Ashley is a software engineer, project manager, game developer, and event organizer who builds worlds and communities. She has spoken about her failures at conferences on three continents, and was featured in the 2015 documentary GameLoading: Rise of the Indies.Though Ashley started on her path into programming and production in 2011, she only became a "real" video game developer in 2016 when a game she worked on was shut down (rest in pixels, Outcast Odyssey). Despite the volatility of careers in games, Ashley teaches video game design workshops for kids, and hopes the industry will value quality of life by the time they enter the workforce.Before she engineered software, managed projects, developed games or organized events, Ashley was a sportswriter, general assignment reporter, copy-editor, "public relations professional" and public-access t.v. production assistant. She earned her BA in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California (where she was one course short of a dual degree in International Relations), her Master of Media Practice with Merit from the University of Sydney, and her Certificate of Achievement in Computer Programming with straight As from Santa Monica College. She became a Certified Scrum Master in 2022.Ashley also regularly participates in charitable work benefitting organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, and St Jude's.As a candidate for the LLS Visionary of the Year campaign in spring 2022, Ashley led a massive fundraising campaign, earning the right to sponsor a research portfolio in honor of her mom, a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor. Ashley was recognized with the Mission Award for Patient Support for her efforts in spreading awareness of LLS services for patients and families while ensuring that all contributors understood the practical impact of their donations. Ashley and her cohort of 16 outstanding Visionary candidates collectively raised more than $1.3m in support of the lifesaving work of LLS. She has continued her involvement with the Visionaries of the Year leadership team ever since.In her remaining free time, Ashley enjoys breaking a sweat—mostly indo-row, pilates or spinning—as well as exploring the outdoors. Ashley’s passion for her five-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins is rivaled only by her fondness for food.