Professional Highlights
Creative Director and UX Strategist with deep experience leading design teams, shaping user-centered solutions, and facilitating co-designing workshops. Known for blending strategy with practical, effective design—whether managing large-scale digital projects or building creative tools for everyday users. I enjoy mentoring,
collaborating, and solving complex challenges that require both big-picture thinking and hands-on creativity.
collaborating, and solving complex challenges that require both big-picture thinking and hands-on creativity.
Work Experience
Creative Director and Founder
Help Yourself LLC, Portland, OR. | Aug. 2024 - Present
Help Yourself LLC, Portland, OR. | Aug. 2024 - Present
Founded a creative side business designing illustrated cocktail prints that blend visual storytelling with practical, approachable design. Personally led product design, retail outreach, and small-batch production, securing placement in local shops. Developed eye-catching in-store displays to support small business owners.
This side project keeps my creative energy flowing and sharpens my skills in design, customer experience, and entrepreneurship.
Creative Director (UX) / Talent Development Manager
GP Strategies / Learning Technologies Group, Portland OR. | 2008 - 2024
GP Strategies / Learning Technologies Group, Portland OR. | 2008 - 2024
• Led multidisciplinary UX and creative teams on large-scale learning, compliance,
and communication projects for Fortune 500 clients across industries including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and tech..
and communication projects for Fortune 500 clients across industries including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and tech..
• Directed cross-functional teams to deliver user-centered digital solutions
that aligned with business goals, driving engagement, client buy-in, and
behavior change.
that aligned with business goals, driving engagement, client buy-in, and
behavior change.
• Led design discovery workshops and co-designing sessions, helping stakeholders clarify objectives, align on creative direction, and adopt user-centered practices.
• Mentored and developed a team of 8+ designers, motion artists, and video
specialists—boosting collaboration, retention, and client satisfaction.
specialists—boosting collaboration, retention, and client satisfaction.
• Improved team performance through individualized coaching and targeted skill development; maintained high utilization and billability across accounts.
• Presented at national conferences on Design Thinking for talent development and digital learning experiences.
Clients: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna, Facebook, Gulfstream, Hilton Hotels, Meta, Microsoft, Nike, Pepsi, PlayStation, Under Armour, US Navy, and others.
Education
Master of Science, Graphic Arts Publishing: Concentration: Electronic Publishing.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Science, Graphic Communications: Graphic Design and Management.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California
Master of Science, Graphic Arts Publishing: Concentration: Electronic Publishing.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Science, Graphic Communications: Graphic Design and Management.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California
Skills
• Creative Direction
• Design Thinking Facilitation
• User-Centered Design
• Design Collaboration
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Product Development
• Visual Storytelling
• Creative Problem Solving
• Mentorship
• Stakeholder Alignment
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Figma
• HTML/CSS
• Design Thinking Facilitation
• User-Centered Design
• Design Collaboration
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Product Development
• Visual Storytelling
• Creative Problem Solving
• Mentorship
• Stakeholder Alignment
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Figma
• HTML/CSS
Creative Explorations
Projects
These interests help inform my approach to user experience, design, storytelling and a flexible process:
• Electronic/industrial music composition and live performances
• Hand illustration
• Book design
These interests help inform my approach to user experience, design, storytelling and a flexible process:
• Electronic/industrial music composition and live performances
• Hand illustration
• Book design
AI Exploration in Design
I experiment daily with AI and explore its applications for:
• UX Design
• Co-Designing Workshops
• Storyboarding
• Data and Information Design
• User Research
I experiment daily with AI and explore its applications for:
• UX Design
• Co-Designing Workshops
• Storyboarding
• Data and Information Design
• User Research