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Profile

While my professional career has been, and continues to include, photography and writing, my major contribution to society has been as an entrepreneur creating from scratch four arts organization, two festivals and three schools. For more than 30 years, I was the Principal Director of The Maine Photographic Workshops and The International Film Workshops. In 1996, I founded and for ten years was the  President of Rockport College, an international conservatory for the wold’s image-makers and storytellers.  Through my lectures and workshops on the artist’s life and the creative processI  have inspired and changed the lives’ of tens of thousand of today’s creative professionals.

In 2007, I have turned over ownership and  management of summer schools and the College to a non-profit organization (Maine Media). I am now writing a series of books, photographing the world and its people and lecturing. I am also putting to use what I have learned about building arts and educational institutions as a consult. I have been assisting institutions, organization and governments around the world develop innovative programs to help their constituents master the latest digital technologies as they tell stories that will change the world.

Life Experiences

I am an explorer  . . .  of both the physical and the intellectual worlds. My curiosity about human potential and limits led me to a career as a  adventure sport journalist and photographer. In that capacity, I have climbed mountains, skied down glaciers, interviewed ski racers and sailors, and  sailed more than 40,000 miles, much of that distance solo. I have taught skiing, rock climbing and sailing and workshops in how to document an expedition. I hold a US Coast Guard Master license. I can fly an airplane, navigate with a sextant, SCUBA dive (PADI Certified) and sail a boat across vast oceans.

For over 40 years, I have owned, maintained and sailed four different sailboats: Quinta, a 34-foot wooden Alden sloop; Fare-Thee-Well, a Geard Hendle designed wood sloop; Afaran, a 41-foot (FG) Lord Nelson cutter; and Searcher, a 57-foot Bowman ketch. I have sailed the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida, made 18 voyages across the Gulf Stream on my way from Maine to the Caribbean. I have survived three hurricanes and have just completed a 9 month cruise with my family exploring the entire Eastern Caribbean (see www.KidsOnBoats.net), gathering material for a book on family cruising.

Experiences & Positions

2007 to present.

SeaArcher, LLC, Camden, Maine’

President and Creative Director - SeaArcher provides creative content for publications, magazines, websites, and institutional literature. We organize workshops, master classes, executive retreats and individual courses and training programs for institutions world-wide. We provide expertise in program development, licensing and educational program development and management.

1973 to 2007

Founder, Director and Owner

The Maine Photographic Workshops, Rockport, Maine

Launched a summer school for photographers in 1973 that became a world leader in alternative education and training for visual artists. Developed over 200 workshops and master classes, perfected the ”Transformational Experience” paradigm for learning. Designed, built and financed a $7 million campus, lead a staff and faculty of over 200.  Starting with $3,000, built the summer workshops program into a $5 million a year institution. Sold The Workshops to Maine Media, a nonprofit (www.MaineMedia.edu) in 2007.

1975 to 2007

Founder, Director, Owner

The International Film Workshops, Rockport, Maine

In the summer of 1975, launched a  companion workshop program for the world’s filmmakers: screen writers, directors, cinematographers, actors, editors, producers and digital journalists. This program became and still is a major training center for emerging media artists and technicians as well as advancing the careers of established professionals.

1996 to 2007

Founder, President, Owner

Rockport College, Rockport, Maine (now Maine Media College)

The Workshops’s Resident Faculty, staff and I  launched Rockport College in the fall of 1996. I served as it’s President and visionary for the first tens years. We developed a curriculum for the Associates of Art Degree, a Professional Certificate program, and a unique non-resident Masters of Fine Art degree program in visual art that continues today. I wrote the mission statement, was instrumental in setting policies, developing curriculum and shepherding the college through the Maine Certification and NASAD Accreditation processes. (www.MaineMedia.edu)

Volunteer Achievements

1987 to 1990

Co-Founder and Chairman -

The Maine Film and Video Association

One off five founding members of a non-profit organization for Maine media professionals.   Served as the Board Chairman for the first three years. The Association holds monthly meeting, screenings, lectures, and provides support and advice to the Maine Film Commission and works closely with the Maine Film Office.

1976 to 1979

Co-Founder, Board Member

The Maine Festival of The Arts, Brunswick, Maine

Co-Founder with humorist Marshall Dodge of this annual “Celebration of Maine’s Creative Spirit”. This week-long festival brought together all aspects of Maine’s visual and preforming art, invention and craft. Served as Board member and Associate Director for the first three years.

summer 1975

Co-Founder and Director

The New England Festival  of Folk Music, Waterville Valley, NH

Launched an annual music festival and was it’s first Director and Board chair. This four-day festival brought together the best of international, national folk musicians, song writers and performers at this major New Hampshire ski resort.

Related Professional Experiences

1973 to 1975

Chevy Freestyle Skiers’ Competitions on ABC  TV

Assistant Director, International Freestyle Skiers Association (IFSA). Press Director and Production Manager for the Chevy Freestyle Skiers’ Competitions on ABC  TV Wide World of Sports.

1969 to 1972

The Mount Snow Valley News

The Goose City Gazette

The Cape Resorter

The Student Skier Magazine

Publisher, Editor, Designer

Wrote, edited, photographed and designed weekly newspapers serving the resort communities of Southern Vermont (winters) and Cape Cod (summers). Assistant Director for the US Student Ski Association, Editor of the monthly magazine.

1967 to 1969

Director of Public Relations and Special Events

Mount Snow Resort, West Dover, Vermont

Managing Editor of the Mount Snow Valley News, a monthly newspaper covering resort events and valley news.

Wrote weekly press releases, photographed events and worked with the media to provide effective coverage of the resort. Set-up and managed the Mount SNow News Bureau, with a staff of four, providing daily ski condition reports to eastern ski shops, radio stations and television outlets. Produced various special events, including national and international ski races, WinterFest, a week-long winter carnival, and the Miss Vermont Contest in conjunction with the Miss Universe Pageant.

Military Service

US Naval Reserve 1962 - 1967.  Rated Journalist Third Class (JO3) 1966. Went on active duty 1965 through 1967. Served a year as Unit Publicist, MCB-71 (The Seabees) stationed in Chu Lai, Vietnam, 1967.  Editor of The Transit, a monthly newspaper about the unit’s activities and work in Vietnam.  Honorable discharge.  Awarded the Navy’s Distinguished Service Medal.

1960 to 1965

Radio and Television Producer and Personality

When not attending (or, instead of attending) courses at Boston University, I was producing and hosting weekly radio shows on classic, folk music and jazz featuring live interviews and location feeds. Produced concerts and recordings with Boston area musicians and song writers. Was the Ring Master on the Bozo Show, WHDH-TV, Channel 5, a daily kid’s show. Served as Floor Producer on a variety of live and taped television programs.

Summer 1962

Founder, Artistic Director and Manager

The Moon Cusser Coffee House, Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard

Designed, built and managed a coffee house in this island which became a mecca for the Folk Music Revival of the early sixties. Created the atmosphere,  booked the performers, designed the promotional literature and introduced the acts nightly, launching the careers of James Taylor, Carly Simon and others.

1960 - 1962

The Unicorn Coffee House, Boston

Artistic Director and Manager

Managed Boston’s largest folk music coffee house. Booked performers, designed the interior, managed the staff, handled promotion and introduced the acts.

1957 and 1958

The Merry Go Round Theater,  Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

Technical Director, Actor, Stage Manager

Built sets, rigged lights, performed bit parts, ran the lighting board and stage managed a  professional summer stock theater during my last two summers of high school.

Experiences Over-seas

I have traveled through much of the world  with the US Navy, as a working journalist and as an  entrepreneur establishing workshops and programs in the following over-seas locations: Provence, France; Liverpool, UK; Venice, Tuscany and Rome Italy; Oaxaca, Mexico; Istanbul, Turkey; Prague and Budapest; India and Kashmir; The Grand Cayman Islands and the Greek island of Crete, as well as in Vietnam.  Many of those workshops are on-going under Maine Media Workshops. I have sailed and explored most of the Eastern Caribbean

Areas of Expertise

• Creating art and cultural organizations and educational institutions

Public speaking: Inspirational and motivational lectures and presentations

• Institution development, strategic planning, licensing, state certification and national accreditation processes.

Curriculum design and training program development.

Institutional marketing, advertising, promotion, public relations, trade show design, copywriting and art direction for publications and websites.

Lectures, Workshops and Course Given

Lecture Series: The Artist’s Path, The Creative Process, 8 Keys to Unlock Creativity.  Composition in Visual Design,  The Artist’s Light, The Art of The Interview,

One-week workshops: Developing Your Creative Potential, Expedition Journalism, Marine Photography, Color and Light, Visual Composition.

• College level courses: Digital photography,  Digital Video Production, Multi-media Production, Professionalism and Freelance Careers, Creative Project Development and Management.

• Publishing: Design and Technology in Print Media,  Website Design and Architecture.

Professional Development: One-on-one mentoring and careers counseling.

Professional Memberships

UFVA, PMA, NAB, SPE, PEIA,

Education

Tantasqua Regional High School, Sturbridge, MA, graduated 1958.

Western New England College - Mechanical Engineering major - 1958 to 1961.

Boston University - School of Public Relations and Communications, Broadcast Journalism major - 1961 to 1963.

Family

Married to Julie Robinson Lyman, former UK film producer and script supervisor on major feature films and commercials. Daughter, Renaissance, age 11, son Havana, age 9.

Referrals

A separate list of prominent artists and media professionals is attached.