Bio: Scott Roberts

For me the love of computers goes way back. I was introduced to the Apple II while in elementary school back in 1980. A teacher in our school (Mr. Berg) brought all the 4th grade students into a room and showed us the machine and had a student (Abby) interact with it. Somehow it knew who she was because when she type in a few words it responded with a comment about her pigtails. After the class I approached Mr. Berg and ask about how it knew about Abby's hair. I also explained what I thought he did: I thought he somehow told the computer to say what it did, I thought he typed something in beforehand. He was shocked and amused. My parents got a call about it later in the week. At that time my mother worked at a local college, Lawrence Institute of Technology (now Lawrence Technological University) in the office of the President (Dr. Richard E. Marburger) who in 1981 sent home a terminal that connected to the university mainframe via modem (300 baud). From age 11 to 13 I had access to college level computer information, I emailed, and had exposure to college level classes and learning, I even went to classes from time to time. As a child I had an affinity for computers and learning that Dr. Marburger and others could see that was probably likely the same for other children (which it was). All though middle school I was know for having computer skills and even guided in that direction by my teachers (who had discussions with my parents and Dr. Marburger). Thanks to another, my art teacher, Mr. White, I was exposed to 3D animation, he would bring in videos of animation for us to see. I knew that one day I would be animating 3D characters myself, one day... For my 8th grade computer science final instead of delivering a coded animation, I delivered a first person racing game called Turbo 2000 (may have been the world's first), of course, I got an A.

Upon enetering high school, there were more computer classes available and the teachers where already aware of my skills, my video game had caused quite a stir, one of my teachers told me it had been sold for a good amount of money, which was fine with me, again, I got an A. But I was looked at as a



rainmaker, though I really didn't see COBOL or FORTRAN getting me very far. I aced those classes. In 1984, thanks to my mom and grandmother, I got an Atari 800XL computer and almost immediately start programming in Atari BASIC. I also started really got into gaming as the system had access to dozens of games. Eventually I started programming my own games and designing even more complex games that I could not make myself. In 1986 my father owned an insurance agency and bought an IBM PC, it only took a few minutes for me to realize the future when I typed in BASIC and
something happened. By age 14 I had designed (it was programmed by two friends more knowledgeable in BASIC) an amortization program for my father's office, that was my first business endeavor. By 17 I was graduating from high school and programming in Assembly Code. Even before graduation, my college path was assured. When the AC-Ts came I missed them due to an accident, (swollen hand form a spider bite) my teachers told me not to worry. I never took the SATs, I was already offered a full-ride scholarship to... yes, Lawrence Tech and was to start as a sophomore. But it didn't happen that way.

When I graduated, I was tired of coding but still very interested in computers. I was approached by Joel Hoffmann (owner of Intelligent Connections), a visionary in his own right, who told me that going to college for computer science was a good idea, I would learn a lot, but if I went to work for him what I would learn I could use 20 years from then (1989), I believed him (and he was right),so I went pro right out of high school. I learned to build computers from scratch, I learned how to network them (coax in those days) and how to diagnose and repair computer and network issues. While the college was still working with terminals and mainframes I was experiencing DOS, the Macintosh and even Windows 286 and had been introduced to a new device for PC, the mouse. I was using Aldus Illustrator (it was bought by Adobe) and Microsoft Works (there was no Office). It was fun, and I learned a lot... Then he sold the company and went to work for Banyan Systems and changed my life. My skill set wasn't needed where he worked so he asked if I would be willing to learn computer graphics and animation. He gave me an Intel 286 computer with Corel Draw (yes, the first) and Autodesk Animator.

It was awesome, I had really only programmed graphics in the past, besides making some graphics with Illustrator, the transition to Corel Draw was easy enough and I loved animation. I began designing logos, brochures, posters, and animated presentations for computers and TV. Since I was essentially on my own as a freelancer, I got business elsewhere as well. In 1993 I made an animation for a local law firm (Law Offices of Lee Steinberg) that aired in the Detroit Area, by 1994 I had animations on several commercials in the area.

One day, I decided to call an small ad agency in the area to see if they wanted to work with someone who could make animated presentations or even animated commercials for them. I opened the phone book and called Don Coleman & Associates, best call I could have made. I was hired as a contract employee and put on the creative team. I was also mentored by the agency heads and directors. The knowledge and experience I gained from my time there is invaluable, I worked on projects for Ford Credit, Coca Cola, and Domino's Pizza to name a few. I worked on artwork, presentations, video, and even made a video game for a trade show (that was a hit). I still have an open invitation for employment to this day with them (if I ever want to freeze back home). Don Coleman & Associates is now Global Hue, an $800+ million dollar agency.

When I went back on my own, occasionally I did work in the corporate world. Joel had moved from Banyan to EDS and asked if I wanted to work for him there as a Micro-systems Analyst and I accepted. I worked in General Motors' secret area called "Portfolio" in the GM Tech Center. I was part of a team charged with implementing a concept called COE (Consistent Office Environment), basically it meant everybody using the same equipment with the same OS versions and software versions at the same time, which was a major issue in those days. It was successful and I moved on to help network Detroit Diesel. While at EDS I was still occasionally commissioned to create presentation animations as well.

In 1995, while working for myself, I was approached by a graphics client who wanted a website. I had been using the internet for some time, but really didn't get the gravity of it so I declined. They kept asking, so eventually I agreed. I went to Egghead Software and found a program called Claris (precursor to Dreamweaver) I also bought a book on HTML. 48 hours later I had created my client's website but I had no idea how to put it on the internet, so I found a local hosting company and took it to them. The owner saw the website and asked how long it took me to create it, I told him I had only just learned how to make them earlier in the week and so it took 2 days. He was stunned (I though I was slow) and so began my web career because they loaded me with work.

Back in 1991 I had been exposed to Autodesk 3D Studio (now Autodesk 3D Studio MAX) and had loved the idea of making 3D animation on my own machines. I had even obtained a copy of it and learned it, but I also got Imagine 3D, a 3D program that I eventually used for all my 3D work for years. When it went away I returned to 3D Studio MAX then Maya 3D for a time, then I found Poser and Cinema 4D (which had previously only been on Macs) around that time Adobe had ported over their software and I was finally able to do everything on one PC. Really, in the mid 90's is when Think More Media began.

From 1995 on, I designed and developed websites, created 3D CGI and animations, logos, brochures, posers, murals, commercials, corporate videos, Flash applications and even an infomercial. I  In 1999 my worked helped the company I went to work for (AP3) go public on the London Stock Exchange and I left for sunny Florida where I started Gravity Factory in 2001. I designed websites, created marketing materials, 3D artwork and animations and commercials that aired across the US. In 2009, I was offered a Creative Director position at Sarasota Marketing Solutions, I designed websites for various clients as well as marketing materials, brochures, video and photography, unfortunately the company had to close its doors less than a year later due to poor health of the owner who later succumbed to his illness. In 2010 the Gravity Factory brand was shelved and became i7 Creative (I was inspired by the Intel i7 chip). In 2011 i7 Creative was re-branded to a name I wish I had though of 20 years ago, Think More Media.

As you can see, I have vast working experience in multiple areas. As with most bios, there is still even more that I could tell, I even left out my time with CIBER working for Ford Credit on their lease return website, NASCAR update page and Mazda website design. But here you have the milestones in my IT can creative career. I bring this well of knowledge and experience, fused with the technology of today to every project we develop, from a business card to a full campaign to help small businesses get more from their markets. As you can read, I realize it takes the assistance of others to accomplish great things. I have always attracted like minded people to work with me so that we always maintained the power to complete any project with speed and accuracy on-time and within budget. While the names may have changed over the years, my attention to detail and high design standards have not.

I am not a superhero, we are not superheroes, but some of our clients would beg to differ.