Favorite adventure: Hiking
Favorite flavor: LUNA BAR: Honey salted peanut AND Caramel Nut Brownie
Hiking through the timeless wonder of tall trees with my nephew and mother might be on the quiet side of adventure, but it makes it no less deep. I took that sense of wonder to the Nevada desert in 2001, where I encountered my first Luna bar on my way to Burning Man. I figured a product designed for women would keep male hands away from my stash. My first bite at moonrise at the edge of the oblivious desert was enough to begin a life-long love affair. Unfortunately, they’re so good that the boys couldn’t stay away – my first bar was also my last until I made it Tahoe one week later.
My family says we have design in our blood. Coming from a long line of artisans and art directors, my perspective is permanently skewed by a life of design. After my first job at age 12 creating and painting signs for the local plant nursery, I went on to build and head design studios at four multinational ad agencies: D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowels and Gotham in New York City; Bensimon Byrne in Toronto and JWT in Chicago. At these agencies I created an internal capability that integrated the concept of design into the overall process and raised the quality of work – and the way we work. Directly responsible for identifying and motivating a staff of designers, I have also managed interactive, print production, motion graphics, and studio work. I understand creating brands and building equity at every point of communication, developing the ethos of a brand to drive not only sales, but brand loyalty.
I’ve developed campaigns for a range of clients from nonprofits to international corporations including Macy’s, Pfizer, Bank of America, and many brands under the Proctor & Gamble, Nestlé, and Kraft umbrellas. While my passion for design remains unquenched, my interest in social consciousness and global change has redirected my career path from mega-global conglomerate agencies to focused attention on value driven propositions. I joined Fenton because I believe.
