People
Wes Kennison
Creative Director
Wes travelled extensively as a child, spending time in France and Cameroon, West Africa, as a result he speaks 3 languages and credits his multi cultural upbringing as the source of his Macgyver like adaptability. He is an LSU graduate with a major in International Studies - Middle Eastern concentration and a minor in Business Administration. When he's not busy with work, he enjoys spending time with family, lifting heavy things, eating delicious bacon and drinking hoppy beer.
Hometown: Citizen of the World (via Baton Rouge)
Childhood dream job: It changed often...
Something cool you've done: Survived malaria in Africa...9 times.
#LMmoo
Cat Miguez
Producer
She started her career in video by writing and producing commercials and short films for classes in the film society in college. As a recent college graduate, she held an assortment of occupations before landing her first professional job in the video production field with Launch Media. She is ecstatic to be part of such a diverse team and grateful for all the experience and knowledge she gains from them.
Cat graduated from UL in Lafayette with a B.A. in Moving Image Arts and a minor in Business. She aspires to be a producer one day and hopes to be able to start and complete a personal film project within the near future. Besides film, she loves music, car rides, traveling, spending time with friends and family, a pair of shades when its too sunny, good food and drink, and just about every other simple thing in life you can think of.
Hometown: Lafayette, LA
Childhood dream job: It always fluctuated between actor and secret agent/private detective
Something cool you’ve done: Played an epic and intense game of assassin with friends that lasted for a week and finished third.
#LMcatwoman
Ryan Golden
Lead Motion Designer / 3D Artist
Ryan Golden is an award winning Motion Designer and long time video industry professional. He's no stranger to Launch Media, having worked with us in a freelance and full time capacity over the last 6 years. He joined us full time in early 2015 to head our Motion Graphics and 3D Animation department.
Past gigs include chicken farmer, residential sewage treatment installer, manufactured home refurbisher, retail cashier, and dishwasher. To say he's found his niche at Launch Media is an understatement.
Hometown: Monroe, La.
Childhood dream job: Airplane Pilot
#LMsizzle
Trang Evans
Business Manager
Trang manages everything that is business and finance related at Launch Media. As a general rule, she works hard and tries not to take herself too seriously. As a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player but came to realize she is short, and is thus terrible at it. But for all that Trang may lack on the court in between the paint, she more than makes up for by keeping Launch Media comfortably in the black.
Trang and her family came to America in 1986 from Vietnam and they settled in Northern California where they established a high-end cosmetology salon. Working in the family business since she was 8 years old, she knew it was her destiny to become an entrepreneur. After graduating from California State University, East Bay with a BS in Business Administration and options in Advertising and Finance, she moved to Louisiana. She bought, sold, and managed gas stations, truck stops, and a casino for 8 years. She was also a real estate consultant for 9 years helping clients live the American dream by buying and selling properties.
After giving birth to her long awaited baby boy, she realized her life as an entrepreneurial rock star should come to an end. She decided to sell her businesses so that she could have more time to enjoy the more simple things in life. In a twist of serendipity, she landed a marvelous job at Launch Media where she expresses her mind-boggling personality on a daily basis.
Hometown: Hayward, CA
Childhood dream job: Professional Basketball Player and Figure Skater
Something cool you've done: Played violin in a symphony for 10 years
#LMgnart
John E. Jackson
CEO & Executive Producer
John is originally from Ragley, La., where he enjoyed his childhood on a small farm. He moved to Baton Rouge in 1993 to attend LSU. While earning his degree in general studies with concentrations in photography, public relations and advertising, he realized his entrepreneurial potential—starting his first company prior to graduation.
Through his involvement in the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Forum 35’s Art Melt, YWCA and Youth Oasis, he was able to not only give back to his community, but also grow a startup video production company into a full-service, award-winning multimedia production company. His dedication to the growth of the company was recognized when Launch Media secured the No. 6 slot in the 2013 LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses.
Jackson believes his success relies upon placing value in relationships, contributing to philanthropic efforts in the community and offering individuals a great place to work. As a result, Launch Media’s corporate culture is shaped heavily by these ideas. With Jackson’s leadership, the company will continue to support the community by telling its great stories through video.
Hometown: Ragley, LA
Childhood dream job: Underwater Scuba Diver Instructor
Something cool you've done: Experienced micro gravity...twice. Won a year’s worth of Raising Cane’s doing it.
#LMsweetaction
Michael Trufant
Partner & Coordinating Producer
Michael Trufant is originally from New Orleans and moved to Baton Rouge in the mid-70’s to attend LSU in General Studies and Journalism. He was a still photographer for the Daily Reveille and LSU’s yearbook, The Gumbo. In the late 70’s Michael transitioned to television news when they were still using 16mm film cameras. He worked for WDSU (NBC) in New Orleans, WAFB (CBS) and WBRZ (ABC) in Baton Rouge until the mid 1980s. He has traveled extensively to video everything from the war in El Salvador to presidential campaigns.
Michael brings to Launch Media a strong depth of business experience, marketing insight, and on-going support. “John has done an excellent job of building a robust digital media service company,” said Trufant. “I continue to support his leadership and assist anywhere I can to help the vision of Launch Media come about.” Whether advising or producing, Michael celebrates the creativity, collaboration and culture that Launch embodies.
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Childhood dream job: TV Reporter or US Park Ranger
Something cool you've done: Covered former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, as a TV news photographer, for almost 3 years.
#LMwiz
Jordan Peck
Editor
Jordan has worked in the audio/video production realm since his college years at LSU in 2002.
A passion that began with internships at radio stations, DJing at local clubs, Jordan organically turned into a post production powerhouse for Launch Media in Baton Rouge. You can usually find him in a dark editing suite, making magic through video and motion graphics.
Jordan is always looking for the next project to work on. In his spare time, he loves hanging out with his wife, Erin, and their 2 dogs and 2 cats, playing videos games and perfecting his art of turntablism/skratching.
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Childhood dream job: Ice Cream Man
Something cool you've done: Shared the stage with 2 Live Crew and Vanilla Ice
#LMdartgun
Deirdre Peterson
Line Producer
Deirdre is a Producer/Project Manager for Special Projects here at Launch Media. She works as a liaison between the client and Launch to get the video packages from conception to completion. She works on all logisitc aspects and helps with creativity.
She began her career in film/video at a young age by filming short silent films on an old 8mm camera. She then started shooting promos, skits, and live local bands for public access TV in Sacramento, CA. She was able to practice linear editing, get her hands on some amazing old pieces of equipment, and truly learn the filming process from the ground up. After completing her first degree, she got hired on a feature film as a Production Assistant. Within a year she moved up the ranks to a Production Supervisor position. Deirdre has been working in production since 2009, and is credited for over 20 film and live music events. She is extremely fortunate to be working in this industry and loves living in the great state of Louisiana!
Deirdre studied Film/Video/Television production at three different colleges in California and graduated with a Associate Degree from San Diego City College. Her true education has come from life and work experiences. She was also a bartender for many years, and can make a mean martini. In addition to being a a film freak (her friends call her IMDb)...She loves travel, music, wine, and trivia!
Hometown: Stockton, CA
Childhood dream job: Astronaut…mostly she just wanted to go to Space Camp
Something cool you’ve done: almost perfected her recipe for homemade pico de gallo!
#LMwhodat
Chris Brooks
Business Development Director
He started as an Account Executive at Guaranty Broadcasting in 2004 and worked there for 2 yrs. Chris then accepted the position as General Manager of the former Tiger Weekly, currently DIG Magazine. He held that post till May of last year. Chris had a brief stint in the F&B industry as General Manager of Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant until he filled his new role here at Launch. He's also been chairman of Art Melt (2007-2011) and current chairman of the Baton Rouge Blues Festival (2013-present).
Raised in Baton Rouge, Chris attended University High School and graduated from LSU with a Mass Communication/Electronic Media degree and a minor in History and Music.
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Childhood dream job: Rockstar
Something cool you've done: 5-day trek to Machu Picchu
#LMsop
