Alan arrived at Gary Bess Associates in March 2008 after a 10-year full-time journalism career. He dedicated five years as arts editor and photographer at the Chico, Calif., daily newspaper and two years as news editor at Videomaker, a national camcorder/video-editing magazine.
As a senior grant writer and project manager, his proven writing skills and his spirited advocacy for human rights and healthcare entitlement have made him a fine asset to the Gary Bess team mission. Alan’s interview skills prove advantageous when it comes to communicating with busy agency administrators. He is one of GBA’s most experienced FQHC application specialists.
Born and raised near Philadelphia, Alan came to Northern California in 1998. He resides with his wife Donna – a licensed clinical social worker and university professor – a dog, two cats, and a cockatiel. His education includes college coursework at Penn State University that he was proud to turn into a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration some 30 years later at California State University, Chico.
An avid music photojournalist, Alan has photographed, reported on, and interviewed more than 400 musical acts over the past 30 years, working with artists both large and small at arenas, festivals, and night clubs. His published works have appeared in many books, as well as print and online newspapers, magazines, and blogs over the years.
Alan has worked out of his home office in Sacramento, California since December 2014.