Never one to follow conventional expectations, I took the scenic route on my way to a career in design. With a background in marketing and public relations, and even a few semesters of pharmacy school under my belt (mm-hmm, you read that correctly—we all make a few questionable choices in our twenties, yes?), I suppose I’m nothing if not well-rounded. After finally capitalizing on my artistic abilities, I spent more than 15 years as a professional designer and art director, most of it leading in-house creative for brands ranging from Major League Baseball teams to a federal agency.

I truly enjoy getting to know a brand at its core. That in-depth knowledge allows me to intelligently and creatively evolve visual identities in ways that feel fresh and engaging, while still respecting what people already know. Some might find that limiting; I’ve always seen it as a challenge: how do I keep everything people already love about a brand while finding a new way to visually tell its story?

And true to form, the scenic route continues. These days I teach Branding + Identity and Portfolio to second-year graphic design students at Cape Fear Community College, lead classes at Pure Barre, and teach vinyasa flow as a certified RYT-200 yoga instructor (with my Yin certification in progress). I’m also leaning further into my fitness background as I explore graduate study in performance psychology and counseling, because helping people grow, whether in a portfolio review or on the mat, is the part of every job I’ve loved most. And frankly, the world could use a little more support for everyone’s mental game right now.

Somewhere in between, I run a small pottery business, 14 Feet 2 Hands, write novels, and remain an absolute dog lover. My home office staff includes my Mini Schnauzer Sprocket, VP of Security and Lead Quality Control Consultant; my Newfiedoodle Ozzie, Chairperson for Company Well-Being and Morale; and George Bailey, a cat who is fully convinced he’s a dog and currently serves as junior intern in the Canine Relations Department. And yes, I see now that we’re all making the same face in our headshots.