I’m a senior design leader, strategy creator, system thinker, and creative contributor. Schooled in journalism and writing by the UW, trained in design, content, and research leadership by media, agency, and corporate experience, I range from print to AI and continue to learn. My motivation comes from seeking healthy discomfort, achieving results and recognition for my team, and making a better day for each customer.

COMPETENCIES

Team leadership, creative direction, interaction and experience design direction, copy direction, AI experiences, brand development, creative strategy, content strategy, messaging and voice, campaigns, live presentations, events, relationships and partnerships, production management, new business development, digital and print

2022-present

Senior Manager of Design, Amazon Alexa

  • Hired to new position of Creative Director for Alexa Personality 10/22, elevated to lead all of Alexa Identity and Personality 02/23

  • Managing 13+ UX designers, UX researchers, content creators, program managers, and contractors at peak

  • Inherited partially-defined new product, led redefinition with Product leads while building new execution and resource model

  • Inherited 2023 business goals and managed contributors to complete all goals (including goal revisions) despite staff reductions

  • Onboarded team to strategic technology changes (AI) and future-forward skills while delivering legacy goals

  • Reset team structure and retained key contributors through prolonged reorganization from Q4 ‘23 through Q1 ‘24

2019-2022: Head of Website Design, Amazon Web Services

  • Replaced leader of UX and Visual UX team, then added Program Management, Research, and Copy

  • Defined and directed completion of first website Design System, aligned with brand executions and product dashboards

  • Directed extension of Design System and related asset libraries (including icons) to Figma for easier internal and external sharing

  • Directed creation of research road map to integrate customer insights into the home page, product pages, and re:Invent experiences

  • Led concept and design system creation for AWS priorities including solution and segment marketing and device-agnostic experiences

  • Co-lead of strategic and system integration across primary customer-facing design teams (Polaris, Brand)

2015-2019: Senior Manager of Design, Amazon Prime

  • Built team to own brand development, campaign execution, and onsite content; added leadership of user research and UX design

  • Led Prime Day “cardboard world” campaign creation in 2016: defined and led strategy and execution through reviews with directors and VPs across Amazon, concept approval with CEO Jeff Wilke, and global partner extensions

  • Led Prime Day global design efforts 2016-2019 according to my own 3-5 year strategy, supporting regional design team efforts in India, China, Japan, EU, Canada, and the Middle East, and integrating brands online and via large-scale events including a Taylor Swift concert

  • Led development of the first complete Prime brand toolkit and brand book including assets, messaging, and guidance for copy, photography, and illustration; drove new Amazon brand portal capabilities to support our brand launch standards

  • Extended Prime design system and team expertise to support Prime launches in new markets including the Middle East, Australia, and Mexico; extended team research and UX expertise to lead critical CX efforts including EU Multi-Factor Authentication solutions

2005-2015: Global agency design lead

  • 2005-13: Co-founder, Group Creative Director, then Director of design studio for Wunderman; clients included Microsoft, Xbox, Expedia, Group Health, and the Seattle Storm; led client relationships, built new revenue streams, and owned reporting and forecasting to agency leadership; built team of 30+ creatives, project managers, and production specialists; built business model while leading it, including processes, prices, standards, and contracts; made the CFO a fan through reliable annual revenue streams that exceeded $6 million

  • 2013-15: Group Creative Director and leader of business-to-business marketing for T-Mobile and Microsoft; inherited business-winning team that was burning out, re-energized key people, found new talent, co-wrote concepts and tactics with team, and integrated creative, strategy, data, client services, and the client for ~18 months of new business prior to agency consolidation; transitioned to lead Microsoft content marketing initiative for 6 months prior to departure

Pre-2005

Local agency design contributor and lead

Senior writer, producer, and story specialist for The Garrigan Lyman Group; owned creative strategy and execution for print and digital, marketing and pitches; presentations, on-camera interviews, motion graphics, and brand frameworks; healthcare, finance, consumer electronics, software, and wireless services clients

Local and national radio producer and creator

Writer, producer, editor, and performer of live and recorded news, sports, and features; KIRO Radio, CBS Radio, Pat Cashman and Dave Ross shows

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Arts, Broadcast Journalism, University of Washington

  • Certificate in Storytelling and Content Strategy, University of Washington

AWARDS

ADDYs, ECHO awards, PSAMA Pulse awards, and shortlist honors at Cannes