Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Gebon

Photo: (L-R) Jasmine Gebon stands with her husband, Seminole State alumnus Daniel Gebon.

Name: Daniel Gebon

Title and company: Design and operations manager at AlphaGraphics

Degrees Pursued at Seminole State: Graduated with two Associate in Science (A.S) degrees in 2003 and 2004 in digital media graphic design and web design. Went on to get an Associate in Arts degree followed by a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology with an additional IT Client Specialist Certificate in 2015.

What factors played into you deciding to attend Seminole State College?
When I first applied to Seminole State, I desired to a two-year degree and a personal and intimate educational experience. The counselors were friendly, straight-forward and honest. They helped make the transition to college very smooth and virtually seamless. After receiving my A.S. degrees and spending a few years in my position, I felt it was necessary to expand my knowledge and further my education. I have always been a firm believer that knowledge is power. So, the more I know, the more valuable I’ll be in the job market. This made me decide to go in a slightly different direction and explore an IT degree. Seminole State was the obvious choice for me to go back and get my bachelor’s degree.

What were your steps after leaving Seminole State?
The Career Development Center helped me understand what job openings or internships were available. I attended various workshops concerning interviewing techniques and building my resume. One day, I saw there was a new building being built called AlphaGraphics and decided to walk-in and hand in my application. They put me through several interviews with several team members, and I completed a comprehension test on my design knowledge. The portfolio that I submitted was actually my flash cd presentation from the flash class that I took at Seminole State. I’ve been there since 2005. The education that I got from Seminole State helped jump-start my career by allowing me to truly focus on design with virtually no learning curves.

How did your education/time spent at Seminole State help prepare you for where you are now?
My graphic design and web design degrees helped me by embedding the fundamentals of graphic design and technical expertise with the software. My information technology degree provided me the confidence and knowledge to implement numerous technology systems and tools. I currently handle all the IT-related matters at AlphaGraphics including overseeing the design team.

Who or what class was your greatest influence at Seminole State College?
Surprisingly, my United States history class had the largest influence on me. This class taught me how to articulate myself professionally and directly. Professor J.C. Carandang’s approach was entertaining and engaging. He equipped me with invaluable insight on how I should approach writing in a professional manner.

Professionally and/or academically, of what are you most proud?
I am the proudest of the global recognition I received for my outstanding work from the former president and CEO of AlphaGraphics, Inc., Art Cooley. One of our long-term clients wrote a compelling and compassionate email about how he values the work I do for him. He asked that our owner forward his message to Mr. Cooley. Mr. Cooley, in turn, forwarded the message to all the AlphaGraphics franchisees which encompasses approximately 300+ stores worldwide.

What advice do you have for current or prospective Seminole State students?
For prospective students, I would highly recommend this college because of its small class sizes and intimate educational experience. The professors are completely accessible and extremely knowledgeable.
For current students, I would persuade you to build a collation of friends with your classmates. This collation will help lift you up when you are struggling with understanding parts of a class. They can also be great leads in landing a job interview after graduation. I would recommend that you talk to the Career Development Center and your professors to get your resume and portfolio ready for the real world.

What do you like to do for fun?
I love going to Disney and attending the many seasonal Disney events. My favorite event is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. I love drinking and eating around the world! I am an amateur foodie that loves going to restaurants with a view. I am also into drones, photography and learning tutorials about art and technology.