Meet Connor Greenawalt | Instructional Designer for work, Creator for fun.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Connor Greenawalt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Connor, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always had a thing for movies as a kid. I could quote Bruce Almighty or Shrek from start to finish, I could watch movies from when I woke up to when I went to sleep. I had always wanted to make movies, thus I went to film school. However, in film school, I realized film itself wasn’t what drove me, but the ability and freedom to create are where I found my muse. Creation has all different mediums and I like trying all different kinds. I had a college professor that said that the journey to competence is the most enjoyable part of learning. That “sucking” at something is often the most enjoyable part as it shows there is so much more to learn. First I created via video, then digital illustrations, then motion graphics, then analog film photography, and now I find myself in a place where I use all sorts of mediums to create. I have a 3D printer, I paint miniatures, I take infrared photography, I write stories for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and I still make motion graphics in my spare time. I find creativity to be a muscle I am addicted to growing. To put something into the world is one of the most fruitful endeavors I have ever put upon myself, and I do it for myself. Creating things I enjoy is where I find the greatest amount of satisfaction.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My day job is as an Instructional Designer. I work for an Electrical Contractor named Rosendin. My job is truly a jack-of-all-trades position. I wear every hat that would come with being your own production house. I help write, create, produce, film, edit, and package instructional materials for our employees. I’m not alone however, I am on a team of many different instructional designers where we work both collaboratively and independently. The road to employment wasn’t the easiest initially. I graduated college with the strongest degree you can get, an arts degree, and proceeded to be turned down by every job opportunity in the following four months. After a long and tedious search, I found myself at Rosendin creating meaningful material that makes our employees safer, and smarter, while feeling welcomed and included. Beyond the camera in my hand, I have now become an instructor of soft skills including public speaking and walking people through a personality assessment called CoreClarity or Clifton Strengths Finder.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It really depends on the friend’s interests, but I am a glutton for hosting parties. If they are themed parties even better. I have a running group for Dungeons and Dragons that meets once a month and that is an all-day endeavor. However, I was once an intern at Yelp so I used to have a good running list of where the hottest places are in Phoenix. For this, I’ll tailor this response to my favorite things. First would be going golfing at Rolling Hills in Tempe. It’s a cheap course right next to Papago park, easy to play, and has great views. After that would be a brunch at OHSO with their mimosas it’s a guaranteed good time. From there I would go to a show at Shady Park if it was pre-April 2022 (FREE SHADY PARK) which is by far the best music venue in Phoenix for EDM. It has a great local community and a quaint outside that feels intimate and welcoming. From there I would hit some of my favorite bars around Phoenix including, Bitter and Twisted, Undertow, Snakes & Lattes for some board games and drinks or Hanny’s. Then have dinner at Bacanora if I could get a reservation. If someone had never been to Arizona, I’d instantly take them up north to Sedona or Flagstaff. I love telling people that Arizona has seasons and a forest just 90 minutes from Phoenix. The 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff has to be one of the best drives in Arizona. You roll the windows down, put on your favorite road trip music, for me, it is the second Glass Animals album, and just look out the windows the whole time. When I was doing a trip a month in 2021, Chiricahua, Bisbee, Jerome, the Petrified Forest, and Biosphere 2 were great photography/vacation visits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a few people that I would want to give a shout-out to. First of course is my parents who had the ability to help me every step of the way with my dreams and goals. However, I have a couple of friends who not only encouraged me to create more but created with me. First is my good friend Oliver “Dino” Jagger. He and I met on the first day of college, and we hit it off immediately. We compare creative ideas, create together, and throughout 2021 we made it a mission to take one trip a month to go and take film photos. He and I always push each other to be more creative. Another friend I’d like to shout out is Cory Hancock. He and I met through a job in college and he is the embodiment of a good person. The man is dedicated to helping refugees in America and abroad. He travels to provide aid, tells their stories via photography and written accounts, fundraises for different charities, and is a brilliant photographer. Plus has some of the best taste in hip-hop. My girlfriend Savanah and my best friend Richard Douglas are also some of the best support one could ask for. They always are there to provide encouragement and support or simply be patient while I take photos on a trip. Richard has known me since I was 15 and has been there for a lot of much-needed growth. My old roommate Joe Hunsaker is a great painter and an even better friend. While he and I lived together he was always supporting my work and encouraging more of it. Finally, I’d like to thank Phoenix Film Revival for being one of the first groups to shout out my work and highlight the photography I create.

Instagram: @cfoam_green