Jess Ashby - Project Professional

Who I Am

Curious George. A troublemaker. That guy who incessantly asked "Why?" as a kid and never grew out of it.
A bit of an explorer. I love experiencing new things, thinking from different angles, experimenting with new hobbies, and applying new techniques so that I can enjoy more of life, work smarter, and make a bigger difference in the lives of those around me.
A deeply technical person who lives and breathes algorithms, processes, and mechanics. At the same time, I have a profound respect for those who can clearly see and describe that "forest through the trees".

In Short...

Professional Experience

2012 - Present	Project Coordinator — Electrosonic Creating database applications to streamline project budgeting, engineering, and asset control. Fulfilling financial analysis, documentation, and other needs for project management teams.
2011 - 2012	Design Associate — Electrosonic Assisted consultants in the design of large-scale audio, video, and control systems in venues ranging from theme parks to cruise ships to museums.
2011	Product Development Specialist — TMB Spearheaded the development of new and improved products for the stage lighting, special effects, and video industries, and remained on-call to assist customers and users with technical support issues.
2009 - 2011	Product Specialist — TMB As product developer, brought to market the ProPlex OptoSplitter 2x8 DMX data splitter and made significant headway with five additional products. As product trainer, conducted international training seminars and demonstrations with media servers and lighting consoles. As product support, provided customer assistance with lighting fixtures, lighting controllers, video controllers, and more. As product marketer, proofread and brainstormed technical advertisements.
2007 - 2010	Student Crew Chief — Ferguson Center for the Arts Acted as an audiovisual technician, stage electrician, board operator, and stagehand for events ranging from dance parties to lectures to touring shows. Led work crews, and preserved lean human resources by learning to be a lone, self-sufficient representative on smaller events.
2006 - 2007	Student Technician — Ferguson Center for the Arts Assisted on work crews for light hangs, moving of soft goods, and other stagehand work.
2006-2009	Information Technician — Airlie Conference Center Expanded and upgraded the IT and telecom infrastructures during a period of substantial campus remodeling. Created extensive infrastructure documentation for common reference and contingency planning, and provided technical support around the clock. Major projects included assisting the design of an AV control room, implementing the first campus-wide WLAN, and implementing a 600-pair cross-connect terminal that improved 75% of the campus' voice/data connectivity.
2008	Sound Designer — Tidewater Regional Repertory Theatre Designed and operated computer-controlled sound systems for theatrical shows, researched sound effects, and developed equipment schematics. Handled computer hardware upgrades as well as LAN, network drive, and remote desktop configurations.
2007	Facilitator — Summer Leadership Institute at Christopher Newport University Guided students handpicked from local high schools to teach them various forms of leadership and collaboration in practical, team-building environments. Our success this trial season paved the way for substantial growth in later years as the Commonwealth Leadership Institute.
2007	Director of Technical Operations — Digital Media Productions Group at Christopher Newport University Played a key role within IT Services' Digital Media Productions Group by setting up and maintaining newsroom computers and video equipment. Also sat on the content development team and implemented streaming media as webmaster of our PHP-driven site.
2006 - 2007	SMART Cart Technician — IT Services at Christopher Newport University Participated on the IT Services team that maintained and repaired the SMART panels, SMART boards, computers, and other audiovisual equipment in university classrooms. Assignments included developing a training video for faculty.
2005 - 2006	Conference Operations Shift Lead — Airlie Conference Center Ensured the satisfaction of guests and managers by overseeing event setup teams, completing setups with various audiovisual and networking elements, and maintaining audiovisual equipment inventory. Also received the Certified Technology Specialist™ designation from InfoComm International.
2004 - 2005	Conference Support Person — Airlie Conference Center Demonstrated above-average attention to detail and a technical proficiency with regard to conference room and event setups, and became the recognized night shift specialist for audiovisual and telecommunications support.
2000-2005	Equipment Operator/Laborer — J.L. Ashby Excavating, LLC Developed a solid work ethic and an orientation toward action. Operated heavy equipment, served as a runner, and performed manual labor including chainsawing on job sites requiring new building construction, demolition, roadwork, and landscape renovations.

Skills

Education

Production Work

Position	Show	Year	Company
Sound Engineer	Music and Meditation for Tibet's Sun and Moon	2010	The Panchen Lama-Tashi Lhunpo Project
Assistant Lighting Designer Avolites Programmer	A Delicate Balance - Dance Showcase	2010	TheaterCNU
Lighting Designer Sound Designer	The Traveler	2010	TheaterCNU
Lighting Designer	Albert Herring	2010	OperaCNU
Hippotizer Support Technician	The Josh Turner Tour	2010	Pacifico Television Engineering, Inc.
Electrician Followspot Operator	The Nutcracker	2009	Community Alliance for the Performing Arts
Assistant Lighting Designer	The Grapes of Wrath	2009	TheaterCNU
Lighting Designer	Gianni Schicchi	2009	OperaCNU
Sound Effects	The Foreigner	2009	Bountiful High School
Electrician Followspot Operator	The Nutcracker	2008	Community Alliance for the Performing Arts
Sound Designer Lighting Designer	Beirut	2008	TheaterCNU Student Thesis
Electrician	The Gift of the Magi	2008	Virginia Premiere Theatre
Stitcher	I Hate Hamlet	2008	TheaterCNU
Stitcher	Summer and Smoke	2008	TheaterCNU
Sound Designer	The Foreigner	2008	Tidewater Regional Repertory Theatre
Sound Designer	Of Mice & Men	2008	Tidewater Regional Repertory Theatre
Sound Designer	Quilters	2008	Tidewater Regional Repertory Theatre
Lighting Designer	The Tender Land	2008	OperaCNU
Electrician	Great Men of Science, Nos. 21 & 22	2008	TheaterCNU
Sound Designer Carpenter Focus Crew	Little Shop of Horrors	2008	TheaterCNU
Lighting Programmer	Nunsense	2007	Fauquier Community Theatre
Lighting Programmer	Winnie the Pooh	2007	Fauquier Community Theatre
Co-Sound Designer	The Adding Machine	2007	TheaterCNU
Audio Engineer	Tempest/Deconstructed	2007	TheaterCNU
Lighting Designer Carpenter	Wait Until Dark	2007	Fauquier Community Theatre
Assistant Sound Designer Sound Technician Electrician Carpenter	Actus Fidei	2007	TheaterCNU
Carpenter	Urinetown	2007	TheaterCNU
Assistant Master Electrician Carpenter	Arcadia	2006	TheaterCNU
Carpenter	Be Agressive	2007	TheaterCNU
Lighting Designer	Oliver!	2006	Fauquier Community Theatre
Lighting Designer	Proof	2006	Fauquier Community Theatre
Sound Designer	Pirates of Penzance	2006	Fauquier High School
Lighting Designer Sound Designer	FHS Talent Show	2005	Fauquier High School
Sound Designer "Enjolras"	Les Misèrablès	2005	Fauquier High School
Stage Director	Concert 4 Katrina	2005	Fauquier County Fairgrounds
Lighting Designer	Much Ado About Nothing	2005	Fauquier Community Theatre
Sound Designer	The (Wo)Man Who Came to Dinner	2004	Fauquier High School
Sound Designer "Owen Musser"	The Foreigner	2004	Fauquier Community Theatre
Sound Designer "Second Man (Gangster)"	Kiss Me Kate	2004	Fauquier High School
Audio Consultant	I'll Be Back Before Midnight	2004	Fauquier Community Theatre
Pit Bassist	You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown	2003	Fauquier Community Theatre
Lighting Designer "Demetrius"	A Midsummer Night’s Dream	2003	Fauquier High School
Sound Designer "Henry Ford"	Ragtime	2003	Fauquier High School
Sound Technician	A Christmas Story	2002	Fauquier Community Theatre
Sound Designer Sound Technician	The Madwoman of Chaillot	2002	Fauquier High School
Sound Designer	The Music Man	2002	Fauquier Community Theatre
Sound Technician	FCT Gala Fundraiser	2002	Fauquier Community Theatre
Lighting Technician Skit Actor	Saturday Night Live	2002	Marshall Middle School Drama Club
"Doctor Marrow"	The Haunting of Hill House	2002	Marshall Middle School Drama Club
"Ollie"	The Best Christmas Pageant Ever	2001	Fauquier Community Theatre
"Arty"	Lost In Yonkers	2000	Fauquier Community Theatre
"Tommy"	A Wonderful Life	1998	Fauquier Community Theatre