Chief Technologist at Deer Channel

Deer Channel began as a wildlife research effort founded by Tom Brooks, inventor of the patented Deer Cam. A leading authority on Deer behavior, Tom wanted to go beyond old-style radio collars and the generational folk-knowledge of Deer habits, diet and behavior. Tom wanted to see and hear what the deer saw and heard — in real time — without physically intruding on their protected research habitat.

Enter: The Deer Cam. A patented wireless camera and microphone system, designed for extended operation in a controlled, protected habitat. This was a 1st in the world system — it had never been done before. The operator can view, record and broadcast the live feed — putting the viewer in the deer’s perspective, interacting with the deer’s environment, other deer and wildlife.

From 2006 to 2008 Patrick had the privilege of working with Tom and his team on the Deer Cam system, which was to include live webcasts for subscribers. 90 days before launch, Patrick came onboard and rewrote technology plan for the broadcast center and web operations and delivered the systems on-time and under budget.

The project involved the wireless camera systems themselves, the infrastructure to support them, the design and rapid evolution of the broadcast center and broadcast operations as well as a several-generation iteration of the website design and functionality. In addition, a web portal system involved that included over 50 websites, microsites, social network functions, ad network and more.

In 1992 Patrick founded Timberwolf as a software company, publishing “Writer’s Desktop Database” – a suite of productivity tools integrated with a database version of the best-selling trade reference, the “Writer’s Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents” by Jeff Herman. The software was published in four or five annual editions.

Later, after launching AudioNet/Broadcast.com, Patrick spent his nights building and supporting the webcasting infrastructure and his days making deals for new content to add to the broadcast lineup. A writer, Patrick was a member of a writer’s group and one of the other writers had finished a hard-hitting and hefty science fiction tome, “A Small Percentage,” by Jim Cline.

Jim agreed to produce an audio version of the novel and the result was the first audio book on the Internet. Jim produced it in bi-weekly episodes. It grew to become a cult phenomenon and was the most-listened-to audiobook on the web. Fan mail flooded in from around the world, including flame mail when we were late with an episode. Jim produced it as a dramatized series. It evolved into a 42 episode drama with multiple actors, music and sound effects.

In 1997, Timberwolf Press expanded to publish “A Small Percentage” in hardback. In 2000, Patrick launched Timberwolf as a full time small new media press. Timberwolf was the first to publish an audiobook online, the first to publish on MP3 CD, the first to publish a podcast-style audiobook, the first to simultaneously publish in MP3, WMA, CD, MP3-CD, Book and even cassette tape.

Patrick was CEO and founder, and was responsible for corporate development, marketing, graphic arts, communications and PR and was the senior technical editor. Patrick designed and built the corporate web and e-commerce sites with social networking components, blogs, podcasts, webcasts, etc.

Patrick was invited to speak at the Annual meeting of the Association of American Publishers and many other conferences and events. On the “fun” side, Patrick was a finalist for the “Sexiest Geek Alive” contest and appeared on Good Morning America and numerous radio interviews and TXCN.

On the fun side, Patrick did voiceover work for Timberwolf's business services department as well as for many of Timberwolf's full-cast audio dramas, including characters like 'Count Pinabel' in Ron Miller's "Bradamant", 'Snow Leopard' a military squad leader in Marshall Thomas's "Soldier of the Legion", 'Commander Rickman' in Dan McGreggor's "Blood & Iron" and 'Nikolai Yanuarievich Ursis', 'Admiral Penda' and 'Emperor Greyffin IV' in Bill Baldwin's "The Helmsman" and "Galactic Convoy."

Timberwolf went on to produce award winning titles and push the boundaries of new media, with author webcasts, social networking forums, user generated content and a completely fresh approach to media and publishing.