"I have been a Creative Director in the world of advertising for over 15 years (thankfully I was a child prodigy and started employment very young). My design experience includes extensive broadcast production (TV + Radio), photography (Commercial + Art), print production (Newspaper + Magazine + Collateral), and new media (Internet + Interactive Multimedia).
I have an extensive client list of international Fortune 500 companies (including IBM, Microsoft, KFC, and Kirin Beer), and have worked directly in America, Australia, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Korea, and Luxembourg. In China, I originally managed the top design studio in Dalian while I finished my Masters Degree."
...As a Foreign Spokesman:
"DoMay, Odynn, Meissi, software giant Neusoft, and shipping powerhouse Cosco were among major companies in China to use my face or voice talent to promote their popular brands, products, or services over the years."
...Then as a TV Host:
"The Dalian TV Network hired me as the first foreigner to host the daily evening news broadcasts in Liaoning Province (and all of Northeast China). I had spent a lifetime behind the camera, and then found myself in front of it all the time."
"With 6 million citizens in Dalian and an average share of 10% viewership, more Chinese people watched my program than the population of many major American cities. (The broadcast later went international as part of China's satellite TV system, but no viewer statistics were provided for that.)"
"Even though I had been honored with many awards over the length of my career, I was not prepared for the celebrity status that the TV experience unexpectedly vaulted me into."
...As A Novelist:
"As exciting as it was, I left TV after almost two years to pursue other interests. I had just published a novel of historical fiction, Blue Sky Red Tears, set in Dalian during its colonial period, and enjoyed this creative direction."
...As a Photographer:
"I also found myself needing to be behind the camera again, to focus on my photography and documenting the drastically changing world around me."
"As a result, another rare honor was granted me when I was awarded the top prize by the Municipal Government for the 2005 Dalian International Photography Competition. More international recogition of my images has continued since."
...As a Photojournalist:
"From my work within the Japanese community, I landed a position as Director of Photography for a major Japanese language magazine published in Dalian."
"This gave me even added exposure to Dalian culture, and access to celebrated local individuals who shaped the direction and future of the city with their work."
...As a Virtual Developer:
"After designing and building virtual islands for IBM and ABN-AMRO in the 3D world of Second Life, my goal is to create a replica of Dalian in the metaverse."
Nine (9) of myDalian Photography Exhibitsare currently on display in this computer simulated environment, touted as the future of the Internet."
...Again as a TV Host:
"I anchored the evening news full-time during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. After taking a break over 2006 to work exclusively on other creative projects, I returned part-time to the network beginning from the 2007 season."
"For my program, I also covered the Dalian Olympic Torch Relay in July 2008, and Olympic event reports from Beijing in August 2008. For the Dalian Paralympic Torch Relay in September 2008, I ran along side the athletes for 3 km from beginning to end."
Note: Dalian Channel One News was awarded the "Best Foreign Language Program of 2007 in Liaoning Province" by the Liaoning Municipal Government (June 2008).
...Again as a Spokesman:
"CCTV4 did another interview with me as part of a series about about Dalian, focusing on my life here, my photography and books, this web site, and my efforts to promote understanding about the culture and people of Dalian to the global community."
"Liaoning Province TV followed-up with a similar report, which was more specific to my photography book and my coast-to-coast walk across Dalian."
...And simply as a Resident Foreign Expert on Dalian:
"My experience in Dalian, for good or bad, has been real. I have not lived in an isolated foreigner-exclusive community. I live day to day like anyone else here, pushing my way onto the bus and waiting in lines. But I have been lucky, in that my positions have opened doors to many private areas off-limits to even local citizens."
"Being a foreigner and having these opportunities is an even bigger priviledge, and I take the responsibility that comes with them seriously."
"An example of this is my official appointment by the American Consulate in Shenyang as the Warden for Dalian. Because there is no office in this city for citizens, I have been designated as the official contact person in case of an emergency."
"Even though I have friends and contacts within the municipal government here, I still have to work hard and actively pursue the things I wish to accomplish. It is this combination of effort and luck that keeps pushing me closer to my goals."
Why Discover Dalian?
"The answer for this is rather simple. I may have received many honors in my life, but the quest for glory was never my goal. Being creative and enjoying the people around me has been my focus (aside from the practical need to earn an honest day's wage along the way)."
"Therefore, the idea for Discover Dalian is the perfect combination all my personal experiences, talents, passions, and interests."
