​The 72-Hour Shift (2005)

​In early 2005, I was a film student at the Art Institute of Atlanta, weeks away from my senior year. I was deep in a lecture on visual storytelling when the call came: my service obligations were being activated. I was given 72 hours to get my affairs in order and report to my unit. I traded the camera for a rifle and my senior thesis for a 17-month tour in Iraq (OIF). This abrupt shift from creative theory to combat reality defined the foundation of UCS LLC. It taught me that true "creative direction" isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about the tactical ability to pivot, lead, and execute when the mission changes.

​Leading the Transition (2007-2008)

​Upon returning from Iraq, I led a Medical Hold Unit's transportation department. While managing my own recovery, I was responsible for the logistics and movement of hundreds of soldiers in various stages of their own deployment and healing. Managing the transportation of wounded warriors changed my perspective on design. I realized that the underserved needed more than just "art"; they needed visual systems and wellness programs that understood the weight of their journey. This experience became the catalyst for my 20-year career in design and my pursuit of Art Therapy.

​The Technical Finish (2009-Present)

​I returned home with a renewed mission to master the tools of modern communication. I furthered my education in Multimedia and Graphic Design, eventually culminating in a Masters in Information Technology and Emerging Communication (ITEC) from the University of Texas at Dallas. This graduate work at UTD allowed me to bridge the gap between creative design and complex systems management. Today, UCS LLC is the result of that evolution: a firm that brings the high-level technical strategy of an ITEC background and 20 years of NYC/LA design experience to the front lines of community resilience.