Hello, I'm Hayden, a 26-year-old digital content creator based in the Nashville area. My roots go back to Champaign, Illinois, where I was born and raised. I grew up on a steady diet of school, sports, and Illini basketball. I am currently the operations assistant for Suite 615 Sports Advisors in Nashville, Tennessee, while doubling as a freelance graphic designer during my free time. I have a burning passion for sports and a sense of humor.
Growing up as a young boy, my dream was to be an athlete. I wanted to be in the NBA. It didn't take super long for me to learn that this was not going to happen. (Ha, but I did declare for the 2017 NBA Draft. Yup, seriously. *but as a joke, of course*)
Though I didn't know it at the time, my journey as a digital creator started at some point during my middle school years. I would download YouTube clips of my favorite athletes and splice them together with some music in the background. During my sophomore year of high school, though my skillset was still very raw, I discovered that I had a passion and a gift as a graphic designer. Since then, I knew I wanted to pursue a career involving digital media.
In 2017, I had the amazing opportunity to work with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the summer. I had already developed a skill set, but that was my first taste of sports graphic design in a professional work environment. It was also my first experience living solo and being in a city by myself, 14 hours from home. I absolutely loved working with the Jaguars, and though it was just three months of my life, it was an experience that I will never forget.
The Jaguars gig ultimately paved the way for the rest of my career. As my internship in Jacksonville came to a close in August of 2017, I landed my first-ever part-time graphic design offer from Gameday Spirit, the official fanstore of the Fighting Illini. I was pumped, and in June of 2018, I also started my job as a graphic designer with the University of Illinois Men's Basketball program. Each job has been unique in itself and allowed me to have a diversified skillset.
In May of 2019, I graduated with an AAS degree in graphic design from Parkland College in my hometown. Less than a month later, I accepted my first full time position as the Lead Graphic Designer for UTEP Athletics. One thing I've learned early on in my career is that it doesn't matter who you are, nobody is self-made. Sometimes I can't help but look back and feel blessed at the opportunities I have been afforded and the people I have crossed paths with.
Fast forward to 2021, I married my beautiful wife, Mazie. In February of 2023, we welcomed our daughter, Teddy Lucille, into the world.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, or if you would like to work together, feel free to reach out to me on my contact page.