Background

I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by my large and diverse family. As a child, when I wasn’t swimming competitively, I was watching my parents build an art collection featuring artists like Robert Arneson, Beth Cavener, Eric Fischl, Alice Neel, Hung Liu, and Phillip Pearlstein, among others.

Fortunately, my father noticed my budding interest in art at a young age and enrolled me in an oil painting course at the Kansas City Art Institute. This sparked my long and varied relationship with the arts. At 14, I was honored to be one of the few artists chosen for Tim Rollins and the KOS workshop and gallery show in Kansas City. Later, I was awarded a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to fund a two-week art workshop for inner-city youth.

These early successes led me to art school in New York City, where I moved to Brooklyn and graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Communications Design. I worked as a painting assistant for Takashi Murakami and did freelance design work. In 2009, I started my own business, Foxtail Press, designing, printing, and selling greeting cards, making my art affordable and accessible to all. However, my life took a tragic and unexpected turn when my beloved sister, co-conspirator, and best friend passed away suddenly, changing the trajectory of my life.

I returned to my Midwest family, but retained my entrepreneurial passion. I started an eyewear brand named Milton, managed a Shinola pop-up store, and designed for Foot Traffic. Later, I was recruited by Hallmark as a hybrid product and packaging designer, bringing my talents full circle and back into the greeting card world. After three years, I was ready to move on, working briefly for Neiman Marcus as a media designer before landing at MMGY as an art director.

At MMGY, I dove deep into the world of travel and tourism, leading accounts such as Pure Michigan, Destination Ann Arbor, and the brand identity for Trabble (a Frontier Airlines company). I was known for coming up with BIG IDEAS, especially during new business pitches and brand identity projects where I thrived. I embraced group concepting sessions and any opportunity to collaborate with other creatives and business partners. I also advocated for better integration of departments and led by example, being the first to bring Strategy into the creative process beyond project briefs. After almost three years at MMGY, I decided it was time to pursue new opportunities.

Currently, I’m working remotely as a freelance consultant while exploring a new business idea for fun. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my adorable dog, Frida, being outdoors, traveling, posting new outfits on Instagram, or working in the pottery studio.