Jim Liesen's parents came to Lake Havasu in 1967 via the famous "Fly Free to Havasu" advertising campaign launched by the city's founder. Like most visitors to Lake Havasu City, just to look around - certainly NOT to buy.

"My parents NEVER thought of purchasing land and moving away from the big city," Liesen said. "But then they bought and moved here the following summer from Illinois - in June - in a midnight blue Pontiac without A/C, and me, a 1 year old baby."

Liesen grew up in the town which is now a thriving and growing city. A 1984 graduate of Lake Havasu High School, Liesen studied engineering and architecture at Arizona State University while gathering working experience working for several architects and engineers in Phoenix, Arizona. He returned to his home town in 1987, started a drafting and design service, and took up photography as a hobby. Along the way, Liesen has been fortunate enough in business to explore several careers, enjoying being a newspaper photographer, sports editor, high school architecture and drafting instructor, author, and still a draftsman.

Photo Experience...

"One day a friend who appreciated my fledgling photography skills mentioned that the local newspaper he worked for was expanding and that I ought to apply for the photographer's position. So I met the editor who described the job to me. Neither of us knew if I could do the job, so he handed me a roll of film and suggested I "go shoot a soccer coach and a kid 'interacting' at practice." The next morning I was shocked to see one of my shots gracing the front page of the paper three columns wide! Then the editor called and suggested that yes, I did have what it takes to make it in news photography," Liesen said. "I loved that job for several years until I was asked to become the sports editor. I loved that job for nearly a year until the strains of a growing drafting business had pulled me in too many directions."

Along the way, Liesen made some very important corporate contacts, working contract assignments for MTV, NBA, Revlon, ATT, and Nike. I have also been published in several magazines like Sport, Outside, Outdoor Photography, Arizona Highways, and RC Modeler. Also by the Associated Press. Current photgraphic goals include:

• Finish shooting the artwork for three books, all authored by Jim Liesen, and to be published in 2007
• Capture a 'supreme shot' of a desert sunset which is NOT a cliche
• Complete a photo essay on all of the Lighthouses of Havasu
• Teach a couple of friends how to operate their new digital cameras.

Drafting Experience:

"I was working my way through school when my brother-in-law called and asked if I could return to LHC for a semester or so to finish the work on an RV resort clubhouse building, as he had just fired the previous draftsman. I moved back to my hometown over the weekend. At the time my goals included making a living, saving some cash to go back to school and finish up, buy a camera so I could travel the world and shoot it along the way. My business went well, my plans changed, and I never left!"

Liesen has designed hundreds of homes, large and small over the years for individual owners and contractors. Small remodelling jobs are given the same priority as the big homes on the mountainside.

"Over the years I am proud to have done the homes for past mayors, councilpersons, business owners, etc," Liesen said. "But I try to treat a patio addition on a budget with the same consideration as the "status" jobs. I have so many repeat customers as well and I consider it the highest compliment when my customers return for more. Someday I will challenge the state architect's exam and become a licensed architect, but right now my goals are helping people with their building projects, taking pictures, and writing books!"

Although Jim has over 20 years experience in the field of drafting, he is not a licensed architect and cannot contract for certain types of commercial work, per AZ state laws.

Community:

"Lake Havasu City has become my home and my wife and I are very active in the community," Liesen said. "We are both extremely civic minded and have been as long as we could remember."

Some of Jim Liesen's past and present community involvement:

• Lake Havasu Rotary Club member, Secretary and President Elect
• PED (Partnership for Economic Development) Education Committee member
• LHC Planning and Zoning Commission, member and Chairman
• Lake Havasu Unified School District Governing Board Member (elected to a 4-year term in 2000)
• VICA/Skills USA, (various) past contest(s), Chairman for Arizona
• LHC Town Hall Participant
• Lake Havasu Baptist Church member and past board member
• Past curriculum advisor to LHHS Drafting Program

Some of Jim Liesen's past and present gratis design and drafting work:

• R/UDAT participant and committee member
• Rotary Club
• Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club
• Keep Havasu Beautiful (entrance monuments at the ends of the city)
• Soroptimist International
• and the local school system