing Sea) and Elephant Seals at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, and had the additional honor of photographing our adorable patients as they went from scrawny and sick to fat and happy! I swam with Pilot Whales and Dolphins in the wild, and trained to save them at Dolphin Quest. As responders, we live and breathe Rescue, Rehab, Release. At Waialea Bay in Puako, I conducted ReefTeach on Saturday mornings, sometimes with friends to help, sometimes alone. I created metal signs in Illustrator reminding tourists that Sea Turtle Resting Areas are for the Sea Turtles to REST. They were posted near the shore in Puako. Did they help? Not really. Residents, DLNR and I would patrol every evening. My first Stand Up Paddleboard experience was at Kona Bay. Even though a huge offshore breeze picked up making it too hard to paddle and I had to swim my way back to shore, I was instantly hooked! I now have two inflatable boards and spend as much time as possible in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, sometimes with my rescue Pittie, Jolene. She is my favorite hiking companion, best friend, beautiful shadow, sweetest doggie ever. My volunteer positions over the years include: NOAA Trained Marine Mammal / Environmental Educator Coordinator ~ Puako Makai Watch ReefTeach HI Crew Lead, Monk Seal Response, Photographer ~ Ke Kai Ola / The Marine Mammal Center HI Crew ~ Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito CA Level 3 HI Islands Large Whale Entanglement Responder West Hawai’i Marine Mammal Response Network Eyes Of The Reef Network Monk Seal Foundation Asha’s Farm Sanctuary event Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Summit Learning Center Vice President, Fairway Terrace BOD Music is Art event Texas Children’s Cancer Hospital Cattauraugus County SPCA AIDS Community Services Buffalo Homeless Animal Rescue Team IN American Cancer Society