Designer

For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated by design. In school there were few notebooks that escaped my random doodling. In 6th grade I designed my first logo for a street hockey team that my friends and I had formed called the “Ravens”. We only ever played one game. As soon as I had access to a computer I instantly gravitated toward graphic design programs or any other program in which I could create. When I discovered that I could combine my interest in graphic design with my new found knowledge of html and web building, I was hooked.

At first I used these skills to serve different occupations and activities, building a web site (and revising, and revising) for my band, designing a logo and website for my church, designing book cover art for a novel my wife was working on, etc. Then one day I realized that I really love doing this and I should probably make some money at it. It stayed a side business for many years, but even during that time I continued growing and seeking new ways to use my skills to provide value for my clients. For 10 years I have been learning and growing in my knowledge and sense for design. I have spent some time on many different design industry pursuits, including photography, videography, photo and video editing, digital and print graphic design, branding, web design and web development. I’m so fascinated by all of it! Within recent years I have narrowed my freelance business to offer Logo design and commissioned hand-lettering pieces.

Artist

I am very passionate about art. I hold an unwavering belief in the importance for people to believe in their unique voice and expression of art, and in the power of artistic expression in the world. As a Christian, I hold the belief that God, being an artist, often works through art to bring revelation of His love for people, to bring healing and inspiration and to give purpose and move people to action. Art has manifested itself in many different ways in my life. Most significantly has been music. Music has been a part of my story since I was 9 years old when my Nana (grandmother) gave me a little Casio keyboard.

 For years I have written and composed songs, playing as a solo artist, in different bands and most recently in a band with my wife and a few of my very best friends. I have also been and continue to serve as a worship leader. Drawing and illustrating have also been significant artistic pursuits and more recently I have become more interested in hand-lettering.

Communicator

The decision to work for myself has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made. Not only has it changed many aspects of my lifestyle, most important of which has been the amount of time I get to spend with my family, but it is also constantly transforming the way I look at the world and the way I engage with people. I believe that, at its heart, entrepreneurship is about finding ways to bring greater value not just to my life, but to the lives of all I encounter. For me it’s not just about starting and managing businesses, it’s about letting go of things that I have allowed to keep me from building and creating and hopefully inspiring others along the way to live in the same freedom.

I desire to communicate what I am learning and experiencing along the way and hope to grow in my ability to do so in several mediums, so that my journey can serve to encourage and equip others. I care deeply for the well being of families and those who are trying to balance family life and still pursue their passion. In our weekly podcast,  “In the Boat With Ben” Rachel, my wife, and I talk about how to live a more whole-hearted life with our families, and how to find balance between our work, our passion, and our family.

I also have the privilege of hosting a podcast with my good friend Sean McCabe, called the “seanwes podcast”, a podcast that focuses on creativity and business.