My Grads. Their Gigs.

Ryan Wermich is a 2014 graduate from SAGU. His early success in the marketplace is no accident and was easy to predict while a student. His dedication to the craft of digital media storytelling is fueled by his curiosity for learning and commitment to excellence. Among the hundreds of students Rob Price has taught over the course of 15 years, it would be tough for him to identify a more naturally-gifted leader than Ryan. It's no surprise he holds the distinct honor of being the only Digital Media Arts student to ever direct a full-length feature film (shot in 4k) titled Drawing a Blank, which was SAGU Cinema's fourth major film project in 2014.But it's not just his ability to direct others in creative team environments that makes Ryan successful in the digital media marketplace. He knows how to lead himself. Since graduating, he has embraced the life of a full-time freelancer with an entrepreneurial spirit. Ryan knows to get his hustle on and thrive under the pressure of meeting deadlines with clients, all while delivering high production value content.After nearly 10 years living in Texas, Ryan moved back to his home state of California in 2019 to work as a director of photography for both corporate and cinematic projects. He has also launched his own digital media marketing company in the Los Angeles area called Crowded House Productions.For more information about Crowded House Productions visit:https://www.crowdedhouseproductions.com/

Michael Bell is a 2013 graduate from SAGU. He is an extremely gifted artist with a camera in his hand or in an editing suite with hot cup of java! As a student, Michael was also comfortable in front of the camera and served as the lead role in SAGU Cinema's third major film project in 2012 called Under the Sun.Born and raised in the heart of Texas, Michael began his digital media career after graduation by returning to his hometown Austin, where he worked as the Lead Video Producer and Graphic Designer at GT Austin Church (formerly Glad Tidings Assembly of God).Michael is a third generation church minister. His father Kermit Bell served as senior pastor at GT Austin for 15 years...and prior to that Michael's grandfather led the church for 27 years. Growing up as a pastor's kid with an eye for visual creativity, Michael volunteered for the church's media ministry team as a teenager.Today, Michael is the Campus Media Director at Bethesda Community Church a few hours north of Austin up in Ft. Worth, Texas. He leads a team of three staff members and 30+ media volunteers.In his rare spare time, Michael also runs his own media company called Purpose Videos which produces both commercial and ministry-oriented content. For more information about Bethesda Community Church and GT Austin Church visit:https://www.bethesdacommunitychurch.com/https://gtaustin.com/For more information about Purpose Videos visit: https://www.purposevideos.com/https://www.facebook.com/purposevideoshttps://www.instagram.com/purpose_videos/

Dara Samuels is a 2011 graduate from SAGU. She was Professor Price's first Digital Media Arts workstudy early in his teaching career. He hired Dara as a freshman after meeting her the year before on a SAGU missions trip to her hometown of Monterrey, Mexico.She is currently employed as the Production Manager at Christ Fellowship Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. The church has 15 physical campuses and her job at the Royal Palm campus job requires her to oversee a handful of volunteers to ensure all live sanctuary production needs are met as well as streaming services.Dara's first decade out of school in the digital media industry has seen her travel from Waxahachie, Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma and then back to the Lone Star state. In Tulsa, she volunteered at her church as a production manager and video editor. That experience opened the door for her to be hired in the youth/student department as the Live Production Director at Westover Hills Assembly of God Church in San Antonio for several years before re-locating to Florida in 2019. As a student at SAGU, Dara was initially intimidated by digital technology. Not anymore. Instead, since graduation she's mastered concepts of signal flow and live multi-camera operations (mostly New Tek's Tricaster systems). Additionally, Dara trains and empowers students and children as young as 12 years old to serve as crew members who run camera, audio and even live switching. She's become a teacher at heart and loves to pass on knowledge to others.For more information about the places where Dara has worked and currently working visit: https://gochristfellowship.com/https://westoverhills.church/

Tim Jones is a 2015 graduate from SAGU. He holds the rare distinction of being one of just six students since 2008 to have served in the role of Director for a major SAGU Cinema film production (Better Off Jed 2016) which was produced just every two years from 2008 to 2018. Tim's attention to technical details and natural leadership qualities made him a perfect fit for this critical role as the leader of a 25-man film crew.Before graduating he spent one summer back in his home town of Spokane, Washington--just a quick 1900 miles from SAGU (Waxahachie, Texas)--where he completed an internship as a production assistant on the TV show Z Nation (Sci-Fi Comedy) which was picked up by Netflix.Tim currently works for CrossTalk International (Cedar Hill, TX) as the Lead Content Producer. He describes himself as a "jack-of-all-trades" type of employee where he finds himself creating a wide range of digital content from educational teachings to commercial/promotions. CrossTalk is an internationally syndicated TV program which primarily features teachings on the Jewish roots of Christianity. The program can be seen on 200 stations across the United States. Additionally, content can be viewed on 50 stations around the world through its recent launch of International Broadcasting Network (IBN), which also is available on several online sites, apps and global satellites. Prior to coming to CrossTalk International, Tim worked as a Production Manager for comedian Michael Junior where he helped produce video content for live comedy shows.For more information on CrossTalk and Michael Junior visit:https://crosstalkinternational.com/https://michaeljr.com/

Britta (Johnson) Brunet is a 2012 graduate from SAGU. She is one of the most naturally gifted artists to ever pass through the Digital Media Arts program at the university. Her eye for unlocking beauty through visual storytelling is a tremendous asset in her profession. Her hometown is in Albuquerque, New Mexico and that's where she returned after completing her undergraduate studies in Waxahachie, Texas. Just five days after walking the graduation line, Britta began her digital media career as a Video Producer at Legacy Church (one of the largest and most influential churches in the city). Seven years and several job promotions later, Britta is now both an Executive Assistant to one of the pastors and also the Assistant Creative Director at Legacy Church. She provides lead oversight to all the field production, live production, website, digital graphics departments, and any other creative elements of every sanctuary service.Several SAGU students have either completed their internships under her direction or have also been hired full-time at the church. For more information about Legacy Church visit:https://www.legacychurchnm.com/

Jon Utley is a 2015 graduate from SAGU. While just a student, his tenacious desire to excel in both the technical and artistic elements of digital media content prepared him for early acceleration in his career. He has all the qualities of being a winner at life: humble, hard-working, team-oriented and a contagious motivation for high production value in anything he sets his mind to accomplish. As a pastor's kid (PK), he grew up in two states he calls home: Arkansas and Indiana.He began his post-graduation career in Nashville, Tennessee as a media content producer for Cornerstone Church (where he also had completed an internship). But when a former boss from Rob Price's time 20 years ago as a producer at CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) called him for advice in seeking to hire a young talent to work on The Huckabee Show, one name stood at the top of the list: Jon Utley.A few months later, Jon took the job across town in the Nashville metroplex where he is currently an associate producer at The Huckabee Show seen on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network). Jon produces most of the pre-edited content including pieces like Huck's Heroes, Diner Dives and other field-based segments.For more information about The Huckabee Show visit:https://www.tbn.org/huckabee

Chelsea Groomer is a 2014 graduate from SAGU. Full of passion for her craft in digital media, Chelsea's skills and positive attitude has promoted her to several different exciting employment opportunities.Her current job is in a familiar place--Life School in Red Oak, Texas--where she attended high school. Chelsea serves as the school's Communications Specialist. Her early resume is impressive in just the few years since completing her academic preparation. She has also held jobs as the Marketing Coordinator at the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce, a journalist at Waxahachie Daily Light newspaper, as a producer for Geobound (non-profit organization to American Indians) and as an international media content producer in Israel.For more information about all the cool places where Chelsea has worked please visit:Website: https://www.lifeschools.net/Website: http://waxahachiechamber.com/Website: https://www.waxahachietx.com/Website: http://www.geobound.org/

Tim Kolczak is a 2012 graduate from SAGU. As a member of the Army National Guard, he left college for more than a year after being called up to serve overseas in live combat in Iraq with Delta Company 3rd Battalion 141st Infantry of the 36th Infantry Division. After finishing his tour of duty, he returned to school and completed his undergraduate degree in Communications. He went on to earn a Master's Degree in Emerging Media & Communication from The University of Texas at Dallas. Tim is the founder of The Veteran's Project, an online photographical essay on U.S. veterans who have returned from the battlefield. He is also founder of The Caregiver Project, an online photographic essay bringing attention to the families of those injured or killed in military service.For more information about The Veteran's Project visit:Website: thevetsproject.comInstagram: @theveteransprojectFB: The Veteran's ProjectTwitter: @project_veteranFor more information about The Caregiver Project visit:Website: thecaregiverproject.comInstagram: @the_caregiver_projectFB: The Caregiver Project