Michael Esordi Tour Guide
With the success of last year's Believe It Tour and an urge to continue the journey, Michael Esordi is traveling again. With the help of long time friends, Brad Pennock and Diana Smith, the three will be bringing you the highlights of weird and wild California.
Born and raised in the Downriver area of Michigan, which covers the southern suburbs of Detroit, Michael Esordi, headed east to pursue an education in design. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1991, he lived in Florida then California, before recently moving to Connecticut.
Professionally, Esordi has worked as art director for a leading manufacturer of bicycle and equestrian helmets and creative director for one of the first internet marketing companies in San Diego. As one of the founders of the graphic design firm Duotribe, Esordi continues to express himself artistically in the commercial world, building an international client list that includes names from the spheres of academia to zoology.
Esordi has long been an innovator, as well. Started with an idea in 1996, his "Project New Zealand" was one of the first online travel journals in the infancy of the internet. Esordi captured the attention of such media outlets as the New York Times and CNN.com by posting a daily journal and photos of his bicycle tour across New Zealand.
With a resume full of innovative art projects, it is no surprise that Esordi understands that the next step is juxtaposing classic storytelling ideas with today's high-tech gadgets. He hopes you will take part in the interaction and enjoy being part of the fun.
Brad Pennock Tour Skeptic
Born, raised, and currently still living in San Diego, Brad is always looking for any excuse to leave the paradise of Southern California and venture off on missions of exploration. So when Mike called and said, "I'm driving across the country looking for stories of believers", Brad asked, "when do we leave!?" More about Brad
Having learned how to fly before learning how to drive, Brad was well on his way to a life-long dream of becoming an astronaut when he realized that the math required was just too tedious for his more creative mind. So while still in college, he made a life-changing decision to switch from aerospace engineering to computers and graphic design.
While creating web sites, posters, brochures, and helping others with their Macintosh computers, you'll often find Brad also watching NASA TV or panning around Google Earth to satisfy his curiosity of "what's out there?" When he's not working and the sky is clear, Brad will drive down to Gillespie Field and rent a Piper Archer aircraft to fly off to a new airport he's never been before.
Brad's role as the Tour Skeptic is a serious one. He says, "the universe apparently works in regular, measurable, and physically tangible ways... so far, all these stories of bigfoots, aliens, monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures are just that - stories." So who among you will place any bets that Brad will be proven wrong on this trip? Follow Brad on the Believe It Tour and find out!
Diana Smith Tour "Clip Board"
As a little girl Diana loved to see the world through a unique perspective as she hung upside from a tree branch in her beloved tree house to watch the clouds roll by. Today she still views the world through a unique perspective as Vice President of Business Development for Believe It Tour.
More about Diana
Diana is excited to be returning to her native California for the Tour this year. There aren't many areas of the state that Diana doesn't know well as she was raised in Northern California, but lived in Southern California for many years. While on the tour this year Diana will be filling many creative roles with the number one task of keeping this crew in line. Just look for the silver clipboard and Diana will be the person holding it.
Diana's background is a diverse one as she's been in both the science and creative worlds. As a classically trained scientist she's been a global Regulatory Affairs Director for medical devices companies in California and New York. Diana was also co-founder of an award winning photography studio located in Southern California.
Diana is looking forward to what the 2009 California Believe It Tour holds. Her first encounter with the paranormal world was when she was little and since that time she has always looked for answers to those unexplained things that exist in this world. While she has never seen Bigfoot (yet), swam with a lake monster, or encountered any vampires she hopes to have some exciting adventures this summer on the tour.
