Bethany Janka Email & Phone Number

I plan, design, and conduct research activities that uncover deep insights into user needs and behaviors. My expertise includes conducting user research, analysis and synthesis, persona development, and usability testing, ensuring that human-centered insights drive the creation of intuitive and effective digital solutions. I am currently working for the Department of State to support the transformation of the customer experience for Passport Services.

As a UX researcher and designer in a dynamic women's health startup, I led the charge in UX research initiatives, from defining objectives and methodologies to crafting research plans and executing diverse activities like surveys, interviews, and usability testing. I specialized in both generative and evaluative research studies, analyzing and synthesizing findings to offer actionable insights that drove human-centered, data-informed design decisions. Working closely with a cross-functional team, I advocated for the user's perspective, ensuring their needs and preferences took center stage in decision-making.

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

I orchestrated research, education, and outreach initiatives benefiting students and community partners. As part of this role, I spearheaded a research project assessing the digital landscape for Baltimore's social entrepreneurs, coordinating a team of researchers and participants to deliver impactful outcomes. I performed qualitative data analysis to uncover insights on emerging opportunities, trends, and user behaviors. I subsequently documented findings to guide the development of targeted training and support services, demonstrating my commitment to leveraging research for actionable insights and impactful solutions.

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

I executed several end-to-end design projects for public sector and nonprofit clients, under UBalt faculty supervision, leveraging generative and evaluative user research methodologies to design data-driven, user-centric solutions. These projects included:• State of Maryland: Conducted moderated usability testing sessions for the State of Maryland’s Board of Elections website, engaging 7 diverse users. Translated insights and feedback into actionable recommendations and proposed user-centered wireframes for enhanced usability.• SPARK for Autism: Executed strategic analysis and redesign of a research organization’s website utilizing evaluative research methodologies to identify UX improvements. Offered recommendations to enhance usability, accessibility, and information architecture, proposed refined sitemap, and created optimized wireframes for improved user journey.• Arc of Loudoun: Designed an application for a nonprofit organization to align with key performance indicators (KPIs). Executed generative research, ideated creative solutions, crafted wireframes, conducted rapid formative testing, and produced a mid-fidelity prototype to support organizational objectives.

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

I excelled in executing business development and marketing initiatives, driving innovation, and improving user experiences through my diverse skill set. Notable accomplishments include leading the conceptualization and prototyping of a data exchange web platform. Additionally, I conducted an extensive competitive analysis to inform Bolton's website redesign, providing actionable insights for enhanced user experiences. I also leveraged exceptional communication and design skills to develop marketing collateral, proposals, and presentations, elevating branding and ensuring alignment of content and design decisions with project goals and business objectives. Through adept management of multiple priorities, cross-functional teams, and complex requirements, I contributed to significant contract wins exceeding $1M in 2022, highlighting my commitment to delivering impactful results.

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

I managed the end-to-end bid processes for new and existing clients, ensuring smooth execution from lead generation to production. I excelled in composing and refining compelling RFx responses, ensuring alignment with company standards, branding guidelines, and complex requirements. Additionally, I evaluated and optimized market intelligence processes and RFP workflows, resulting in more effective RFP development, enhanced reporting capabilities, and data-driven decision-making. I also facilitated kickoff meetings and collaborated closely with bid teams to define winning strategies and craft impactful messaging for proposals and finalist presentations.

Baltimore, Maryland

I conducted user research for a nonprofit startup supporting BIPOC farmers, using customer discovery interviews to uncover valuable insights from potential partners and fellows. I then carefully analyzed and synthesized these findings, presenting actionable insights to the founder. My contributions empowered informed, data-driven decision-making and strategic program development, highlighting my commitment to driving meaningful impact through research and analysis.

Hanover, Maryland

I played a crucial role in securing significant contracts within the IT and healthcare sectors, contributing to two major wins totaling $175 million in less than a year. I meticulously prepared proposals and wrote and edited responses to formal RFxs, ensuring adherence to instructions and deadlines. Additionally, I developed and maintained proposal templates and boilerplate language to uphold consistency and quality in deliverables. Using Salesforce, I documented project and bid completions, providing valuable insights for tracking and evaluation, showcasing my dedication to efficiency and excellence in proposal management.

Lanham, Maryland

I took a proactive approach to managing content throughout the publishing lifecycle, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality materials. I proofread and edited copy to uphold quality standards and style guidelines before transmission to production. With a keen eye for detail, I consistently ensured that manuscripts met quality standards before moving them into production, demonstrating my commitment to excellence in content management and production processes.

Arnold, Md

Arnold, Maryland

Charlottesville, Virginia Area

Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), History

Activities and Societies: Blue Ridge Campus Ministry, University Programs Council, Days On the Lawn, I Was Hungry Food PantryDeveloped.

Master'S Degree (M.S.), Interaction Design & Information Architecture, 4.0

Interaction Design, Service Design, Research Methods, Usability Testing, Contextual Inquiry, Human-Computer Interaction, Human Cognition.

Certificate, User Experience (Ux) Design