Five Questions with a C5er: Brian Wolford

The team here at Column Five is made up of some very special people. They come from all walks of life; they’re creative; and they work very hard. They’re also very interesting. One staff member a week will be profiled on our blog, from our oldest project manager to our newest designer, to introduce the people behind the infographics.

Brian Wolford
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Project Manager
Started May 5, 2010

In 144 characters or less, tell us about yourself.

I am a missionary kid from central Africa and a Vanguard University alum. I am very happily married and love traveling, the outdoors, and Jesus.

What music do you listen to when you’re not working?

At work I normally listen to mellow jazz or blues artists such as Count Basie and Kenny G from time to time. Lyrics tend to distract me.

Outside of work I listen to bands like Phil Wickham, Sugarland, Bon Iver, and The National. While lyrics are an important part of every song, I tend to like certain artists based on musical aesthetic.

What do you do when you’re not in the office?

Hang out with my wife, family, and friends.

I love the outdoors and am privileged to live close to some great hiking, camping, and desert dirt bike trails. I can also be found playing with new Apple products and photographing nature.

On relaxing days, my wife and I watch reruns of older sitcoms such as Home Improvement and The Cosby Show. These are among my favorites mainly because during the ’90s my grandparents recorded them on VHS and shipped them to my family in Africa, since we didn’t have cable TV.

What movie would you watch for the rest of your life?

Cool Runnings. It is based on an inspiring true story with characters that are unforgettable. Also, there are simply too many quotable lines.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen, done, or experienced?

Growing up for the first 13 years of my life in the heart of Africa was an experience that has defined my life and given me a heart for the culture and people there. My parents were missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) for 14 years. My dad could tell you countless stories of his wild experiences piloting a small Cessna 210 in and out of grass airstrips. During my 6th and 7th grade years, we lived in one of the most beautiful places on earth, near the source of the Zambezi River in the remote northwestern province of Zambia. Our tin-roofed home overlooked a 6,000-acre wildlife reserve filled with roaming antelope and zebra. It was what our family liked to call “a little slice of heaven.”

Brian’s Column Five Mixtape: Dances with Wolf.

We asked Brian to feature some of his favorite work from over the years. These were just a few:

Mint.com – Hamburgers: The Economics of America’s Favorite Food