As a writer for Chicago’s Windy City Times, Brad came to a summer Fam trip to see and write about the “gay” side of Palm Springs. He toured every clothing-optional resort in Palm Springs and even got a guided tour of CCBC by the then mayor of Cathedral City.
Brad gave Los Angeles another chance in 2005, working for Clear Channel radio KTLK AM 1150, KBIG and I Heart Media’s Pride Radio channel. He continued his not-for-profit volunteer work for LGBT causes and was board chair for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. He was drawn back to the desert to visit friends for weekend getaways, finally lured by its grandeur and natural beauty [not to mention its architecture) in 2008.
As he reacquainted himself with the desert business and social community, Brad moved to a new position in Los Angeles working for Emmis Interactive, a company embracing digital media for radio and publishing. In fact, the company also owned Los Angeles Magazine, KZLA and Power 106 in LA. He consulted those media properties on digital media strategy in the new media landscape.
Brad consulted Palm Springs Life and San Diego Magazine as well as Frontiers magazine on their digital media and sales strategy. It was that experience that gave him the light-bulb moment for his LGBT-centric business. He launched GayDesertGuide.com on Labor Day weekend 2013.