Walking along the crowded hallways of the Hilton Chicago Hotel more than two years ago, I felt right at home.

First of all, let me say that I am a big Harry Potter fan.

Back in the summer of 2004, the first HP film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” got me interested in the books and more importantly, reading.

Two days later, I had read the first book and was soon starting the second.

Five novels and eight movies later, along with a love for journalism, I am here in Greenville and couldn’t be happier.

For the last 7-8 years, I worked at The Andalusia Star-News. Starting out as a general news reporter, I quickly found my niche in sports soon after and then became the sports editor for the paper, a position I held until coming here.

Right away, one should pick up that I am a Harry Potter and sports fan.

Those two things I hold close to the chest and take quite seriously as each have helped carry me through some hectic times in my life.

I was born in Atlanta, Ga., and grew up in Fairhope, where I went through grade school until graduating from FHS in 2002.

Entering Troy University with a focus in business, I began course work and two-and-a-half-years later, the course of my life changed upon realizing that business wasn’t for me.

In fact, I had accepted the fact that God was calling me into the film business.

So, my mom and I looked at the available majors offered at Troy and decided upon broadcast journalism.

From day one of my new major, I knew I was doing the right thing. Yeah, there were some ups and downs, but I couldn’t have been happier.

During the first semester as a journalism major, boredom sort of set in and I decided to join the college newspaper, which helped usher my career in the print business.

There was a discrimination story I worked on, which didn’t get printed because the source wasn’t reliable, that gave me a good sense of what I wanted to do as a career.

Even though it didn’t print, doing the work on the story was fun and I still find it thrilling to work and do research on stories that come across my desk.

Now, don’t think I haven’t forgotten my calling in the film business. That’s still important.

Maybe that’s why I was helmed as the main photographer for The Star-News for a number of years.
Maybe that’s why I grew to love taking photos more than anything else.

I believe that every given opportunity leads to something better down the road.

As Harry Potter gave me a love of reading and writing, I believe that my time here as managing editor of The Greenville Advocate will be rewarding in its own way.

Now, let’s get started.