A singer-comedian since 1979, in 1988 I began doing commercial voiceover and theatre improvisation. In 1989, seeking solely to increase my income, I took a job teaching at a state-sanctioned traffic school that used comedians as instructors. This experience, in which initially-resistant learners consistently became highly involved and enthusiastic, ultimately led me to value the role of laughter in learning. I became Instructor Coordinator for my traffic school; began studying instructional design, accelerative learning, and brain-compatible learning; and, inspired by the many innovations of my comedian/instructor staff, redesigned and standardized the format of the traffic school's classes. It was during this time that I also developed some of my  first business communication skills programs. I founded HumorRULES® in 1993. In succeeding years, I delivered training throughout the U.S., and in Canada, Europe, and S.E. Asia. I've delivered numerous presentations at international conferences of The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and The International Society for Humor Studies. My training techniques have been taught through the University of California Extension Business and Management program and the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University. From September 2004 through July 2005, I used my techniques in delivering business and EFL training in Shanghai, China. In 2006, I was an invited lecturer at the 6th International Summer School on Humor and Laughter at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Member, Golden Key Honor Society
Featured Speaker, 2005 ASTD ICE
Founder and director of two award-winning a cappella groups, Sirens and The Dinettes
Co-writer (with Leann Lewis) of award-winning musical "Looks"