Catalyst Ranch, Chicago’s most creative meeting venue, is staffed by a talented team of quirky characters known as Ranch Hands. Individuals who have artistic leanings are drawn to Catalyst Ranch’s colorful workspace, diverse clientele, and co-workers of similar sensibility. That’s why you’ll find that every Ranch Hand leads a full life filled with an array of artistic pursuits. Ranch Hand Spotlight is a new occasional blog series that invites you to take a sneak peek behind the scenes at the Ranch. We invite you to meet the fine folks who work together to anticipate and accommodate our clients’ every need from copies to catering! See what they do here at the Ranch and the ways they use their creativity in endeavors of outside the Ranch!
Today’s Spotlight focuses on Nathan Cox-Reed
Ranch Hand Stats
Name: Nathan Cox-Reed
Previous Job Title(s): Ranch Hand
Current Job Title: AV Specialist & Ranch Hand
At the Ranch since: 2011
Nicknames: Baby Genius, Sweet Baby Nate
Favorite Color: Blue
Q: How did you learn about Catalyst Ranch?
A: I was at a bowling event for Kaleidoscope’s Board of Trustees, and I met Jody, the former Operations Manager at the Ranch, and we talked and she found out I was looking for work and the rest is Catalyst Ranch history.
Q: So, Nate, what do you do at Catalyst Ranch?
A: I facilitate and manage AV operations as well assist with floor operations, the basic duties of a ranch hand. To further unpack that, along with my counterpart, Lyndon (whom I share AV duties with) I am the go-to AV person if there are issues with computers, projectors, microphones, etc. I also research new technologies that may be helpful to our clients at the Ranch. As a Ranch Hand, I assist with client room matters such as setup being changed, setting up breakfast and lunch, and replenishing the coffee bar as needed, etc.
Q: What do you like about working at the Ranch?
I love it when our clients come in, especially new clients, and they’re in awe of how colorful and vibrant the space is. It’s intriguing to see an adult’s face light up in fascination, like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time. It’s awesome. Also, I feel that Catalyst Ranch is a hub for young creative artists, who are pursuing their dreams in their respective mediums, to work at such an inspiring and beautiful space, created by a master creative. Eva [Catalyst Ranch President] is a visual genius.
Q: So, you just graduated from Columbia College. Congratulations! What is your degree in?
A: Yes! What a glorious day it was! We were fighting the British back in 1776, near Chesapeake Bay . . . Sorry, I’m hungry and need a Snickers or I sound like an old colonial revolutionary war veteran . . . I have a degree from Columbia College Chicago in Cinema Arts and Science – fancy huh? – with a special focus in Post-Production Audio.
Q: Why did you choose to study film – excuse me – Cinema Arts and Science?
A: I actually didn’t choose film until my sophomore year of college where I was in the theater program prior to changing my degree. I just wasn’t getting on stage and doing what I was learning, and I was ultimately helping out on films more than I was involved in the theater program. So naturally I grew curious, took some classes, and I just felt it was a better fit for my creative process as a creative thinker.
Q: What kind of film projects have you been working on lately? Anything at Manifest [an annual Urban Arts Festival curated by Columbia College]?
A: I actually had an animation film I sound designed and mixed that screened for Manifest. I don’t have it up on the Internet yet because I’m going to go back and change some things that I felt didn’t work or I missed on when I saw it on the big screen.
Q: What kinds of films do you like or want to make?
A: When I am sound designing and mixing the sound track of the film, like dialogue, sound effects, music etc., I like to work on psychological dramas or action films because it challenges me to think subjectively and contextually about the story, plot points, character, and conflict, which as a sound designer you just make fuller and more engaging films sound wise. I also write and direct, and when I am in that process I like to tell real, thought provoking stories that discover real life themes which display my ideas and how I think about and see the world. I like to think about and discuss real topics of the world.
Q: Do you want to share any thoughts on being the first in your family to graduate from college?
A: It was hard to believe at first because it really wasn’t my goal or a hidden agenda I used as motivation to graduate. Going to school is really all I know so I didn’t know what else to do but go to college. Not until maybe a month or so before I graduated, I began discussing graduating college with my family and my grandma told me I was the first in her family to graduate college. So then that’s when I was like, “Okay, this is sort of a big deal now,” and I needed to really figure out my game plan for graduation in who to invite and post-graduation. I still don’t think it has hit me, but I know I definitely made my family proud. I think their faces were brighter than mine on graduation day.
