ProKing Ventures | Founder & Owner

October 2025 – Present
ProKingVentures.com

Founded and operate ProKing Ventures, a South Dakota-based creative manufacturing and media business combining custom 3D printing, laser engraving, ecommerce, product development, and commercial drone photography and videography.
Manage the entire business lifecycle including product development, customer discovery, pricing, manufacturing, equipment selection, branding, ecommerce, marketing, sales, customer service, fulfillment, vendor relationships, and continuous process improvement.
Built the company around rapid experimentation, turning customer requests, logos, mascots, photographs, and rough ideas into marketable physical products and repeatable services.
Developed the brand identity and positioning around Made Local | Built Different, including logos, packaging, flyers, sales materials, ecommerce graphics, social media content, signage, and promotional materials.
Built and manage the company’s ecommerce presence through ProKingVentures.com, Square Online, Etsy, social media, and direct local sales.
Continually evaluate products and services based on customer demand, production time, material cost, profitability, scalability, equipment capacity, and market response.

3D Printing & Laser Engraving

Built a custom manufacturing operation using multiple Bambu Lab 3D printers, including multicolor production capabilities for branded and school-spirit products.
Developed an expanding product catalog including Hype Chains, keychains, earrings, magnets, backpack tags, fidgets, game accessories, signage, personalized products, leather patches, and custom designs.
Established a strong niche in school and community spirit products, creating mascot-based merchandise for schools, teams, parents, students, booster organizations, clubs, and local retailers.
Developed the Kings in the Corner game board into one of the company’s most successful products, selling more than 200 units while continually improving its design, manufacturing workflow, packaging, and fulfillment process.
Built a repeatable workflow for converting customer artwork, school mascots, logos, photographs, and ideas into manufacturable 3D models and finished products.
Apply design-for-manufacturing principles to balance appearance, durability, print orientation, overhangs, support requirements, material use, production time, color changes, and machine availability.
Added laser engraving and cutting using a WeCreat Vision Pro 45W system, expanding the business beyond additive manufacturing into wood products, engraved leather patches, signage, personalized products, and hybrid 3D printed/laser-produced items.
Continually test and refine laser power, speed, line density, engraving strategies, cutting passes, material settings, and job layouts to increase quality while reducing manufacturing time.
Developed standardized production methods and packaging specifications to make frequently ordered products easier to reproduce consistently.
Created school fundraising programs with defined wholesale pricing, suggested retail pricing, minimum quantities, and built-in fundraising margins.
Established wholesale relationships with local retailers, expanding ProKing Ventures beyond direct-to-consumer sales.
Secured authorization to manufacture and sell officially licensed South Dakota State University merchandise, adding licensed collegiate products to the company’s catalog.
Built and manage the ProKing Ventures Square Online store, including product categories, variations, taxes, shipping weights, packaging dimensions, payment processing, local pickup, and order workflows.
Manage an active Etsy storefront, using listing performance, advertising results, seasonal trends, and customer purchasing behavior to guide product decisions.
Standardized product listings around consistent SEO, photography, product descriptions, dimensions, pricing, shipping information, and brand presentation.
Use customer requests as an ongoing source of product discovery, identifying custom jobs that can be refined into standardized products with broader market potential.
Follow a practical prototype → test → refine → launch process before committing significant manufacturing capacity to new products.
Evaluate product profitability using material consumption, machine time, labor, packaging, shipping, wholesale margins, fundraiser margins, and expected retail pricing.
Manage production across multiple printers using batching, build-plate optimization, order prioritization, machine scheduling, and standardized settings.
Use social media to show both finished products and the development process behind them, helping customers understand the design, prototyping, printing, engraving, and finishing work required to create custom products.

Drone Photography & Videography

Developed commercial drone photography and videography as a second major ProKing Ventures service line.
Operate under FAA Part 107 certification, allowing ProKing Ventures to provide paid commercial drone services.
Work with local real estate professionals on an ongoing basis, providing consistent aerial photography for property listings, social media, websites, print advertising, and other real estate marketing.
Provide drone photography for residential properties, capturing perspectives that show lot size, property layout, surrounding land, outbuildings, neighborhood context, and other features that cannot be communicated effectively from ground level.
Produce aerial video for residential real estate, including flyovers, approaches, property reveals, and movement shots for listing videos and social media content.
Provide aerial photography and video for businesses, commercial properties, land, community organizations, golf courses, and custom projects.
Have completed projects involving real estate marketing and golf-course photography, demonstrating the ability to adapt aerial media to different industries and client objectives.
Handle the complete media-production workflow rather than simply delivering raw drone footage.
Plan flights and shot sequences based on the client’s marketing goals, property layout, lighting conditions, safety requirements, and desired final deliverable.
Professionally edit drone photographs to improve exposure, color, contrast, composition, clarity, cropping, and overall presentation before client delivery.
Create finished promotional videos by combining drone footage with video editing, sequencing, transitions, pacing, titles, branding, music when appropriate, and other visual elements.
Deliver finished media suitable for MLS listings, websites, Facebook, Instagram, short-form video, digital advertising, presentations, and other promotional channels.
Work directly with clients to understand what their advertising needs to accomplish rather than treating the drone flight itself as the final product.
Developed standardized drone service packages and pricing, converting custom drone work into a more repeatable and productized service offering.
Established a defined local service area to help control travel time, scheduling, operating costs, and service profitability.
Use the combination of aerial photography, video production, graphic design, marketing experience, and physical manufacturing to provide clients with capabilities that extend beyond traditional drone photography.

Product Management Experience

Use ProKing Ventures as a real-world environment for applying product management principles to physical products and professional services.
Continuously determine which customer requests represent one-time jobs versus repeatable market opportunities.
Balance customer demand against manufacturing capacity, development effort, material cost, pricing, profitability, and scalability.
Make roadmap decisions about which new products, equipment, capabilities, and sales channels justify additional investment.
Test products in the market quickly, gather feedback, improve designs, and discontinue ideas that do not justify continued production.
Combine product development, operations, ecommerce, marketing, manufacturing, and customer experience rather than managing each discipline in isolation.

TractorPal, LLC (TractorPal, LLC | Founder, Owner & Product Owner)
www.TractorPal.com
October 2012 – September 2026

Founded and led TractorPal from initial concept through development, launch, more than a decade of operation, modernization, and ultimately the successful sale of the digital business.
Identified an underserved need among farmers and equipment owners for an easy way to track equipment, maintenance, service history, parts, photos, and important machinery records from a mobile device.
Conducted early customer discovery by talking directly with farmers and creating an online community to gather feedback, validate ideas, and guide product development.
Sought out and secured $15,000 in outside investment funding across two successful funding rounds, providing the capital needed to develop and grow the product.
Maintained ownership of the product vision and managed the entire business, while investors provided financial backing rather than participating in day-to-day product development or operations.
Designed the original user interface and user experience, creating detailed wireframes and mockups for the application screens and workflows.
Researched development technologies and selected the Ionic Framework to support efficient cross-platform development for iOS and Android.
Recruited and managed software developers through Upwork, building and coordinating a development team rather than relying on an internal technical co-founder.
Translated customer needs and business requirements into development priorities, features, workflows, bug fixes, and product-roadmap decisions.
Used Trello and GitHub to manage development tasks, source code, collaboration, testing, and release workflows.
Managed the complete product lifecycle across Apple iOS and Android, including App Store Connect, Google Play Console, testing, production releases, subscriptions, restore-purchase functionality, and platform compliance.
Implemented a freemium subscription model, allowing customers to try the product before upgrading to an annual paid subscription.
Managed pricing strategy, legacy subscriptions, lifetime users, account limits, renewal policies, and customer upgrade paths as the product matured.
Provided direct customer support through email and social media, using customer feedback to continuously refine features and improve the product.
Created TractorPal’s marketing strategy, including social media campaigns, digital advertising, promotional graphics, app walkthroughs, and personally voiced product videos.
Achieved more than 100,000 application downloads over the life of TractorPal, while maintaining approximately 250 active paying subscribers at the time of sale.
Built and maintained a stable recurring-revenue customer base of approximately 250 paying subscribers at the time the business was sold in September 2026.
Won 1st Place in the Brookings, South Dakota 8th Annual Idea Contest, providing early validation of TractorPal’s concept and business potential.
eceived the Best Reader Interest in a New Product award from Farm Industry News at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Led a major later-stage modernization initiative, coordinating migration of the application’s legacy infrastructure and customer data to Google Firebase / Firestore.
Defined business rules for migrating long-term subscribers, lifetime accounts, equipment records, service history, photographs, and customer entitlements while minimizing disruption to existing users.
Evaluated subscription economics and developed a new pricing strategy designed to improve recurring revenue and make continued development financially sustainable.
Managed the interconnected business systems supporting TractorPal, including development vendors, GitHub, Firebase, Apple, Google Play, domains, email, customer support, financial records, and production infrastructure.
After more than 14 years of ownership, made the strategic decision to sell TractorPal rather than discontinue the product, preserving its value, customer base, technology, and future potential.
Prepared TractorPal for acquisition as a digital asset sale, identifying and organizing the application, source code, unfinished development work, domains, infrastructure, intellectual property, and operational assets for transfer.
Marketed the business through Flippa.com, an international marketplace specializing in the acquisition and sale of digital businesses.
Personally managed buyer communication, due diligence, negotiations, technical questions, financial information, and the acquisition process.Successfully negotiated and completed the sale of TractorPal for $7,000.
Used Escrow.com to securely facilitate the transaction and protect both buyer and seller throughout the asset-transfer process.
Coordinated the transfer of Apple and Google application assets, source code, GitHub repositories, domains, infrastructure, support systems, development materials, and other operational resources to the new owner.
Established a defined 30-day transition period to provide knowledge transfer, historical context, account assistance, and operational support following the acquisition.
Successfully completed the full entrepreneurial product lifecycle: idea → funding → product development → launch → customer growth → recurring revenue → modernization → acquisition → exit.

User Reviews

Certified Drone Pilot (FAA Part 107) December 2024 – Present

As an FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot, I am authorized to operate drones commercially in compliance with federal regulations.
Conducting safe and efficient drone flights for various applications, including photography, videography, and data collection.
Ensuring adherence to all FAA guidelines for commercial drone use, including airspace restrictions and operational safety standards.
Skilled in planning flight paths, managing drone equipment, and analyzing aerial data.
This certification enhances my capabilities to integrate drone technology into innovative solutions for diverse industries and projects.
Graduate of the Pilot Institue Class of 2024

IoT Friendship Lamps (First Version) December 2023 – Present

Conceptualized, designed, and developed an innovative IoT product that fosters connection and interaction among friends and family. These lamps have a button on the top. When the button is pressed, it changes the color of all lamps in the collection to the color of the selected lamp.
Leveraged self-taught 3D modeling skills in Tinkercad to design custom lamp components.
Utilized Ultimaker Cura and an Ender S1 Pro 3D printer for iterative prototyping and refinement, ensuring optimal functionality and aesthetics.
Combined 3D printing with traditional woodworking techniques to create unique and visually appealing lamp enclosures, demonstrating adaptability and resourcefulness in product development.
Partnered with a locally skilled hardware and software developer to implement complex electronics, circuit board design, server-side code, and a user-friendly web interface for lamp control and monitoring.
Collaboratively developed features enabling users to personalize their lamp’s color and brightness, view the status of other lamps in their collection, and engage in a fun “King of the Hill” competition.
Future plans include developing the capability to remotely update lamp firmware, ensuring continuous improvement and feature additions without requiring physical intervention.
Future plans are to upgrade the website and add features like login, lamp instructions, version tracking, and customizing lamp names.
Currently, only one group of 5 lamps has been created so in the future we would expand the product line to include pre-configured lamp sets (pairs, trios, etc.) and enable users to seamlessly add more lamps to their existing collections, increasing revenue potential and catering to diverse customer needs.

Advanced Excel Macros & Formulas for Workflow Optimization

In my current role, I designed and implemented an Excel workbook that seamlessly integrates with existing Grainger Keepstock software, utilizing a physical scanner with Excel macros and formulas to automate mass location schema updates. This solution significantly improved efficiency and accuracy to assist in making the location update process easier for more efficient visits in the future.
In a previous role, I created an Excel workbook with many embedded macros all working together, formulas, and formatting to automate the monthly creation of an inventory spreadsheet process, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all company locations statewide.
Followed an iterative development process, starting with a basic concept, conducting thorough testing, and refining the solution to ensure ease of use and adaptability for end-users.
Integrated clear and detailed step-by-step instructions directly within the workbook minimizing the learning curve for new users.
Proactively shared the workbook with colleagues, providing comprehensive training and ongoing support. Actively sought and incorporated user feedback, fostering collaboration and driving continuous improvement of the tool.
Received positive feedback and widespread adoption from colleagues, validating the workbook’s effectiveness in streamlining workflows and improving productivity.

Professional Voice-Over Talent March 2007 – Present

Leveraging over a decade of voice-over experience, I have written and voiced hundreds of radio commercials, on-hold messages, character voices, and social media content. My adaptable voice and commitment to quality have made me a trusted talent for a variety of projects:
Voiced local radio ads, tailoring delivery to resonate with target audiences.
Wrote compelling ad copy that effectively highlighted product benefits and drove listener engagement.
Created polished and professional on-hold messages, enhancing customer experiences for businesses.
Provided engaging narration for YouTube videos and promotional content across various social media platforms, expanding audience reach and engagement.
Proficient in audio editing software, ensuring high-quality recordings with clear and professional sound.
Experienced in scriptwriting for diverse audiences and industries, adapting tone and style to meet client needs.

Living Clean Microgreens, LLC (Co-Founder & Owner) www.LivingCleanMicrogreens.com March 2024 – Present

Co-founded and successfully launched Living Clean Microgreens, LLC, establishing a thriving microgreens business from the ground up.
Performed comprehensive market research to identify local competitors and target customer needs, informing strategic business decisions.
Conducted extensive research and experimentation on microgreen cultivation, optimizing planting, growing, and harvesting protocols to ensure a consistent supply of premium-quality microgreens. This involved testing various seed varieties, growing techniques, and resource management strategies.
Designed and built a functional and efficient grow room, optimized for microgreen cultivation.
Implemented sustainable practices in operations, such as using organic soil, no added fertilizers, and composing used soil.
Developed a compelling brand identity using Canva, creating a visually appealing logo and marketing materials.
Executing a marketing strategy encompassing online channels and direct sales to drive sales, build brand awareness, and foster strong customer relationships.
Establishing standardized operating procedures for planting, watering, and harvesting, ensuring consistent product quality and operational efficiency.
Utilizing Google Drive for financial record-keeping, facilitating accurate income and expense tracking, and streamlined year-end tax preparation.
Actively seeking partnerships with local restaurants to incorporate our microgreens into their menus, expanding market reach and brand visibility.
Piloting a subscription-based microgreen delivery service for local residents, providing convenient access to fresh, healthy produce.
Excited to expand product offerings and explore new distribution channels in the coming year.

ProKing Entertainment (Founder & Owner) July 2009 – January 2023
PowerHouse Dance DJ’s (Co-Founder & Owner) January 1999 – December 2004

Spearheaded the launch and growth of two successful mobile DJ companies, overseeing all aspects of operations from inception to hosting hundreds of events, demonstrating a proven track record of entrepreneurial success and sustained business growth.
Successfully exited both ventures through strategic sales to new entrepreneurs, showcasing the ability to build valuable and sustainable businesses.
Cultivated enduring client relationships through proactive communication and a custom online event planner, consistently exceeding expectations and fostering a loyal customer base that generated significant referral business. In some cases, I had the privilege of DJing weddings for multiple people within the same family, a testament to the trust and lasting connections built.
Demonstrated the value of my services by successfully increasing event pricing by 400% over the years, all while maintaining a high level of client satisfaction and booking volume.
Developed and executed comprehensive marketing and advertising campaigns, encompassing both traditional trade show presence and targeted online digital strategies to drive brand awareness and customer acquisition.
Managed all financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, bookkeeping, invoicing, accounts payable/receivable, and tax preparation.
Served as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) for most of the events, ensuring seamless coordination, engaging the audience, and creating a memorable atmosphere.

Agriculture Land Trustee (January 2023 – Present)

Overseeing all aspects of agricultural land leasing for over 200 acres, ensuring optimal utilization and financial returns for beneficiaries.
Maintained proactive and transparent communication with land beneficiaries, providing regular updates and detailed annual reports to ensure they were well-informed and involved in decision-making.
Implementing a transparent and competitive bidding process to attract qualified farmers and secure optimal lease terms.
Utilizing digital and print advertising to promote available land and efficiently execute lease agreements with selected farmers.
Ensuring timely rent collection and maintaining accurate financial records to maximize revenue generation and transparency.
Implementing strategies to maximize land utilization and revenue generation, including crop rotation, soil health improvement, and generating alternate income streams by adding a renewable energy lease.
Collaborating with the USDA to establish conservation programs and crop protection areas, promoting long-term land health and environmental sustainability.
Ensuring meticulous management of all tax filings, legal documentation, and regulatory compliance to minimize risk and protect beneficiary interests.
Negotiated a mutually beneficial agreement with a renter to invest in drainage tile, resulting in increased tillable acreage and improved revenue potential for the land.

Haunted Garage (Founder & Creative Director) July 2020 – Present

Conceived, designed, built, and managed a highly successful annual haunted attraction during the Halloween weekend, consistently drawing large crowds and generating positive community impact.
Overseeing all aspects of the attraction, including conceptualization, design, set construction, actor coordination, and overall event management. Adding new elements each year.
Producing and sharing engaging “how-to” content on YouTube, providing step-by-step tutorials on building haunted house elements.
Capturing authentic audience reactions using strategically placed webcams, creating compelling video content with iMovie for YouTube and social media, further amplifying the attraction’s reach and engagement.
Developing and executing effective digital marketing campaigns to drive attendance, and maintained meticulous financial oversight to ensure sustainability and maximize charitable contributions.
Self-taught myself the SketchUp 3D modeling software to design intricate and immersive haunted house sets, enhancing the overall guest experience, and changing the layout each year for an entirely different experience.
Attracted over 400 visitors annually to our small-town attraction, demonstrating strong community appeal and sustained success over four consecutive years.
Implemented a suggested donation admission model starting in the second year, generating funds for a local charity and fostering a sense of community giving. Each year the money raised was given to the local school theatre department where they purchased new microphones and set design items. This year we will be selecting a different local charity.
Envisioning a sustainable future for the project by transitioning it from a personal endeavor to a community-led initiative, donating materials and expertise to empower a local organization to continue the tradition of providing a thrilling Halloween experience while supporting a worthy cause

TimelessPoem.com: Digital Preservation of a Century-Old Poetry Collection (July 2020 – Present)

Meticulously scanned and digitally preserved over 2,000 unique poems, carefully extracted from a century-old scrapbook compiled by my great-grandmother. This collection features works by both renowned and local poets, some of which had been unseen since their original newspaper publication.
Collaborated with a skilled team of Upwork freelancers to meticulously process scanned images, isolating individual poems and utilizing OCR software for accurate text extraction, ensuring each poem’s searchability and accessibility on the website.
Designed, developed, and launched TimelessPoem.com using WordPress, showcasing proficiency in website creation and content management systems. Implemented a blog post structure to provide individual pages for each poem, enhancing user experience and search engine optimization.
Created a YouTube channel featuring curated video content, including personal readings and visual presentations of selected poems, fostering engagement and enriching the user experience
Established a Facebook page and group to cultivate a community around the poetry collection, encouraging discussion, sharing, and appreciation for these historical works.
Future plans include re-scanning poems in high resolution to create archival-quality prints suitable for sale, potentially generating revenue to support the project’s sustainability. Additionally, exploring the implementation of a Make.com workflow to leverage AI for automated poem readings and social media content generation, aiming to expand reach and engagement.
Investigating potential monetization strategies, including the introduction of unobtrusive advertising on the website to generate revenue and ensure the project’s long-term viability
Continuously refining the website’s categorization and search functionalities to enhance user experience and facilitate easier discovery of poems based on themes, authors, or other relevant criteria.
Considered adding interactive elements to the website, such as the ability for users to submit their own works, interpretations, or analyses of the poems.

The Ranch 910 AM (Brookings Radio Program Director) January 2010 – January 2011

Spearheaded the creation and launch of a new radio station, overseeing all aspects from concept development to successful on-air debut on February 1, 2010.
Curated engaging classic country music playlists, selected on-air talent, and developed compelling programming to attract and retain a loyal listener base.
Collaborated with a designer to create a distinctive station logo and branding, and wrote and voiced engaging liners that reflected the station’s identity and resonated with the audience.
Actively sold advertising airtime, generating revenue to support station operations and growth.
Brought on engaging guests for interviews and special segments, and provided training and mentorship to other DJs, fostering their professional development.
Worked closely with technical personnel to program the station and ensure seamless on-air execution.
Collaborated effectively with the sales team to develop and implement sales strategies, maximizing advertising revenue.
Created and executed impactful promotional campaigns and hosted live remotes to increase station visibility and connect with the community.
Hosted the morning show, providing entertaining and informative content that resonated with listeners, and developed special programming to enhance the station’s appeal.
Recorded high-quality radio advertisements and other audio content to support the station’s commercial and promotional efforts.
Increased listenership year over year and the station is still going strong today

SiteKing Creations (August 1997 – Present)

Strategically managed and expanded social media presence for a diverse clientele, including professional businesses, community organizations, and fun groups. Executed targeted digital advertising campaigns, resulting in increased engagement, brand awareness, and lead generation.
Cultivated a global Facebook community exceeding 1 million followers through compelling content and strategic engagement, demonstrating mastery of social media growth and audience development. Successfully monetized this achievement through a profitable acquisition.
Established and grew a thriving local (no advertising, no drama) Facebook community with over 20,000 engaged followers, serving as a vital hub for weather and traffic updates. Achieved over 2 million views in the past year, demonstrating significant community impact.
Designed, developed, and maintained user-friendly and visually appealing websites for local businesses, leveraging expertise in Dreamweaver and WordPress to deliver effective online solutions.
Implemented SEO strategies to improve website visibility and organic search rankings for clients.
Provided training and support to clients on website maintenance and content management systems.
Led a team in the successful development and launch of a comprehensive town website, showcasing project management skills and the ability to collaborate effectively to achieve a shared goal.
Demonstrated community commitment by providing pro bono graphic design services for local organizations, creating visually impactful signs, brochures, and print advertisements.
Offered technical support and troubleshooting services, resolving a wide range of hardware and software issues to ensure seamless PC functionality for clients.
Implemented robust systems for financial tracking and client relationship management, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and client satisfaction.

Construction & Renovation Projects

Acted as the general contractor for my home construction project, overseeing the entire process from conceptualization and design to completion.
Conducted thorough research, interviewed potential construction companies, and selected the most suitable partner for the project.
Utilized SketchUp to conceptualize and create detailed blueprints for the home, showcasing strong design and visualization skills.
Personally executed a significant portion of the construction work, including finishing two basements and multiple rooms, demonstrating strong hands-on skills and problem-solving abilities.
Meticulously tracked expenses and implemented cost-saving measures to ensure the project stayed within budget.
Quality Assurance: Maintained a steadfast commitment to quality workmanship and attention to detail throughout the entire construction process.