Dennis Taylor

Back to Culture

Tell us about yourself?

Being one of the founders and owners of DreamWorld Studios I have an incredible amount of passion for this company. I try to be involved with as many aspects of our business as possible. I have had many experiences in my life that I feel have given me the insight that I need in order to be successful in my endeavors today.

Some of these experiences are of the creative type, some are business related, others are very technical in nature – but collectively they make me who I am today. What is interesting is how many things we all do and experience that at the time may seem irrelevant but years later we are glad to have learned.

What's your background?

For the first 14 years or so of my career I was involved in the world of print. I started out running various printing presses – from small A.B. Dick sheet feds to huge 300' long heat-set 4-color process web presses. Over those years I probably ran 20 or more different printing presses.

I also spent some time running bindery and other printing related equipment. After about eight to ten years into it I became involved with the pre-press portion of the process (this is where I became…. well…. obsessed with computers) and shortly thereafter transitioned into departmental management capacities. Finally, at about 12 years into that stint I became the General Manager of a print company which employed about 80 employees.

It was shortly thereafter that I met Grant and DWS was born! Printing was a great springboard into my current career but it pales in comparison to how much excitement I feel towards my current day to day endeavors.

What inspires you?

Seeing something that I don't understand and taking the steps needed to understand it. I think that says it all about me – all the way back as far as I can remember. I have always had the curiosity of a cat and love to “figure it out”.

Secondarily, once I have figured something out – I love sharing any newfound details with others who don't understand it. There is probably a part of me that could have been a teacher!

Why is your job so interesting?

I wear many different hats through the course of a typical week so I get to deal with many aspects of our business. That coupled with the fact that the type of work that DWS does is within the computer/technology world which is constantly evolving. As they say, “never a dull moment”!

What personal and work characteristics are important to have with your job?

Communication, communication and communication. I think I have communicated the answer to that question!

Back to Culture

What's it like working at DWS?

It's hard to put to words, but I am excited to "come to the office" every day. Notice I didn't say "go to work"? Like my dad told me; "find a job doing something you love and you will not have to work a day in your life"! But the best way to put it to words is that I love having the opportunity to solve or be a part of solving our customers problems and I get to do that every day. I think to some degree everyone here does that and enjoys it.

So it is a great place to be 5 days every week!

Has this job affected your skills?

Absolutely! Every single day I learn new things and grow both as a person and an owner. The nature of our business mandates that I continually have new things to learn.

What's the best thing about working at DWS?

The people! Both customers and employees. I usually find myself working with great individuals. For the most part, I feel like I have a lot in common with the people that I deal with every day.

How important is it to be multi-skilled, for example to know the programming as well as the design?

Very! ……………………… OK - I guess the question is looking for more than a one word answer - so how about this; It is one thing to know the right thing to do – but quite another to know why. By understanding what the others who are involved in a project are doing you will inherently be able to do a better job yourself.

What is a typical work day for you?

Typical is such a loaded word! But there are very few days that don't include meeting with employees, customers & vendors, e-mails, phone calls, management duties, writing proposals, research, answering questions.

What are your future goals?

To continually get better at understanding and delivering on the needs of DWS customers and employees. There are so many things that are included in that statement, but without attention to those things little else matters.

What's your dream project?

That's easy: that would be the project where I replace Joe Perry as the lead guitar player for Aerosmith and DWS produces the new album, all 12 music videos to support the album and we do the live production on the follow up tour. Nothing too unrealistic, right?!?!?!?!?