eP: How does your job involve technology?
AG: MaxOnline uses technologies that are built specifically for Web advertising. This allows us to rotate marketing messages across the 1,000 or so Web sites we represent and target specific users based on criteria like geographic location and surfing habits (gotta love those cookies!).

eP: Have you ever worked outside the technology sector?
AG: Not since hawking ads for The Daily Illini Newspaper back in school.

eP: In today’s job market, what is more important to companies: actual job experience or exceptional academic performance?
AG: In our space, one year in the field is worth four in the classroom. It’s not possible for schools to keep up with the advances made each day in the tech sector. Any textbook would become out of date after half a semester. Universities need to add internship programs into the actual coursework and allow students to get experience on the school’s time and dime.

eP: If you were an employer who was in charge of hiring from a selection of new college graduates, would you hire based on academic performance or job experience?
AG: Because the skills one acquires on the job are much different from those learned in school, it really depends on the position. While a high GPA can be indicative of good organization and time management, any experience in the working world will provide an understanding of corporate hierarchy and communication along with job-specific skills that will allow a person to contribute from day one without any ramp-up time. That’s why it’s so important for students to leave college with a resume showing some related job experience.

eP: Was your first job out of college earned by academic performance or by job experience?
AG: A combination of both. I graduated in the top 2 percent in my class, but without ad sales experience, I would not have been as strong a candidate for the position.

eP: Have you ever used personal contacts to obtain a career?
AG: Absolutely. I’m a firm believer in the power of networking. By developing a vast web of personal and professional contacts, you’ll be able to find opportunities you never knew existed and grow yourself as a person with each encounter. The person who hired me at MaxOnline was actually a fraternity brother of mine from school who I kept in touch with after he graduated three years before me. Though he doesn’t work at MaxOnline any more, he has become a close friend and we still find ways to do business together.

eP: What are your thoughts on romantic office relationships?
AG: The reality of our space is that you have lot of young people working long hours in close quarters. It’s inevitable that something will set the sparks flying. I personally would not want to carry on an office relationship because it’s too distracting (not to mention that I’ve already found the girl of my dreams).

eP: I heard you are a huge music fan and your specialty is the improvisation of music. Please tell us more.
AG: I love all things improvised – especially music. There’s just something magical about music when it’s composed spontaneously with people coming together to jam with no safety nets.

eP: Is it more for fun or do you perform in front of crowds?
AG: Both, I guess. I always listen to music at work and sometimes find myself banging my keyboard like the drums or dropping a freestyle rap in between songs. I can’t help it. It just flows through my body. I definitely love to perform for others too, though. I’ve done open mic nights and karaoke, but more than anything, I love to just jam with my friends and feed off each other’s energy.

eP: Do you model your style of music after any person or band in particular?
AG: In terms of current artists, I’d say my style is a combination of G Love, Eminem, Cryo Baptista and Jason Mraz. I love spitting out lyrics off the cuff and enhancing tunes with percussion. Wailing on the harmonica is always a good time, too.

eP: Who is your musical influence?
AG: While my biggest influence and favorite band is the Allman Brothers, bands like Phish and the Dead also epitomize the free-wheeling improvisational style of rock that really gets me going. Broader influences range from blues to jazz to rap. Any forum that allows people to come together and challenge each other and become whole – that’s what it’s all about, man.

eP: Do you use any technology while playing or producing music?
AG: Web sites like Spinner, Nugs.net and MusicMatch allow me to get my fix for free.

eP: What’s beautiful about technology?
AG: All those great pop-up ads. Seriously, though, I think the true beauty in technology is that it gives people options. We can do things faster and more efficiently than ever before and use that extra time to explore our world and enjoy the people around us.

eP: I heard you attended the recent Wrightwood porch party. At any point during the party, did you ever feel that too many people were on the porch? Did this concern you?
AG: I remember thinking that it was pretty crowded but I didn’t associate that with a lack of safety. We’ve all been at crowded parties before and you just get numb to it. It’s more of an inconvenience than a threat. At what point does it become “too many people”?

eP: Five minutes before the porch collapsed, what was happening and where were you located?
AG: It was your typical summer apartment party: a bunch of peeps getting together to take advantage of good weather and good spirits. Right before it happened, my buddies and I were hanging out in the kitchen of the third-floor apartment, which is the room that leads out onto the deck.

We had all been out on the porch earlier in the night but came inside to get a break from the heat and the crowd. We were watching some of our friends play cards at the kitchen table. They had filled up pitchers of beer so there was no need to go back and forth out to the keg.

eP: What was the first sign of distress?
AG: There was a loud noise – almost like a clap of thunder – followed by screaming. I turned around and looked outside and saw nothing. The porch was gone and so were the people.

eP: What was your first reaction?
AG: It took a split second to comprehend what had happened. Once that sunk in, I turned back around to the kitchen to look for my girlfriend, Lisa. When I saw that she was OK and safe with her friends, I was able to exhale and think about next steps. We quickly called 911 and then ran downstairs to help clear the pile.

eP: How vulnerable to tragedies are people when hanging out and relaxing?
AG: I think people let their guards down to some degree when they’re just hanging out, but that’s why we do it. The reason we relax or get together with friends to party is so we can escape the world of war, terror and stress that we encounter every day.

Now there’s a difference between just kicking back and getting careless. I don’t think that line was crossed at this party. Accidents can happen at any time. The only difference between what society deems an accident and a tragedy is the number of people affected.

eP: One minute the party was fun and worries were left outside and the next minute tragedy hits. Do you feel that this will deeply affect how people will relax and hang out?
AG: Do I think this tragedy will make people think twice about having a party and cramming everyone outside on a porch? Yes. But will we stop getting together with friends to have fun and enjoy each other’s company in a worry-free environment? Most definitely not. We can only do so much to protect ourselves. Did people stop leaving their houses and start living in bomb shelters after September 11, 2001? Of course not.

You can’t live in fear. All you can do is use common sense and live your life and look out for each other. I think the lesson that each one of us needs to learn from this tragedy – whether you knew people affected or not – is not to take one single thing for granted and appreciate everything you have in this life. If you can live each day to the fullest and have no regrets, you’ll be best prepared to take care of yourself and those around you no matter what lies ahead.

eP: Parties are meant to be a relief from the troubles of the real world. In this case, the troubles of the real world destroyed the worry-free environment a party is supposed to have. How has this incident affected your perception of a worry-free environment?
AG: I think a truly worry-free environment is a pipe dream but not because of this tragedy. As long as there is war and terror and hate and famine, there will always be something to worry about in this world.

I don’t think this incident will stop us from finding outlets to get as close to that feeling of care-free euphoria as we can. We just won’t do it on crowded porches. For me, the main take away from this whole thing is to cherish each day I have with my girlfriend, my family and my friends. Without them, a worry-free environment is truly unattainable.

eP: Anything to add?
AG: I just want to send my thoughts and prayers out to the friends and families of everyone affected by this tragedy. Be strong and stay the course. May the memories of each of the victims be a blessing.

Interview by LOU CALAMARAS (lou@eprairie.com)
Photos by HEATHER EIDSON (photos@heathereidson.com)