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Lake Shore Camera Exchange, Inc. was born August 1st, 1984 with a mission to be"...Focused on YOUR photo needs." Gregg often points out that we are not sales-people but here to fill the community’s need for imaging information, service and equipment. Serving that need shall continue to keep Lake Shore Camera Exchange as the leading camera store in this area. Customer service is the owner (Gregg Hickman) and staff’s goal and maybe that is why, after over twenty five years, we are still your one-stop photo and digital imaging source.
Gregg Hickman has been deeply involved in photography since he got the "bug" in 1963. From traditional training to free-lance for over twenty years. His training has included Dixie Hollins’ Photographic vocational education graduate, attending St. Petersburg College, and free lance photography of all kinds for over 20 years with local, national and international publishings. Part of his retail experience came from a brief career at a local retail chain where he worked his way up from clerk to managing five departments. Gregg ran the photo department for the FBI at the Tampa field office before becoming a Clearwater Police officer where he was able to apply his photo skills at numerous crime scenes and surveillances. Upon retiring from Clearwater Police Department, he continued to use his photo skills and accident reconstruction certification as an investigator for a local law firm.
Gregg founded Lake Shore Camera Exchange on August 1st, 1984. He continues his life long involvement in the industry and community through his twenty five year membership in the Photo Marketing Association International, as well as Pinellas Executives Association, Independent Photo Imagers, Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, and Photographic Research Organization. He has volunteered at many local schools teaching classes, repairing equipment, guest speaking and a past member of the school advisory council at Curlew Creek Elementary. He is a past president of a local community service organization – the Optimist Club. He continues to give informational training seminars to the community and is always available and loves to speak at community organizations on Digital Photography. Gregg is often asked to provide information and opinion to major publications on varying photo related topics.
Dawn Hickman is the balancing personality at Lake Shore and always makes everyone feel at home when they come into our shop. Gone are the days of intimidating "Photo Geeks" pouncing on you to make you feel forced into something you do not understand. Dawn has taught us all how to be a customer needs advocate instead of sales-people or "photo geeks." Without a doubt she is the most successful photo customer advocate in the Tampa Bay area. She has attained many awards for her creative portrait photography and teaching over a twenty five year career as a portrait photographer and she heads up the Studio division at LAKE SHORE CAMERA EXCHANGE. Her personal style of making you feel at home adds the perfect blend to the studio and sales staff. Please visit our "Studio" web page to learn more.
Thomas Bailey A graduate of Lincoln College and The Winona School of Professional Photography, he also attended McKendree College. After his formal education Tom has attended over one hundred continuing education programs and seminars in all phases of traditional and digital photography.
His industry experience includes newspaper and wedding photographer, owner of a photography studio in Monmouth, Illinois and the first photography instructor at Carl Sandberg Community College. He was the owner of Cameras, Film, Etc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, a camera store and photo-processing firm from the mid 1970’s through 2003. He later became the manager of a camera store in Sarasota, Florida until he joined the team at Lake Shore in the fall of 2005.
Active in the community and business organizations Tom is a three time Past President of the Florida Photo Marketing Association, has served two terms as a Territorial Vice President of the Photo Marking Association International. An active Rotarian for over 30 years, and a Paul Harris Fellow, he is a Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg West. He has industry certifications as a Certified Photographic Consultant, Certified Retail Photo Processor, and is a Member of the Society of Photofinishing Engineers. He is often asked to provided information and insight to major publications and TV stations, the Photo Marketing Association International referred many reporters to him on the subject of the Advanced Photo System.
There is never a need to feel uncomfortable about visiting your neighborhood camera store where we are "...focused on YOUR needs."
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