My Story

To reinforce the age-old expression “opposites attract,” let me just say my mom is very much “arts & crafts” while my dad is “math & science.” On a given day in my childhood, I could be building a computer with my dad or sewing a sequin stuffed fish with my mom. All that to say, I’m very fortunate to have been exposed to both the worlds of logic and creativity (read: creative nerd at your service).

I could try to play things cool about my excitement to be a part of the UX space. Given that you’re here reading this page, I’m going to assume you might be in the vein of people willing to nerd out with me.

During my college studies, I pursued a degree in Computer Science but quickly realized I cared more about understanding how the interface worked and what it should look like rather than being the person to write the actual code. After switching to Business, I discovered my favorite class was “Organizational Behavior” which is a fancy title for observing and researching the actions and attitudes of people within a given environment.

It wasn’t until 2012 that the term “User Experience” was introduced into my vocabulary. Upon first hearing about UX, I felt an immediate connection and sense of belonging. Suddenly my blended world of logic and creativity expanded to include this fascinating area of focus. Before entering the UX space officially, I took a detour through the world of Customer Support where I was able to refine and develop a variety of skills as a Support Manager. I have long been a champion of process improvement to reduce pain for both internal and external audiences. Throughout my entire career, I’ve operated by the rule that my knowledge and contributions should form a strong foundation for others to build on long into the future.

When I’m not working, you can find me painting, checking out art shows, or frequenting taco spots around town. Much like my approach to UX, I love to create simplified works of art that are compelling and enjoyable. I relish the challenge of combining different artistic styles to create a new end result.

My favorite part of the painting process is collaborating with someone to create a highly unique piece of art that they truly love. Creating something that people are willing to voluntarily look at in their sacred space is not a responsibility I take lightly. One of the best feelings in the world is receiving a picture of my art displayed in someone else’s home (as sketched above). Many of the things I value about art is present in the UX focus as well, which is why I’m so excited to be here!