THE PLAYERS
Professionals with a Purpose
STEVE STOPPER
Steve is a certified MATV consultant and serves the entire San Diego county school television programs in design and operation. Recently he designed the showcase Student Television Studios for the Sweetwater School District mimicking the technologies in place here at the School For Creative Careers. He owns Ocean West Recording Studios and the America’s Finest Sound media contracting companies. Steve instructs in higher level digital media playback and virtual set construction, plus other Tricaster broadcasting skills. He also teaches live sound reinforcement drawing upon his years of experience. A multi-instrumentalist, he has shows at the Belly Up, the Troubadour, and even a rock musical “Swallowing Poison” to his credit. His great joy is seeing entry level students perform up to a professional level in the short order that the School For Creative Careers provides and facilitating others to immerse themselves in the arts industry in all capabilities.
JAMIE MCGUFEE
A creative spirit connected with many performance art entities. A seasoned performer at festivals all over the country, she is also an experienced photographer and avid puppeteer. Her local performances include shows at Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater. She is exploring the technical applications of green screen /virtual sets using live puppets. She supports eclectic artist groups such as Animal Cracker Conspiracy employing music and visual art. Jamie is a wonderful teacher, team player, and role model.
TOM VERSEN
Tom Versen founded Blue Sky Productions, now T&T Creative, in 1994 and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with and produce several notable clients/shows including The Dave Koz Radio Show, The BeBe Winans Radio Show, The Donnie McClurkin Show, airline programming for over a dozen carriers, and Classic Covers with Ray Manzarek of the Doors. In 1999, Tom Versen ventured to New York and served as founding Director/Production and Creative Services for the groundbreaking launch of Sirius Satellite Radio. He was responsible for the development and production of 100 channels of audio programming. He also provided channel direction and imaging and collaborated with Program Directors to ensure the highest standard of programming. His duties also included managing a staff force of producers, writers, and voice talent professionals, as well as controlling the production and imaging budget.
BILL BIERSACH
Bill Biersach is a Senior Lecturer in Composition at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Over the past four decades, he has taught courses in Electro-Acoustic Media, Recording Arts, Music Industry, and Popular Music History. His current courses include the study of the recording techniques of the sixties and seventies, focusing on such bands as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Frank Zappa. Bill lectures in a multimedia environment designed to present all visual and audio aspects of the course. Bill is also a performing musician and a classically trained pianist. He is considered an expert on analog modular synthesis, particularly the systems created by Robert Moog. Currently Bill is focusing his attention on the “Railboard,” a cutting edge performance instrument created by Emmett Chapman of Stick Enterprises.
KRISTIE AGUIRRE
Kristie Aguirre Founder of the Kava Lounge in San Diego and active community member. Using a unique business model for nightlife experiences, by creating a menu supporting organic natural alternatives. She is well rounded and experienced with over 15 years in event production. Incorporating music, culinary arts, fundraising, yoga, and performance at a variety of venues and organizations.
GLORIA PARKER
Ms. Parker has been a part of projects that changed the “event” history in San Diego. At age 16, she started with the San Diego Chargers 1961, followed by the San Diego Sports Arena 1966, San Diego Gulls WHL Hockey 1966, the NBA San Diego Rockets 1967-68, moving forward to the first Holiday Bowl 1978, All-Star Baseball Game 1978, and the Super Bowl XXll 1988.
For 18 years, she was Assistant to Chairman & CEO of a multi-million-dollar manufacturer located in San Diego for the gift industry in the U.S. U.K., and Canadian marketplaces.
Although non-partisan, in 1996 she was tapped to staff the Republican National Committee (RNC) office of attending President Gerald R. Ford and his staff.
For the past 18 years she has been involved with most of the larger San Diego charities that have produced luncheon fashion shows and galas. (List available upon request)
ANGEL GHADISHAH
The baby of the team, Angel is a student at UC San Diego studying Neurobiology. When she is not in the library, she photographs and edits her captures into dynamic pieces of art. She is our webmaster and a photographer. She thoroughly enjoys helping out around the studio and volunteers at many of our community events. Hoping to become an advisor for Ocean West Studios someday, she works hard to learn and experience all that she can at the Studio.
STEVE STOPPER
Steve is a certified MATV consultant and serves the entire San Diego county school television programs in design and operation. Recently he designed the showcase Student Television Studios for the Sweetwater School District mimicking the technologies in place here at the School For Creative Careers. He owns Ocean West Recording Studios and the America’s Finest Sound media contracting companies. Steve instructs in higher level digital media playback and virtual set construction, plus other Tricaster broadcasting skills. He also teaches live sound reinforcement drawing upon his years of experience. A multi-instrumentalist, he has shows at the Belly Up, the Troubadour, and even a rock musical “Swallowing Poison” to his credit. His great joy is seeing entry level students perform up to a professional level in the short order that the School For Creative Careers provides and facilitating others to immerse themselves in the arts industry in all capabilities.
JAMIE MCGUFEE
A creative spirit connected with many performance art entities. A seasoned performer at festivals all over the country, she is also an experienced photographer and avid puppeteer. Her local performances include shows at Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater. She is exploring the technical applications of green screen /virtual sets using live puppets. She supports eclectic artist groups such as Animal Cracker Conspiracy employing music and visual art. Jamie is a wonderful teacher, team player, and role model.
TOM VERSEN
Tom Versen founded Blue Sky Productions, now T&T Creative, in 1994 and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with and produce several notable clients/shows including The Dave Koz Radio Show, The BeBe Winans Radio Show, The Donnie McClurkin Show, airline programming for over a dozen carriers, and Classic Covers with Ray Manzarek of the Doors. In 1999, Tom Versen ventured to New York and served as founding Director/Production and Creative Services for the groundbreaking launch of Sirius Satellite Radio. He was responsible for the development and production of 100 channels of audio programming. He also provided channel direction and imaging and collaborated with Program Directors to ensure the highest standard of programming. His duties also included managing a staff force of producers, writers, and voice talent professionals, as well as controlling the production and imaging budget.
BILL BIERSACH
Bill Biersach is a Senior Lecturer in Composition at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Over the past four decades, he has taught courses in Electro-Acoustic Media, Recording Arts, Music Industry, and Popular Music History. His current courses include the study of the recording techniques of the sixties and seventies, focusing on such bands as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Frank Zappa. Bill lectures in a multimedia environment designed to present all visual and audio aspects of the course. Bill is also a performing musician and a classically trained pianist. He is considered an expert on analog modular synthesis, particularly the systems created by Robert Moog. Currently Bill is focusing his attention on the “Railboard,” a cutting edge performance instrument created by Emmett Chapman of Stick Enterprises.
KRISTIE AGUIRRE
Kristie Aguirre Founder of the Kava Lounge in San Diego and active community member. Using a unique business model for nightlife experiences, by creating a menu supporting organic natural alternatives. She is well rounded and experienced with over 15 years in event production. Incorporating music, culinary arts, fundraising, yoga, and performance at a variety of venues and organizations.
GLORIA PARKER
Ms. Parker has been a part of projects that changed the “event” history in San Diego. At age 16, she started with the San Diego Chargers 1961, followed by the San Diego Sports Arena 1966, San Diego Gulls WHL Hockey 1966, the NBA San Diego Rockets 1967-68, moving forward to the first Holiday Bowl 1978, All-Star Baseball Game 1978, and the Super Bowl XXll 1988.
For 18 years, she was Assistant to Chairman & CEO of a multi-million-dollar manufacturer located in San Diego for the gift industry in the U.S. U.K., and Canadian marketplaces.
Although non-partisan, in 1996 she was tapped to staff the Republican National Committee (RNC) office of attending President Gerald R. Ford and his staff.
For the past 18 years she has been involved with most of the larger San Diego charities that have produced luncheon fashion shows and galas. (List available upon request)
ANGEL GHADISHAH
Angel Ghadishah is a student at UC San Diego pursuing a degree in Neurobiology. Angel was born and raised in San Diego where she has spent much of her free time learning about music and the arts through programs like MORArts. Currently, when she is not in the library, she photographs and edits her captures into dynamic pieces of art. She thoroughly enjoys helping out around the studio and leads many volunteers for our community events.
OLIVIA HENRY
Olivia Henry is currently pursing a Bachelor of Arts in Performance at San Diego State University. She was president of Future Business Leaders of America and Hope Squad in high school. Experiences include marketing for PandoLabs, teacher/production assistant at the Egyptian Theatre, and a mountain adventure guide at the Utah Olympic Park. She currently is an active member of Aztec Music Group. Her strongest interests are songwriting, audio production, and musical development. She was last seen on the SDSU stage in an original musical entitled To Be Alive and gets great joy from helping student performers see their dreams become a reality.
PHILIP DANILOFF
Philip came to San Diego in 2000 to work on the Coronado Bay Bridge retrofit with Taylor Pacific. Before that he spent five years with Cal-Dive International in marine construction with over 150 dives. Other large projects were piers for the Navy and Port of San Diego with Manson and General Construction. Fun fact: His poem "Untitled" was published in Across the Way: Countryside by Eber & Wein and Poetry Nation in Sept. 2015 L.O.C
FIONA MORTON
Fiona is fascinated by the psychology of marketing and enjoys the intricacies involved in content creation. She has worked extensively with small businesses for over 10 years, since moving back to San Diego from London where she lived for 4. Fiona loves classic rock, her cats, and hopes to see more of the world someday.
OCEAN WEST TOUR EXPERIENCE
Highlights
PAUL MCCARTNEY MICROPHONE
KEITH EMERSON SYNTHESIZER
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA CUSTOM SOUND CONSOLE
UNRELEASED MIXES OF THE FAMOUS
