I spent the first part of my career in mental health. It was demanding work, and in 2011 I retired from it, not to stop, but to find work that fit me better. I went back to school and earned an A.A.S. in Management (2012) and a B.S. in Business Management (2014) from SUNY Empire State, with a minor in internet marketing and web design. Somewhere in those classes, I realized I didn't want to manage an office. I wanted to design.
Watching How Things Connect
After moving to Loveland, Colorado, I started volunteering, helping small businesses and community events get found online. With a small grassroots social media team, we grew a Facebook audience past 21,000 followers and supported local events and causes along the way.
I also worked as a public information officer and national digital volunteer for a well-known nonprofit. I learned how much a clear message matters, and I saw how online platforms can isolate and overwhelm people. So I stepped back from social media work and went back to school, this time for design.
Learning the Craft
It started with photography. From there I studied Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more, earning three certificates and an A.A.S. in Graphic Design with honors from Front Range Community College in 2022.
In my final year, I worked with a Capstone team to plan and promote a student art show, interned with Full Circle Creative, and took part in the student-run Graphic Design Agency. Each project taught me something about my own style, and about how design works best when it supports the business behind it.
