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Executive Profile – Russell Whitaker

Before opening the MediaTech Institute in Oceanside to teach others the recording arts and film industry, Russell Whitaker was at the heart of Texas music and recording for three decades.

Whitaker spent the ?0s in Austin, Texas, where he designed and operated the Ruff Cedar Recording Studio. He recorded many top artists, including Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. After relocating to Dallas and opening the multi-studio facility known as Dallas Sound Lab, he continued working with some of the best talents in the industry throughout the ?0s and ?0s. Those performers included Phil Collins, Toby Keith and ZZ Top.

MediaTech Institute, founded in 1998, is also located in Austin, Dallas and Houston.

RESUM?p>?#8201;Name: Russell Whitaker.

?#8201;Company: MediaTech Institute.

?#8201;Titles: President and owner.

?#8201;Education: Bachelor of Science from University of Texas at Austin in radio, television, film; certification as an electronics technician from the Southwest School of Electronics.

?#8201;Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas.

?#8201;Age: 55.

?#8201;Current residence: Oceanside.

?#8201;Family: Wife, Karen Whitaker, and children, Wesley, Ashley, Brandon and Michael.

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Just be involved and know every aspect of your business. You have to keep learning yourself.

Guiding principles: Focus on the students, the rest will follow.

Yardsticks of success: Successful, employed graduates out there making a difference.

Goals yet to be achieved: The sky is the limit. MediaTech Institute will offer new training for new worlds of technology and media.

JUDGMENT CALLS

Best business decision: The best thing I ever did was to decide to keep the schools focused in the studios, making the learning environment the real world.

Worst business decision: Selling my Apple stock in the ?0s.

Toughest business decision: Hiring and firing employees have always been the toughest business decisions for me.

Biggest missed opportunity: Surfing Jaws in Hawaii on a 60-foot day.

Word that describes you: Generous.

TRUE CONFESSIONS

What you like best about your job: The fast pace of the media world, the bright people involved and the great music and film coming out of our schools.

What you like least about your job: Human resources.

Pet peeve: People who waste opportunity.

Most important lesson learned: A happy wife is a happy life.

Three greatest passions: Surfing, music, programming.

First choice for a new career: Database programming.

PREDILECTIONS

Favorite quote: My grandfather used to always say, ?he world doesn? owe you a living.?

Most influential book: The Bible.

Favorite status symbol: My yacht.

Favorite restaurant: Beach Break Caf?in Oceanside.

Favorite place for business meetings: On the water.

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii.

Favorite way to spend time: Surfing.

Do you use a GPS: Yes.

Do you use a PDA: Yes, iPhone.

What? on your iPod: ZZ Top.

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