A Diverse Life Shaped by Creativity, Curiosity, Hard Work
SJ Skynear’s personal and professional story begins in the American West, where he was raised in a household fueled by creativity. His parents, both professional artists, set the tone.
Growing up in Arizona, he developed a natural affinity for craftsmanship, cooking, music, and the outdoors. This environment nurtured a mix of artistic expression and disciplined work ethic that follows him throughout his life.
His early years were filled with hiking desert canyons, exploring mountain trails, and running the Colorado River. Experiences that shaped his appreciation for nature, resilience, and hands-on problem solving. Cooking is a lifelong passion for SJ. Influenced by Julia Child, SJ rose to the rank of Saucier in fine dining establishments across Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.
Drawn to Technology and Design
Returning to school to study Multimedia Technology from UAT.edu plus earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from NAU which connected his craftsmanship, design thinking, and creative problem solving into a unified personal style. His interests span from woodworking and industrial design to gardening, music, and sustainable living.
SJ’s story is one of reinvention: adapting to new industries, acquiring new skills, and blending artistic, technical, and analytical thinking. He continues to form a uniquely versatile professional identity grounded in creativity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to delivering quality work.
Professional Evolution: From Landman to Creative Project Manager
SJ’s career spans several industries, each contributing to a well rounded and highly adaptive project professional.
His work as a Petroleum Landman sharpened his analytical skills researching land, mineral rights, and drilling activity.
This role strengthened his documentation discipline and attention to detail working in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado.
Transitioning into technology, SJ supported large scale IT operations at Colorado Mountain College during a multi million-dollar campus expansion. He delivered technical assistance across Apple and Windows systems, trained faculty and students, and coordinated with multiple vendors.
At Cigna Healthcare within the Clinical PMO
In this role he enhanced reporting, created standard operating guides, and improved communication frameworks for more than 200 stakeholders. This period solidified his ability to bring structure, clarity, and efficiency to complex technical teams.
He later expanded his portfolio to digital content, eCommerce, and asset management, leading website builds, optimizing inventory systems, and cataloguing over 1200 creative assets.
Each role whether spanning energy, education or technology has built the foundation for his current direction: Creative Project Management infused with AI, design, thinking, and modern digital tools.
Capabilities, Skills, and Tools That Define His Professional Edge
Across his career, SJ cultivated a robust toolkit that blends project management expertise with creative and technical capabilities. He is fluent in industry grade frameworks including Agile, Scrum, SDLC, Waterfall, PM-BOK. Using visual reporting methods, he actively streamlines communication, clarifies scope, and manages complex technical initiatives.
He is technically versatile with; Project, Visio, Adobe Creative Cloud, WordPress, PowerPoint, and AI-driven utilities like ChatGPT. His background includes building websites, designing user interfaces, creating digital assets, documenting processes, and developing branded content.
SJ’s creative foundation sets him apart: with formal training in sculpture, multimedia technology, and graphic design, he combines aesthetic judgment with practical execution.
Strengths: a mix communication, adaptability, critical thinking and humor
He is equally strong analytically, with experience in data analysis, earned value, inventory controls – plus GIS based research. His ability to translate complex information into accessible visual formats contributes significantly to stakeholder engagement.
SJ is active training in AI, prompt engineering, and emerging technologies to stay ahead of industry shifts. His blend of creativity, structure, technology, and communication gives him a unique professional edge suited for innovation-driven organizations.
SJ’s creative foundation sets him apart: with formal training in sculpture, multimedia technology, and graphic design, he combines aesthetic judgment with practical execution, enabling him to design clean, effective visuals.
Professional Direction, Interests, and AI-Driven Future Goals
Today, SJ is focused on advancing his career in Creative Project Management by utilizing AI responsibility. He is refining his prompt engineering skills through continuous training with Coursera.com and Udemy.com.
He is passionate about the emerging intersection of creativity, operations, and intelligent automation. He is exploring how AI can enhance productivity, reduce tedious work, and inspire innovation across teams.
Beyond AI, SJ’s interests extend into sustainable technologies such as vertical farming, additive manufacturing, and solar energy. These areas reflect his long-standing love of building, problem solving, and future-focused innovation.