Here’s wishing the happiest of birthdays to six excellent visual journalists…
Michael Dabrowa is public relations and communications manager at Troutman Sanders LLP law firm in Atlanta. A 1990 graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Mike spent two years as an artist for the Herald of Rock Hill, S.C., and then six years at the Daily Press of Newport News, Va., before becoming graphics editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1998. He spent eleven years there as graphics editor and a designer for print and online until the AJC‘s infamous graphics purge of 2009. Mike spent a year as design and news editor for the Daily Citizen of Dalton, Ga., before joining Troutman Sanders two years ago. Find his portfolio here. Mike turns 45 today.
Randall Grant is a senior designer for Sports Illustrated’s web site. A 1991 graduate of Norfolk State University, Randall spent three-and-a-half years as a news artist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and then another two-and-a-half years as lead designer for Cox Interactive Media. He left the south to join Sports Illustrated‘s dot-com as a design manager in 1997. In addition to his online duties, Randall is also a photographer for the behind-the-scenes segment of the annual SI swimsuit edition. Find his personal web site here and his Twitter feed here.
Sherry Thien Grother is a self-described “freelance word geek” — an editor and designer in Sartell, Minn. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Sherry spent five years as copy desk chief of the St. Cloud Times before being promoted to presentation editor in 2005. She left the paper in 2008.
Nick Mrozowski is creative director for Adweek magazine. A 2006 graduate of Michigan State University, Nick was named the Society for News Design’s designer of the year for two consecutive years. He worked an internship at the Virginian-Pilot and returned upon graduation for a couple more years before becoming special sections editor for Link, the Pilot‘s free daily youth tab. After Landmark Communications shut Link down in December 2008, Nick moved to Lisbon, Portugal to help the start-up of i, a tabloid that earned a lot of notice for its innovative design and was named one of the World’s Best-Designed Newspapers by SND last year. Nick served as the publication’s art director for nearly two years before returning to the U.S. two years ago. He is the leader of the team that edited and designed Ink, a design journal. Nick joined Adweek in 2011. Find a nice Q&A with him here. Find his portfolio here. Nick turns 29 today.
Judy Treible is the daily graphics editor with McClatchy-Tribune Graphics in Washington, D.C., where she’s worked for about 27 years. Previously, Judy worked with the Viewdata Corp. of America.
Roger Winstead is director of photography for N.C. State University in Raleigh. A 1987 graduate of N.C. State, Roger worked briefly for the Herald-Sun of Durham before joining the staff of the News & Observer, where he spent nearly 11 years as a photojournalist and picture editor. He moved across town to State in 1998. Find his personal web site here and his Twitter feed here.
Nick, Randall, Sherry, Michael, Roger and Judy share a birthday with actors Michael Carlyle Hall, Terence Graham Parry Jones (of Monty Python), Paul Montgomery “Pauly” Shore, Sheryl Ann “Sherilyn” Fenn, Bibiana “Bibi” Besch, Brandon Bruce Lee, Charles William “Bill” Mumy Jr., Elisabeth Clara Heath-Sladen, Sherman Alexander Hemsley, Garrett Gonzalez Morris and William Clark Gable; musicians James Ambrose Johnson (better known as Rick James), Lisa Marie Presley, Antwan André Patton (better known as Big Boi of OutKast), Issac Donald “Don” Everly and Harry Edward Styles of One Direction; sports greats Donald Jerome Driver (football), Kevin Dallas Martin Jr. (basketball), Kent Franklin Mercker and Austin Jarrell Jackson (both baseball); Russian leader Boris Nkolayevich Yeltsin, Princess Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Grimaldi (of Monaco), poet James Mercer Langston Hughes, director John Martin Feeney (better known as John Ford) and movie special effects whiz György Pál Marczincsak (better known as George Pal).
In addition, today is G.I. Joe Day, Give Kids a Smile Day, Robinson Crusoe Day, Car Insurance Day, Bubble Gum Day and Working Naked Day. Seriously.
Have a terrific birthday today, all! Best wishes!
