Meet Cavan Barry The name’s Barry. Cavan Barry. Artiste, punk music snob, and Craf2M’s graphic design extraordinaire. Starting his career in the world of architecture, Cavan realized he had a plethora of creativity that wasn’t being used to its fullest potential. His craving for a creative outlet paired with his raw talents were the makings to spark a change in careers.   “Ever since I was a teenager, I’d sketch out company logos. I loved typography, and it still carries over to this day,” Cavan reminisces. That’s when he enrolled into Yavapai College for Graphic Design. After obtaining his degree, he began to freelance, and as fate would have it, found out about an opportunity to join the (super awesome) Craf2M team. When we asked him what keeps him going in this creative field, he admits that he’s got a soft spot for startup companies. The branding for any company is crucial, but it’s especially important for startups – and he loves being a part of a company from the get-go. It’s a pivotal moment in a business’s life. Staying this creative and fueling the passion for the arts doesn’t take a whole lot for Cavan. He’s a huge music buff, and on any given weekend, you might find him headbangin’ in a mosh pit of a punk rock concert. And if you’re thinking about giving that extra concert ticket to him, you’re outta luck. He prefers to fly solo. Why? “I like to do my own thing. I find that I enjoy the show way more when I’m able to run around, and sing my heart out without worrying what anyone thinks,” he gushes. This sparks the question – what does Mr. Barry look like at a punk concert? We may never know. While you may not be able to mosh with him, he’s always up for karaoke. He loves being around big groups of people and going to events, and even hosting parties where he’s the head chef. “I’m terrible at portion control, but when I have a party, I have more people to eat my what would be leftovers! It’s a win-win,” Cavan laughs. Though he might seem like a social butterfly, he’s a bit of an introvert. (Yeah, we’re still talking about the same guy who’s the Gatsby of the ball.) He enjoys his alone time with his 15 pound Bengal cat, Tyrion, kicking back with some pizza, while watching Game of Thrones or New Girl. When we asked him about his goals, he took a second to think about it. “That’s tough,” he says. “I’d like to live in Oregon. I love the rainy weather. It’s so relaxing, smells clean, and looks fresh. Then, I’d like to just get lost in Europe for a month or two. Paris, Scandinavia – somewhere around that part of Europe.” he decides. Vouloir, c’est pouvoir, Cavan.

Bears, beards, and brewskis. This is what manhood is all about. Sprinkle in a dash of patriotism, rock ‘n’ roll music, and bro-tastic haircuts – now what do you have? John Hancock Barbershop. We work with some pretty awesome clients, and we’re shining a spotlight on them to acknowledge the great work they’re doing in our community. Building a successful business means putting your customer first, and we’re proud to highlight John Hancock Barbershop this month. In 2014, military veteran Grant Quezada moved back to Prescott, only to find there was no place that catered specifically to a man’s grooming experience. Sure, you could find a place that offered a decent cut, but it didn’t feel like anything special. It was that moment he made the decision to pioneer a masculine haven for Prescott’s men. Quezada crafted a space designed to emulate a classic ‘man-cave’ experience unlike anything else. The result? A slam-dunk with all who enter. One look at their raving Facebook Reviews, and you’ll see they don’t just have happy customers – they’ve acquired a cult-like following in a short amount of time. So what has created this type of loyalty? Grant chalks it up to John Hancock’s “Consistency and ability for customers to just come in and be themselves. Our quality of service, authenticity, and immersive experience has created a loyalty that’s rare.” One glance at their shop’s interior, and you totally get it. The barbershop exudes the classic masculine character. You’re surrounded by wood and metal textiles, there’s a shuffleboard and darts upstairs, televisions plastered on the wall, and cold beer awaiting guests. This is every man’s dream. In fact, a woman once entered into the barbershop with her husband and declared that she “felt like she was walking into sacred ground,” Grant reminisced. Starting a business like John Hancock Barbershop can be a daunting task. A new concept in a specific market, with a unique brand personality, and starting from ground zero – it’s scary. “If you’re going to do something, go big or go home,” Grant advises. “Work hard, strive to provide better products or services than anyone competing against you, focus on your customers, and above all: pay attention to the details – they matter.” Boy, does his shop embrace this philosophy. His commitment to his customers supersedes anything else. He doesn’t just sell haircuts, he sells the experience. The environment and the culture he’s created, and the passion he puts into everything is what makes the difference for John Hancock Barbershop. There are a lot of things that can take business owners away from their true passion, but for Grant, he’s more passionate now than ever before. “My favorite thing is connecting with and learning from the interesting men in my seat. These guys are business owners, government officials, community champions, and everyone in between. Being able to learn from them is incredible,” he says. “It’s also cool that our barbershop chair creates a way for these guys to network and collaborate in the future,” It’s these types of interactions that push him to pursue bigger endeavors. Like their upcoming expansion into a 9,000 square foot building in downtown Prescott by the end of this year. “There will be a full bar, barbershop, secret speakeasy, and even gun shop,” Grant gushes. “The goal is to make it the ultimate cornucopia for men.” Are you stoked yet? Leave your professionalism at the door, gents. Sneak out of your dress-up tea parties with your daughters. Break away from the perils of everyday life. It’s time for some much-deserved ‘you’ time at the shop. Go and grab your favorite brewski, hang out for a bit, and enjoy being treated like the king you are. You can book your next appointment online – so skip the lengthy waits and soak up all the awesomeness that is John Hancock Barbershop.

Cinematographers Bruce Dorn and Alan Davis spent some quality time shadowing US Forest Service Hotshots this past summer “fighting fire with fire.” Readily upon their return we got busy putting together this video montage to tell their story. This project was shot in 4k, so the challenge was not only choosing the best clips among hours of great footage, but figuring out the complex post-production workflow necessary to handle the images. The resulting video montage gives us a glimpse on what goes on during a prescribed burn, with impressive details provided by the stunning 4k imagery captured by the cinematographers. Client: Bruce Dorn Producer/Writer: Bruce Dorn Cinematography: Bruce Dorn and Alan Davis Post-production: Craf2m