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Creation is at the forefront of everything I do. I've been making things my whole life—food, music, spaces, experiences. For 26 years that meant professional kitchens, and I'm not going to pretend that wasn't real work. But sound and design is where I come back to and thrive. I'm at Clover Park Technical College studying Film and Video Game Design, carrying a 4.0 GPA more than halfway into the program while learning the tools and pipelines that connect audio to interactive and visual media. I'm 43 and I'm not hedging. I know what I want to do and I know I can do it well. Portfolio attached.…Creation is at the forefront of everything I do. I've been making things my whole life—food, music, spaces, experiences. For 26 years that meant professional kitchens, and I'm not going to pretend that wasn't real work. But sound and design is where I come back to and thrive. I'm at Clover Park Technical College studying Film and Video Game Design, carrying a 4.0 GPA more than halfway into the program while learning the tools and pipelines that connect audio to interactive and visual media. I'm 43 and I'm not hedging. I know what I want to do and I know I can do it well. Portfolio attached.

Blake Cruz

Audio Engineer, Music Producer, Sound Designer, +2

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Creation is at the forefront of everything I do. I've been making things my whole life—food, music, spaces, experiences. For 26 years that meant professional kitchens, and I'm not going to pretend that wasn't real work. But sound and design is where I come back to and thrive. I'm at Clover Park Technical College studying Film and Video Game Design, carrying a 4.0 GPA more than halfway into the program while learning the tools and pipelines that connect audio to interactive and visual media. I'm 43 and I'm not hedging. I know what I want to do and I know I can do it well. Portfolio attached.…Creation is at the forefront of everything I do. I've been making things my whole life—food, music, spaces, experiences. For 26 years that meant professional kitchens, and I'm not going to pretend that wasn't real work. But sound and design is where I come back to and thrive. I'm at Clover Park Technical College studying Film and Video Game Design, carrying a 4.0 GPA more than halfway into the program while learning the tools and pipelines that connect audio to interactive and visual media. I'm 43 and I'm not hedging. I know what I want to do and I know I can do it well. Portfolio attached.

Available to hire

Creation is at the forefront of everything I do. I’ve been making things my whole life—food, music, spaces, experiences. For 26 years that meant professional kitchens, and I’m not going to pretend that wasn’t real work. But sound and design is where I come back to and thrive.

I’m at Clover Park Technical College studying Film and Video Game Design, carrying a 4.0 GPA more than halfway into the program while learning the tools and pipelines that connect audio to interactive and visual media. I’m 43 and I’m not hedging. I know what I want to do and I know I can do it well. Portfolio attached.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Work Experience

Owner, Producer & Engineer at Cayn's Kitchen

January 1, 2010 - Present

Founded and operated an independent studio offering recording, mixing, mastering, and composition services across hip-hop, electronic, and experimental genres. Released Pixelated Fragments (EP, 2019) as Dexter Cayn and served as Executive Producer on The End of the Beginning (2021). Collaborated with regional artists including SPEAK and Venni the Venomous; contributed to the PLFG producer collective. Fluent in outboard signal chains, and produced podcast content end-to-end; managed client relationships, release logistics, publishing, and distribution. Also practiced digital photography and lighting, designing assets for visual narrative.

Quality Assurance Tester — Xbox Series X Pre-Release at Keywords Studios

January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

Conducted overnight hardware and software QA testing on Xbox Series X prior to release. Identified, reproduced, and documented bugs and performance issues within a confidential pre-release pipeline. Operated under NDA within the Microsoft/Xbox ecosystem.

Food & Beverage Director at BMI Hospitality Management (Hilton & Marriott Properties)

July 1, 2023 - April 1, 2025

Directed a 9+ person team; achieved ~70% year-over-year revenue growth through strategic planning across multiple F&B outlets. Managed full P&L, vendor contracts, POS system upgrades, and regulatory compliance.

Culinary Director at GenCare Lifestyle

December 1, 2022 - July 1, 2023

Led all culinary operations including hiring, budgeting, menu development, and team training. Coordinated with marketing on branded events and promotional campaigns.

Executive Sous Chef at Marriott Tacoma Downtown

October 1, 2021 - October 1, 2022

Oversaw daily kitchen operations, banqueting, compliance, and guest experience standards.

Culinary Roles (various) at W Hotels Seattle; Poppy Seattle; Additional venues

January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2018

Earlier roles include Evening Kitchen Supervisor at W Hotels Seattle and Sous Chef at Poppy Seattle; held multiple culinary leadership positions from 2001–2018.