PEOPLE
Beau - Beau is Peter Obetz’s chocolate Labrador Retriever. He's our official greeter, and oversees our physical fitness program here at Digital Labrador. He has boundless energy and insists on playing fetch several times a day. Beau represents the qualities that we hope to exude here at Digital Labrador: Happy to see you, Loyal, Trusting, Playful, Energetic, and with a leg up on the competition.
Brud Jones – Brud is fascinated with technology and its applications to business and the creative process. He’s a gadget guy and a voracious seeker of all things new and cool. He also has a great head for business. Brud and the other Digital Labrador founder, Peter Obetz, had been photographers together for their high school year book. In 2001, Brud’s entrepreneurial mind began to think about how digital photography would evolve. Digital Labrador is the result of that thought process. Brud is a fast-forward thinker. He sees challenges and their solutions very quickly.
Peter Obetz – Peter and Brud first did business together after college, when they co-founded Tailgunner; a company that manufactured a tail-hitch mounted clay pigeon throwing machine for target shooters. Then Peter went to law school and became a successful litigator. In 2004, Peter was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and felt that a career change would be healthy. Once again, he had the opportunity to work with Brud Jones to bring something new to shooters….this time photographers.
Steve Gibson – Steve has worked in photography since earning his BA in photography in 1994. He brings a unique perspective to Digital Labrador, finding new and interesting ways to interpret things. Inside jokes aside, Steve is a terrific resource. He has studio and graphics experience that helps Digital Labrador operate smoothly.
Bud Simpson – Bud has over 35 years of photography experience - 20 as a studio owner. He loves the science of photography - how silver salts or zeroes and ones can capture images. He’s a tech-geek, but he can easily put things in layman’s terms and quicken your understanding of complex subjects. He’s certified in Apple’s Aperture and is a Mac-wiz in his own right.
Frank Hamilton – Frank is a scholar and artist. He is, perhaps, one of Kansas City’s better-known keepers of photographic knowledge. In fact, Frank is a photography teacher at area colleges. Frank is our in-house paper and printing guru. He is great to consult with on the end-image you are trying to produce.
Shari Hartbauer - Shari has been a professional photographer since high school when she got her first check for shooting all the champion steers at the county fair for the local newspaper. She helps Digital Labrador with new ventures and special projects, like last year's photo expedition to the Kingdom of Bhutan. She has traveled to many parts of the world as a photographer and volunteer on medical missions. When she's not practicing her handstands at the lab, she's teaching yoga.