Open House

Meet Our Alumni

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  Charleston Phillips

  Audio Production , 2016
  The Art Institute of Houston

  "I felt the benefits of my hard work when I took a job in the fields that I love - music and education..”

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  Charleston Phillips

  Creates Marketing Plans for Epic Records’ Recording Artists

  Charleston Phillips is responsible for creating marketing plans for recording artists including Future, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, and Travis Scott. “I evaluate their various target markets and make calculated decisions on where we will have the most success in placing their music,” he says.

  He uses the education gained at The Art Institute of Houston to “speak the language” of the music business. Charleston adds that his coursework helps him to successfully implement progressive business practices. Since graduation, he’s marketed songs that have made it to the top of the Billboard charts and reached platinum status, including "Mask Off" by Future, "Bank Account" by 21 Savage, and "Rake It Up" by Yo Gotti and Nicki Minaj.

  Before his current position, Charleston discovered his interest in merging business and music. He took a shot at pitching a new job—one he hoped to fill himself. “I observed how business was conducted and how relationships were maintained. Then, I created a portfolio and a resume to show the studio that I could be an asset by collaborating with Houston's local artist as well as celebrities.”

  Charleston says that his plan worked—he was hired to fill the position he’d created and now hosts events throughout the city. He also serves as a field representative for The Art Institute of Houston, talking to high school students about creative careers. He feels passionate about the school because his education helped him to achieve his career goals. “I studied audio production and used all of my electives to study business. Now I am well rounded—I can record, produce, run a concert, and DJ if I need to.”

  He adds that the music industry is constantly changing—both in the way music is consumed and marketed. Charleston says that current students should be prepared for a career that requires lifelong learning and flexibility. “Going to school for a creative career and graduating already shows your level of commitment. Some the of people in our field do not have this level of education. Understanding the concepts of your field can put you years ahead of your competition.”

  While he’s had success in guiding his own career path, Charleston knows that it’s important to maintain a creative feel in the workplace. “I like to keep decorative information packets and swag around my desk so my teammates know exactly where to go when they need that type of stuff.” He also makes a positive impact by lending a hand when coworkers have audio and music business questions.

  Today, he is thankful that The Art Institute of Houston equipped him with the training he needed to advance his career. He continues to learn on the job and is joining organizations, such as the Audio Engineer Society, that teach him more about the music industry. The society is national but also has a presence at The Art Institute of Houston. “They host workshops and competitions that students can enter to obtain industry level feedback before graduation,” he mentions.

  Charleston believes it’s also important to be well-rounded in the field. “I found that I have a passion for education and helping others. That’s why I have decided to give back to my local community and the school that provided me with the tools that I use for my everyday success—The Art Institute of Houston.”

  The Art Institute of Houston is one of The Art Institutes, a system of non-profit schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Some institutions in The Art Institutes system are campuses of Argosy University. The Art Institute of Houston, 4140 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027. ©2018. The Art Institutes. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@aii.edu.

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  Nicole Schneck

  Interior Design , 2013
  The Art Institute of Houston

  “The interior design program’s classes were helpful in preparing me to get projects done from start to finish.”

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  Nicole Schneck

  Specializes in Hotel Design for Worldwide Architecture and Design Firm

  Nicole Schneck is an interior designer for Gensler, a global architecture and design firm with 40+ offices across the globe. “I currently work in the Lifestyle 2 studio in the Gensler Houston office where I specialize in hotel design,” she says. Nicole works in teams with project managers, fellow designers, and architects to create functional, beautiful spaces. Prior to joining Gensler, she worked at Mitchell Carlson Stone and Studio DW.

  She says that each day at work is different—and fun. “About 90% of my job duties include communication—via phone, email or meetings. Design cannot be done without collaboration through all the proper channels. You have to be ready for whatever the day will bring you because it’s almost never exactly what you expected to get done that day.”

  Nicole earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Houston in 2013. She adds that her education helped her to gain professional, communication, and networking skills. “The interior design program’s classes were helpful in preparing me to get projects done from start to finish.” She recommends that current students know that once they’re in the real world, seeing a finished project will make their work worth it. “Design touches so many lives in so many different ways and it's amazing that you will be able to do something so meaningful.”

  She adds that her profession is challenging and ever-evolving. Her first job ended abruptly when the studio owner decided to shut down the business. Thanks to her networking, she was able to secure a new position. “You may think it won’t make a difference if you go to that lecture, or make an appearance at a showroom opening, but you never know who you could meet. The biggest thing I have learned since graduating is that the design world is very small! Everyone knows everyone.”

  Today, she works in a creative and inspiring firm that features in-house design contests—just for fun. The innovative environment allows designers to get to know each other’s strengths while building friendships. In addition to her interior design work, Nicole is the programming director on a board that organizes networking events throughout the year, continuing education classes, organizes a biannual tradeshow, and holds an annual scholarship gala. “This year, we awarded $20,000.00 to students interested in pursuing careers in hospitality after graduation. It’s great to be able to hear these students speak at our gala—and their personal journeys and stories.”

  
  

  The Art Institute of Houston is one of The Art Institutes, a system of non-profit schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Some institutions in The Art Institutes system are campuses of Argosy University. The Art Institute of Houston, 4140 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027. ©2018. The Art Institutes. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@aii.edu.

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  Drew Waltman

  Web Design & Interactive Media , 2009
  The Art Institute of California—San Diego, a campus of Argosy University

  “The Art Institute of California—San Diego sparked my passion to learn more.”

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  Drew Waltman

  Runs a Digital Agency that Focuses on Helping Small Businesses
  

  As the CEO and founder of Waltman Design, Drew Waltman is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of his digital agency that focuses on small business web design, development, and SEO services. He says that his workdays are spent learning about industry trends, addressing calls and emails, and working on projects. Drew also sets aside a period of each day to work on client relationship management. “I will check-in with past and potential clients and follow up on leads,” he says. He completes his day by watching tutorials on Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SEO skills. 

  Before opening his own business, Drew worked as the webmaster for the University of California, San Diego News Center website. “To this day, that is one of the highest trafficked websites I have ever worked on. During my time at UCSD, I started building my freelance business by taking on side projects for friends and family,” he says.

  Drew had a goal to run his own business—and he made it a reality in 2012. “I jumped headfirst into projects and started out locally working with people I knew and mom-and-pop shops” He runs the business out of a coworking office called BLOC, which keeps overhead costs relatively low. Drew created a virtual agency that allows him to offer quality services at an affordable rate. His team of five contractors includes a user interface designer and front-end developer, a backend developer, graphic designer, copywriter, and search engine optimization specialist.

  He says that his education at The Art Institute of California—San Diego sparked his passion to learn more. “Since that time, I have grown a lot as a person and have honed and improved my skillset. I feel in control of my life and where I want to go with my career.”

  During tough times, Drew relies on the philosophy that after every dark night, there is a brighter day. He encourages current students to stay focused and to learn from failure. “Never stop learning and asking questions. Surround yourself with positive influences and mentors and set aside time to improve the quality of your life,” he adds.

  He uses that advice to cope with—and learn from—tough situations in the workplace. “When facing any challenge, I am calm, cool, and collected. If you can’t be that way, a small challenge might turn into a big problem. I recommend steady exercise, adequate sleep, and mediation.” 

  He knows that his career requires dedication and commitment and is prepared to put in the hours needed to achieve his goals. In addition to working for his own company, Drew supports the local community. He’s a member of the Leucadia 101 Main Street Association, BLOC Coworking, and the Surfrider Foundation—organizations that help the community and represent his core values.

  The Art Institute of California—San Diego, a campus of Argosy University, is one of The Art Institutes, a system of non-profit schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Some institutions in The Art Institutes system are campuses of Argosy University. The Art Institute of California—San Diego, a campus of Argosy University, 7650 Mission Valley Road San Diego, CA 92108-4423. ©2018. The Art Institutes. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@aii.edu.

  See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

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