Born and raised in central Kansas, my interest in photography, communications and public relations began at a very young age.

My grandfather, the late Walter C. Pile, was once a newspaper editor and later became the director of the Lyons (KS) Chamber of Commerce. Even before I was a teenager, I looked up to my grandfather’s communication and public relations skills.

I initially attended Hutchinson Community College on vocal and instrumental music scholarship, but my coursework was as heavy on radio/television as it was music. Once I got to Kansas State University, I landed squarely into journalism.

I worked as a newspaper reporter covering city government, downtown and business development, and even sports. I left the newsroom to become the chief lobbyist and communications director of the Manhattan (Kan.) Chamber of Commerce.

I later went on to work for the Kansas State University Foundation where I worked on annual giving programs, corporate fund raising, and coordinating communications for a $100 million capital campaign. After leaving the KSU Foundation, I began working in the specific area of downtown development, where I was involved at the local level and with two statewide Main Street programs.

From 1999 to 2006, I had my own communications and community development consulting business where I had the opportunity to work with hundreds of clients from all over the U.S. 

Like my grandfather, I am a proud graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management, where I also served as a member of the faculty. I am also certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP).

I have been a freelance photographer for several years, focusing mostly on sports action photography.  My work has been published by Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, Lindy's and Athlon publications, CBS Sports, Sage Marketing, East End Publishing, as well as in several local, regional and national newspapers.