J.D. is a serial entrepreneur and designer with nearly 20 years of experience in the design industry. His experience includes high-end residential, light commercial, custom hardware, publishing, graphic and kitchen & bath design both on the West Coast and in the Midwest. Much like the students he teaches, his career started on a different path. His first degree, and career, was in Corporate Accounting and then transitioned into Business Management for a high-end residential design firm. Attending classes primarily at night and on the weekends, J.D. took six years to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Interior Design while working full time and starting his own firm. In addition to establishing a residential design/build business, J.D. also co-founded a successful publishing company that produced a local, county wide home magazine created to not only serve as a marketing vehicle for the design firm, but also to support the community by giving small business owners a more affordable way to advertise directly to their target local market. After several years, J.D. and his family made the decision to sell everything and move to Seattle to facilitate the next steps in his career. A contemporary designer at heart, the Pacific Northwest and Seattle in particular, was the perfect choice. He now is an owner and investor in four different businesses in the PNW. J.D. 's goal is to impart on his students the experiences of being an interior designer and business owner in order to help facilitate their transition to a new career.