Joe Starita // Pulitzer Prize finalist

• "Brian is a hellaciously good editor, and he can report the bejesus out of a story. He has a fine grasp and superb command of the language, which means he can muster a nice writer’s touch for a feature story, knock out an AP-perfect piece on deadline, pull together a well-reasoned and well-crafted editorial or shift gears and do a solid in-depth look at a complex issue. This is to say nothing of his snappy headlines and his overall command of the ethics and principles that govern our profession. This guy is simply a bit of a freak. We have had no student in recent memory who is as battle-tested and combat ready as Brian. To sum it up: There’s virtually no risk in making Brian a part of your staff. He can and has done almost everything a newsroom offers and has done it exceedingly well. He will provide one of the best returns on an investment you will ever make."

Lauren Gniazdowski // formerly Gallery Media Group’s vice president of operations​

• "​As an editor, Brian brought fresh, relevant content to our Entertainment section. He covered everything from music to gaming, tapping into his well-curated stable of freelancers. As a social media manager, he used his Twitter expertise to create a strategy to grow our following (and get some big, notable retweets). As a colleague, he celebrated the successes of the team and advocated for them. On top of all that talent, Brian is dedicated and kind—I would work with him again in the future without hesitation."

Lance Ulanoff // formerly Mashable’s editor in chief; social media expert

• "​Brian is a bright, visionary content strategist who brings an entrepreneurial spirit to every task and job. He approaches projects with the passion of a true fan and the energy of a teenager. Brian is always looking for the next big thing. I enjoyed working with and mentoring Brian and always appreciated how he absorbed what I said and turned it into action and progress."

Ron Smith // formerly USA Today’s managing editor of news and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s features copy chief

• "Brian impressed us with the quality and quantity of his edits. He has talent, a good attitude and a great mind; any publication would be lucky to have him. He was particularly good at removing jargon in stories and making them accessible to our readers. Brian has great instincts, and although he is good at spotting problems in stories, he is even better at offering solutions. These traits will carry him far in the industry."

Angelique Soenarie // formerly Arizona Republic’s business reporter)

• "Brian, a stellar wordsmith, can pen stories anytime, anywhere. More importantly, he is relentless at being accurate."

Caroline Duffy // formerly Genius’ head of administration

• "Brian is an extremely talented writer, editor and artist relations specialist and we were very fortunate to have him as a member of the Genius team. Working and maintaining relationships with high-profile artists can be complicated, but Brian's continued success in that arena is a testament to his talent and professionalism. As a co-worker, I found Brian to be engaging, supportive and dedicated."

Hugh Cox // formerly Arizona Republic’s senior copy editor

• "Brian's copy-editing skills are excellent, but most impressive are his eagerness and ability to continue to learn and improve."

Jim Johnson // formerly Lincoln Journal Star’s news editor

• "Based on my experience working with Brian, I would describe him as bright, creative, enthusiastic, fast learner, self-motivated and team player. He is highly regarded by his former colleagues and supervisors."

Royce Martin // USA Today Network, senior director of product

• "Brian hit the ground running in January. His first few months saw some significant traffic growth for Metromix Phoenix. He worked to create compelling packages for the site. In February, Metromix Phoenix ranked second in the nation among affiliates. A tremendous start. In the month of May, his work with his content coordinator garnered some huge successes. This includes more than 11 million page views in slide show traffic."

Sue Burzynski Bullard // University of Nebraska journalism professor; American Copy Editors Society’s executive committee member

• "Brian understands that today’s journalist needs to have many skills. He has not ignored online."

Lee Shappell // formerly Arizona Republic’s assistant news editor

• "Brian is razor-sharp as a word editor."

Megan Finnerty // formerly Arizona Republic’s engagement and features editor

• "Brian is a conscientious, thoughtful and incredibly hard working man. He has clever ideas and implements them quickly – a total self-starter. He was responsive and calm in a work environment that was demanding and filled with constant 'now' deadlines. And he has great taste in music."