I love creating unforgettable audience experiences! I help clients translate complex business ideas into coherent messages for internal and external audiences. I collaborate with amazing artists and producers to concept and deliver original and targeted engagements. I design and write. I ideate, strategize and pitch and win new business for my clients. Also, I mentor and coach new talent.

I have the distinct pleasure to be the Creative Lead in Residence at spikemark. The team is evolving from a focus on technical management and virtual production resources to broader live event production services. I serve as a mentor to up and coming staff artists and production designers. Additionally, I provide creative direction and event design for clients.

Santa Fe Clay has a rich history of training of artists in their pursuit of figure sculpture. I taught weekly classes focusing realistically recording the figure in clay. Working with live models, we discussed and analyzed basic anatomy. We also focused on addressing the classical challenges of "building humans out of mud." As an artist, I specialize in life-sized portraits, also known as "busts."

In the Business & Entrepreneurship Department, I teach Entrepreneurship. The focus is to share how professionals turn ideas into successful businesses. Students launch their own microbusinesses, learn to recognize and evaluate opportunities; problem-solve and manage risks; plan and manage time effectively; leverage resources; craft business models; and develop markets to support their work.

I collaborate, share credit and pride myself on recognizing and fostering talent. From sales to writers. From marketers to artists. From operations to programmers. I see and make connections: between business opportunities and the talented people to drive them. I frame and help share (craft) stories about brands and non-profits. I consult and advise leaders. I make presentations and develop and orchestrate pitches. My privilege is to work with smart, talented and generous people who create worth for their constituents/clients.

As director of communications, I focused on increasing connectivity: internally and with our clients and supporting communities. I supervised our rebrand (2009), new marketing efforts, materials, videos and new website. I also served as one of the developers of our virtual communications services and online project management tools. As director of creative services, I supervised and advised the teams delivering programs (live events and video, digital media and print, staging and entertainment) for our clients. Regularly involved with ~60% of all prospecting for this $25 million privately-held company, I lead presentation strategies and proposal development and delivery.

My responsibilities expanded as I proved successful in helping win business in new areas for WG including the government, housewares and pharmaceutical sectors as well as developing more trade-show creative (live performance, interactive and video specifically) and design revenue. For twelve years, I served as a staff scenic and environment designer.

In this role, my primary responsibilities included co-developing creative approaches to help clients communicate at live events. I also focused on supporting the sales force develop proposals and make presentations to win new business.

For this burgeoning industry association, I served on the chapter board of directors and advised the local and global organization on communications trends, technologies and marketing strategies. I designed and produced our environmentally friendly 2010-11 Chicago BizBash booths/events. Regularly, I emceed local chapter events. Additionally, I consulted with the global organization on their website relaunch.

BIZBASH CHICAGO 2011 "New Strategies in Event Design"TRIBECA|FLASHPOINT ACADEMY, SUMMER 2010 "Making Art Make a Living"EVENT DESIGN 2008 "Killer Set Design 101"TS2 2003 "Delivering Dynamic Live Presentations at Trade shows"

As a scenic designer and assistant designer, I worked with the Goodman, lookingglass, Bailiwick and several other local theater companies. In 1993, I received an off-loop Jeff nomination in scenic design for lookingglass’ The Scarlet Letter. I designed, built and painted several Evanston retail environments including Kafein and the Art & Science salon. I worked with a few production companies, usually in the art department, styling sets, props and costumes for commercials. Including work for: McDonald’s, Turtle Wax, Taco Bell, IBOT. Feature films including: "With Honors" and "The Fugitive."