I began punching the 10,000 Hour clock around the age of seven when I taught myself PowerPoint (nerd alert!). Of course, I didn’t begin my professional career until much later.

As a graphic designer and a graphics (gfx) operator, I offer a unique advantage. Not only can I create content (presentations, signage, etc.) that looks good, I can ensure it’s technically reliable as well. This allows me to carefully guide my clients from planning to post-con whether they are a C-suite executive, a keynote speaker, a meeting planner or an event producer.

I’m fluent in Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint and Keynote and frequently take courses on design fundamentals, print production, typography, and color theory, staying true to my self-taught style.

This affords me the pleasure to design content for Citrix, Johnson & Johnson, La Prairie, Microsoft and Stryker, to name a few. I’ve also enjoyed operating graphics on shows for companies like Advertising Week, Amazon, Banfield Pet Hospital, eBay, Google, and PointClickCare.

My role covered everything from producing videos to designing and managing print and digital signage and PowerPoint templates. My work was mainly used for events hosted in Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Seattle and also required me to manage logistics like budgets, vendors and production schedules pertaining to all creative materials.

I reported directly to the tour manager when helping manage logistics for this promotional event in three cities (Austin, Miami and Los Angeles). My responsibilities included booking vendors for load-in, managing the promotion model team, coordinating nightly with security staff, managing product and decor inventory as well as pre- and post-production processes.

As a part of the marketing team, I worked to help raise awareness of the school’s mission statement, not only through designing and distributing promotional media, but through the planning and executing of school-sponsored philanthropic events, including an off-site movie premiere at a local theater (courtesy of Michael and Cheryl Pollack).

With Apple, I took directives from the corporate headquarters in Cupertino to host product demos and school-sponsored events for students and parents, with the ultimate goal of driving MacBook and iPad sales for ASU’s bookstores.

Yearbook Tech was a four-day design and strategy camp for high school yearbook teams, hosted annually at San Diego State University. In this role, I helped plan meeting specifics leading up to the event (including communicating with schools as they planned their visit, nightly activities, etc.) and assisted facilitators in their design classes, on site.

I spent my first two years at Arizona State completing coursework for my Educational Studies degree. I’ve always been passionate about education and found it extremely valuable to dedicate a large portion of my studies to this complex field.

I worked hard to earn my degree in six, short semesters and spent my final year dedicating my time to a minor in Special Event Management. I loved learning from various industry professionals and felt my career path evolving subconsciously.

My final project involved working alongside all 80 of my class members to execute a live event of our choosing. We chose an urban-themed fashion show hosted at Arizona Skysong Center. My role within this project was to create, edit and produce the event’s opening video and supporting graphics. After a successful show enjoyed by family, friends and community members, I knew I had to find a way to do this for a living… somehow!