K. Peder (“Pete”) Gjovik has been involved with printing/ graphic arts in one form or another since he took an introductory graphic arts course in 1975 to fulfill graduation requirements. He literally knew nothing about the printing field, but from the first class fell in love with the industry. Pete graduated from Valley City State University, North Dakota, in 1977 with a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Education, specializing in graphic communications. He taught industrial arts for several years until he became production manager of a weekly newspaper and commercial sheet-fed print shop. He eventually purchased the sheet-fed operation from the newspaper and ran his own commercial print shop for six years. He sold the commercial shop in 1986 and accepted a position as production superintendent of the Dickinson Press in Dickinson, North Dakota. Following this experience, he went on to the graduate program at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He obtained a master of science degree in Industrial Technology, graduating in 1989. Pete brings over 30 years of production, business, and educational experience to Northwest College.

In the fall of 1989, Pete began teaching graphic arts/printing at Northwest College. He currently teaches Introduction to Macintosh, Offset Production I, Electronic Publishing: PageMaker, Advanced Electronic Publishing, Estimating and Magazine Management. He team-teaches Offset Production II with professional staffer Rob Schuller. Pete also teaches Digital Imaging I for the Photography department and Web Design in the Graphic Design department.

Pete’s other interests include raising and training Norwegian Fjord horses, and spending time remodeling his family cabin just outside Yellowstone National Park. He is also curently involved in obtaining a patent on a process he and his partners have developed.

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Morgan Tyree has been teaching at Northwest College since the fall of 1991, following a brief stint as a prepress operator at Northland Graphics in Flagstaff, Arizona. Prior to this appointment, Morgan worked for other commercial printing and publication operations in Arizona and Ohio. While on sabbatical during the 2000-2001 academic year, he lived in New Zealand working as a prepress/graphic design consultant when not riding his bicycle. He is a graduate of Arizona State University and rumor has it that he was a football cheerleader during this time. This Sun Devil received his bachelor of science degree in graphic communication in 1981 and was awarded a master of arts in Vocational Education in 1988 from Northern Arizona University.

Tyree teaches Introduction to Graphic Arts, Introduction to Macintosh, Imaging for Print Reproduction, Electronic Publishing: QuarkXPress, Image Assembly/Preflight, and Literary/Art Magazine Production.

Morgan also spends a great deal of time writing and photographing. He has 18 cameras to his name, but don't be impressed as most of them were acquired via pawn shops and eBay. Currently he is working on a photo documentary project entitled “Small Town High School Football.” This project commenced in 1997 and focuses specifically on the small towns and football programs in Wyoming and Montana. A gallery exhibit and coffee table book are in the works. He has exhibited his images with accompanying essays in various galleries throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

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Renee Tafoya began her career as a graphic designer in 1976. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, from San Jose State University, and a Masters of Science in Instructional Technology from the University of Wyoming. She has worked as the art director for Monterey Life Magazine, Taste Magazine, and the Santa Cruz Express weekly newsmagazine. In 1987, Renee started her design studio, Tafoya Design, on Santa Cruz's main street. Her clients included Bonny Doon Vineyards, the Santa Cruz Cultural Council, and Brooks/Cole Publishing. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake destroyed downtown Santa Cruz in 1989. Renee then accepted a position as consulting art director at Apple Computer in Cupertino where she supervised the design and production of user manuals and packaging for Apple computers and printers.

In the early 90s, Renee re-opened her design studio in Red Lodge Montana where her clients included the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce, The Foundation of MSU-Billings, EagleMount Billings, and Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area. In 1996, she accepted the position of Publications Director at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody Wyoming where she managed all aspects of the graphics and publications of the BBHC. She accepted her current teaching position at Northwest College in 2002.

Tafoya teaches Graphic Design, Digital Illustration, Interpretive Graphics, Typography, Web Design, and Art Portfolio.

Renee's website is www.tafoya.ws

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