I approach everything from a "human first" perspective. I am a creative and critical thinker, with a consultive mindset. I am able to distill complex problems into design driven product and marketing solutions. I have experience building and leading cross-functional teams across brand development, product and UI- system design, e-commerce and digital marketing. 

I recieved a BFA in Sculpture from the Pacific Northwest School of Art and a double masters from SCAD in Industrial Design and Interaction Design. I began my career at Ziba in Portland, Oregon. I helped establish the Interaction Design practice. I designed immersive retail experiences for Nike, consumer electronics for Samsung, and the first generation Coca-Cola soda fountain machine - the one you have seen with a touchscreen on it. The cool thing is the UI is pretty much the same today.

I left Ziba for the infamous design firm frog. I spent 8 years there, lastly as a Creative Director leading large scale design and innovation projects. I helped brands identify product opportunities and build strategies to deliver them. These were mostly big, big brands, the ones that have a lot at stake and even more stakeholders:) I used design thinking as a way to bring people and teams together across orgs to deliver a product experience.

While at frog, I saw how much value I was creating for brands - I wanted to do it for myself and we moved to the beach.  I became the President of a small design and marketing agency that also started new ventures - we started Leesa, an e-commerce mattress company dedicated to social change. As a founder, I built the brand strategy, visual identity, product, e-commerce experience, and marketing creative, including the team to support it. It was an amazing journey of growth, over $100 million/yr in revenue after just 4 short years.
 
I learned a lot about what it takes to design a product and brand experience, but also what it takes to sell it in the new world (then) of influencers, e-comm, brand building, and performance marketing. Leesa showed me you can build a business and also do “good” for the world at the same time. I think a lot of people (including me) used to think they were mutually exclusive.

When not designing or dreaming up new brands, I oversee philanthropic investments for the Frank E. Murphy Foundation where I create programs and services dedicated to student success through academic support and social innovation. 

 Over the years, as a designer, a creative director, and founder, I have seen the trials and tribulations from low level to leadership. Let me bring my experience to help you. 
 
Let's collaborate, get in touch.