Joe began editing photographs in the mid 90's, as a way of exploring the features of his new Pentium, multi-media computer and one of those relatively new devices, a flat bed scanner. Skills he developed contributed to his work with Safeco Insurance companies. With a little knowledge of photo editing, photo restoration was not far behind. Going to work on a large set of family photos that had been cropped the old fashioned way — with scissors, Joe began rebuilding the cut-away backgrounds and having new prints made.
In due time, a family member showed Joe an irreplaceable photo, "decorated" many years earlier by ball point pen. With a daring, "I can fix that", he went to work on the scanned image. Many hours and many-lessons-learned later, and his first real Photoshop software in the computer, Joe delivered the finished product. A few more of those 
and it was time to hang out the shingle, 2003.
Joe is now self employed, doing photo restoration and retouching in Redmond. He has over 13 years of experience in restoring and retouching photographs. Photo customers include individuals, framing shops, funeral homes, and damage restoration companies.
Joe is one of those individuals who draws on the strengths of being able to use both left and right sides of the brain. He has many interests in wide ranging fields — skilled auto mechanic, amateur
woodworker and remodeler (taking projects through all phases of design, layout, cutting, finishing and installation). Joe also serves as a Board Member of the Redmond Historical Society, where he has contributed as Chair of both the Long Range Planning and Bylaws Committees.
Joe Townsend, CSP (Retired), ARM, retired after 32 years as an Assistant Director, in the Home Office Risk Services Department for Safeco Commercial Insurance in Seattle. With Safeco Joe was responsible for development, implementation and oversight of technical and publishing projects for customer and field technical services such as industrial hygiene and development and distribution of training media. He holds a B. A. degree (Economics) from San Jose State University. Additional formal education includes diplomas in Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Management, Associate In Loss Control Management.
After leaving Safeco, Joe joined Seattle Goodwill Industries as their Risk and Safety Manager, where he completed a project to upgrade the organization's Emergency Response Plan, while managing the self-insured workers' compensation program. That work entailed development of a number of training programs, all of which required manipulation of photo images. He "retired" from that position in 2007 and went into private practice as a consultant for a year (while also restoring photographs).
During his safety career, Joe was active in the American Society of Safety Engineers beginning in 1974. He is past president of the Puget Sound Chapter in Seattle. At the Society level, Joe served two terms as Region XIII Regional VP and National Board of Directors, and one year as V. P. Finance and a member of the Society Board's Executive Committee. He also served on numerous committees and task forces, most recently as Co-Chair of the very successful 2006 ASSE Professional Development Conference held in Seattle.
Joe has received Awards such as ASSE Region I, Safety Professional of the Year 1998; Charles V, Culberston, Outstanding Volunteer Achievement, 1996; Puget Sound Chapter's Safety Professional of the Year, 1987. Joe was elected ASSE Fellow in 2003.
Following Graduation, Joe served in the U.S. Navy where he attained the rank of Lieutenant, filling roles as Main Propulsion Assistant, Damaged Control Assistant, and finally Chief Engineer. He is the recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal. Read more.
Joe has lived in Redmond, WA with his wife Doris since the mid 70's, where they raised two daughters. Prior to Redmond, Joe and Doris lived in the Denver area and Southern Calif.