I'm a storyteller and placemaker. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in communications and economic development, my work strengthens connections between people and the places we share.As a co-founder of Public Sphere Projects, I bring award-winning strategic insight to place managers, city agencies, community leaders, and property owners. As a communications consultant, I provide writing, planning, and research expertise to clients whose industries span architecture, economic development, non-profits, and membership and professional services.—MY BACKGROUNDI've spent more than fifteen years working alongside leaders in the public and private sectors.As Executive Director of the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce in Chicago, I served a vibrant community of more than 1,000 small and large businesses, providing vision, direction, and leadership on behalf of 400+ member businesses, 35 volunteer board members, and 7 staff. Under my leadership, the organization created and managed community and economic development programs, including placemaking projects and destination marketing initiatives, that strengthened the local economy and increased the visibility and status of one of Chicago’s largest community areas.Through my work at Chicago Loop Alliance, I was an instrumental part of the team that created a historic five-year strategic plan for the Loop and developed a proposal to revitalize Wabash Avenue. As the organization’s Marketing Manager, I also led communications and marketing efforts that helped community programming like ACTIVATE, which transforms vacant Loop alleys into pop-up urban experiences, and 2012’s COLOR JAM by Jessica Stockholder, an international outdoor art exhibition, gain worldwide recognition for downtown Chicago.Prior to this work, I began my career at the Congress for the New Urbanism, an international organization that advocates for walkable cities, towns, and neighborhoods.I'm an avid cyclist, arts enthusiast, and volunteer. I previously served on the Board of Directors of the International Downtown Association and currently sit on the Investor Council for Greater St. Louis Inc., St. Louis’ regional economic development agency. I also chaired the Auxiliary Board at the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre and served for five years as a Docent for the Chicago Architecture Center.—Headshot by Angela Garbot Photography