Born in the Midwest and raised in New York, New York, West's early production management credits include To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and the Whoopi Goldberg comedy The Associate (co-starring Bebe Neuwirth). In 1997 he graduated from New York's Columbia University with a Bachelor's Associates in Marketing.[1] West has formed The Dantis Group, a media company that is producing television and management of other artisits. A feature length documentary is also in development.