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Meet our Career Experts

Meet our Career Experts

Dominique LaRussa “Domi” is Pro Tools certified and handles the multi-track recording segments of the Lights Camera Awesome program here at the School For Creative Careers. She works for Sea World in their audio department doing live sound for their shows. Also, she is an avid musician and afluent drummer and performs locally here in San Diego. She gives our students a well-rounded resource in developing their skills in recording arts.

With an Art degree from the University of California Santa Barbara, Tara Nichole brings a wide range of skillsets to the School For Creative Careers. A local community leader, she served on the board of directors for KNSJ radio and Activist San Diego. She is a seasoned visual artist with her own art gallery. All this is done with a focus on youth education and community good will. As a professional musician, a show host for MyDjsRadio broadcast, and event coordinator for Artifornia, Tara brings an understanding of current multi-media workplace reality. The students at School For Creative Careers use her as a great resource in understanding the environmental conditions they will encounter in the future.

Maren received her education in Germany before moving to San Diego. A songwriter and prolific musician, her debut album “Artificial Gardens” won best Pop album at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards. Her interests then turned to multi-media influenced musical performances. She performed in tandem with Djs and visual arts events at large scale concert venues, and Hard Rock Hotels across the country. Maren instructs students here at the School For Creative Careers in different media playback protocols including Serato, Traktor, and Q Lab. She also instructs the live performance segments, all the while relaying her experiences out in the real world.

Jen graduated from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and also is a San Diego State University alumni. She has worked as a performer at Disneyland and Sea World. At the YMCA, she served as site supervisor and Specialty Camp Coordinator for the La Jolla location. She brings a wealth of experience to the School For Creative Careers in hosting after school programs. She also performs regularly along with Marc Crespo on the mainstage of San Diego National Comedy Theater. For the Lights, Camera, Awesome segments, she instructs students in interviewing, anchor, and other on-camera skills. Her great strength and joy is bringing students to a comfortable performance level in front of the camera.

Marc is a graduate of San Diego State University’s Film Program. He manages the rental departments at San Diego Video Gear, specializing in film and audio equipment. He works with a number of film and sketch comedy projects here in San Diego county. Along with Jen Stopper, he performs on the mainstage at San Diego National Comedy Theater. For the Lights Camera Awesome segments here at the School For Creative Careers, Marc not only instructs students in high-definition multi-camera operations, he also delivers directorial and stage manager instruction, giving students tips from his experiences in actual camera use scenarios that will serve them well as they advance to their careers in today’s work environment.

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.

Jamie McGuffee is 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. The School for Creative Careers allows for a window to relay her experiences to today’s students.

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