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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."
- Aristotle

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"Over the course of my career, I've been extremely fortunate.  At each step, I have been exposed to another exciting new skill or technology – and given the opportunity to apply it. These experiences, whether visual, technical or managerial, have formed the necessary foundation for leading an enterprise-level UX/Creative team."

RELEVANT SKILLS:

  • "SEEING THE FOREST"
    With over 15 years of experience designing visual/user interactions and 30 years of traditional graphic design, I have a comprehensive understanding of all creative and technical development processes. This broad range of knowledge gives me the ability to critically evaluate my team’s designs, finding the best balance between exciting aesthetics, usability, business desires, revenue, available technology, development time, and ongoing maintenance.

  • LEADERSHIP
    I have a long history of successfully inspiring and leading in-house design/development teams, at all experience levels, in organizations ranging from startups to multi billion-dollar corporations. I believe confidence and trust in a leader ensures delivery of the highest quality work possible under even the strictest deadlines.

  • CREATIVE DIRECTION
    My award-winning background in traditional print media has helped me transition effectively into the design of highly effective, data-driven interactive consumer products. Careful attention to business goals, approved client marketing strategies, ad campaigns and visual brand identity are necessary for the effective creation of consistent, user-centered designs that build customer trust and loyalty. (Visit my portfolio to see client list and samples)

  • BRAND & UX STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
    I lead the initiative to define, document and launch Travelocity's Brand and UX Standards. In addition to brand, visual, interaction and media specifications, this documentation contained presentation layer coding standards and asset library specifications.     (links available upon request)

  • NATIONAL BRAND EXPERIENCE
    My design and interactive work has been used by some of the most recognizable brands in the world: Blockbuster, Best Buy, Bank of America, Apple Computer, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Coldwell Banker Previews, MGM Grand Hotel, Travelocity, Direct Energy, REALTOR.com, Rio Hotel, Adobe, AT&T, Mellon Bank, The Luxor Hotel, Heinz, PPG, Magnolia Audio/Video, Starz, AAA, Pinehurst Golf Club, and the estate of science fiction author Philip K. Dick.

  • NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS
    I have won numerous national and international design awards including the prestigious Printing Industry of America's Award of Excellence and multiple Gold and "Best of Show" Addy Awards. In addition, my work has appeared in the Print Regional Design Annual, How Design Annual, MacWeek and Publish magazines.

  • ADVANCED PRESENTATION LAYER CODING
    I began hands-on coding using HTML and Flash in 1996, adopting CSS in 2000. Currently, I am an avid supporter of modular web design, evangelizing the critical importance of accessible, reusable code. I truly believe in the importance of coding standards and peer reviews, emphasizing the effective use of grid-based design, CSS frameworks, and semantic markup. I am intimately familiar with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, Flash, and PHP, as well as coding requirements for effective SEO.

  • INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
    I have 12 years of experience creating formal site maps, flow diagrams, wireframes, use cases, user stories, persona-based scenarios and functional requirement documents. I am a regular participant in IA and UX trade organizations, and a member of the IAI

  • PROTOTYPING & PRE-LAUNCH USABILITY TESTING
     I am skilled in rapid prototyping for usability testing using static visuals, HTML, Fireworks, Axure, Flash Catalyst, and/or Keynote to deliver the appropriate level of fidelity to run a successful test. My formal testing experience ranges from the use of informal online services such as UserTesting.com to highly structured usability lab studies and focus groups.

  • ANALYTICS, MULTI-VARIATE TESTING, and POST-LAUNCH USER FEEDBACK
    FEEDBACK In addition to universal design principles and proven best practices, I rely heavily upon advanced site analysis tools, heat maps, click tracking, and multivariate testing technologies to make informed UX decisions. These tools currently include Google Analytics, Visual Sciences, Omniture Test & Target, Monetate, Click Tale, and Crazy Egg.

  • KNOWLEDGE OF PROGRAMMING, WEB ARCHITECTURE & SYSTEMS
    Solid understanding of development, web systems and architecture is critical to ensure effective and productive discussions with developers. I have a well-rounded understanding of web services, object-oriented programming, design patterns, content acceleration, caching, Content Management Systems, and more.

  • HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
    During my career, I have been responsible for the supervision of up to 16 direct reports and supporting UX teams up to 25 strong, located across multiple offices and countries. My manager satisfaction and efficacy scores are consistently high, and I am proud to say I remain in close contact with most of my previous direct reports.

  • PRESENTATION SKILLS
    I have given countless executive-level presentations on design technology at national trade shows and industry events. In addition, I was Keynote speaker at Princeton University's "Computers in Graphic Arts Conference" (CASE) held at Carnegie Mellon University, and presenter of Macintosh multi-media capabilities for Apple Computer to the Executive Board of Ketchum Communications.

 

Useless, but possibly more entertaining, information about me...

  • According to Myer's Briggs, I'm an ENTJ. This is probably not shocking to anyone who knows me.
  • I've been to Africa on a real Safari, but I've never been to Paris.
  • I was a Golden Girl for the University of Pittsburgh in 1976-1977.  We went to the Sugar Bowl that year, winning the National Championship.
  • I grew up watching NASCAR, and regularly attend both Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races.
  • My eyesight is terrible. Without my contact lens, most things are just fuzzy blobs of color.
  • I've learned there are very few things more expensive than trying to support a good red wine habit.  
  • I am afraid of birds, but not snakes. 
  • If I had an unlimited supply of money, I'd be designing typefaces while lounging on the deck of my two-mast yacht in the Caribbean.