Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Mangold.
Hi Douglas, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story began in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. I began working at a tool and die company in the automotive industry when I was 18 years old, where I worked for 20 plus years. I came home one day and told my wife I just can’t do it anymore. Leaving a 6-figure income was not something I was ready to do but working seven days a week and 70 plus hours was taking it’s toll on me. I lived a very good lifestyle to say the least but I just wasn’t happy doing what I was doing anymore. I used to always say I will never leave Michigan but was faced with the most difficult decision in my life. Do I leave my family, which consisted of my parents and 4 of my six sisters, or do I suck it up and just accept life as it was?
At the age of 38, I decided to leave everything that I worked so hard for, for the unknown. I came home from work one day in January of 2004 and told my wife I had just quit my job and wanted to get as far away from the automotive industry as I could. Everyone thought I was crazy however, they all supported my decision. Prior to our marriage, my wife lived in Dallas, TX, so in July of 2004, we sold our house and moved to Texas, where I enrolled in a career college in Fort Worth one week after we settled in. The next two years were the most humbling years of my life. Going from a 6-figure income to not having enough money for gas to get to school was a tough pill to swallow for me. My wife worked countless hours waiting tables just to put food on the table and pay rent. One day during school, one of my professors took me on a tour of a marketing agency. The next day I told her I would be the happiest person in the world if I could work at a place like that someday.
A few days later, I received an email from the president of the company Neil Foster offering me an internship. I was flabbergasted, to say the least. I don’t know if was happier to be interning at such a cool place or at the fact that I would be making enough money to put gas in my car. 6-months after my internship, the president asked to speak with me. He said, “you’re doing a great job but we just don’t have a position for you” my heart sank at that moment but he wasn’t finished. He finished by saying we would love for you to join the team so we’re going to create a position and would like you to start right after graduation. When I got in my car to go home, I started out in the distance and cried for about 5 minutes.
In October of 2006, I finally found happiness in my work life. Through the years, I worked my through the agency at various positions such as an art director, photographer and production manager. I admit I was never the smartest or the most talented but I truly believe I was the hardest working. Fast forward to 2019. Neil, now the CEO of the agency, said he was tired of renting corporate offices and purchased a building of his own. We were discussing possibly incorporating a larger studio for photography but then decided to step it up a notch and design a film and photography studio. Neil and I were discussing the studio one day and he asked if I would be interested in running it as a separate company? He said he wanted someone he could trust and thought I was the right man for the job. I shook his hand and said, “hell yes!” So in May of 2019, Lowtown Studios was born. After 18 months of planning and construction, Lowtown Studios opened its doors on July 1, 2020. I will say being the President of a company comes with a different kind of stress but it took me 53 years to finally say I’m living my dream.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Hasn’t been as smooth as I would have liked. I think the most difficult things were leaving my family and the financial side of everything leading up to where I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today I fill the roll of president at Lowtown Studios. I don’t really have a specialty and I’m not really known for anything. I’m most proud of the fact that I didn’t listen to the negativity and plugged along to fulfill my dream. I think my hard work sets me apart from the others.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Winning the state championship in hockey as a 10-year-old.
Contact Info:
- Email: doug@lowtownstudios.com
- Website: lowtownstudios.com
- Instagram: lowtownstudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowtownstudios
