I advise news & media organizations on strategic planning, sustainable revenue models, and product development & planning. In this capacity I also put together fractional product teams to address the core digital goals of each organization. These teams may include software engineers, audience managers, data analysts, digital content editors and more.

Head of product at the world's first platform focused on making the news actionable. We use machine learning to power a contextual analysis and targeting service that identifies actionable content across a wide variety of causes and issues. When content is actionable we embed an interactive application that engages the reader and makes it easy for them to take action (i.e. donate, volunteer, contact their representatives, etc.) without leaving the page. We do this in partnership with some of the largest corporations on the planet.Partners include CNN, Gannett, Vox, The Guardian, Huffpost, Microsoft, Target, Unilever, Danone, The Gates Foundation, Lyft, Mars, Nestlé and many more.

Taught courses in user experience design, conversational interfaces, digital media culture, and a capstone practicum course focused on the preparation of a body of work.

Taught an online Master's level course in User Research (focused mostly on qualitative methods) in the Information Design & Strategy program.

Provided strategic leadership, analysis, and management of the digital product lifecycle for all of Chicago Public Media's digital and mobile efforts, including responsive web and native mobile applications for WBEZ, Vocalo, This American Life, Sound Opinions, and the podcast Serial.● Developed and managed the organization’s digital product roadmaps● Served as product owner in the agile application development process● Lead all user research, prototyping, and iterative design processes ● Lead all quality assurance (QA) and user testing processes● Analyzed all digital product user performance against a defined set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)● Lead evaluation of and selection processes for all digital products including Content Management Systems, Content Delivery Networks, Customer Relations Management products, Marketing Automation tools, Identity Management vendors, and Application Programming Interfaces● Presented to Board of Trustees and Executive and Senior Staff regarding strategic vision, product roadmap, and current analytic trends● Conceived of and designed the Replayer, an audio delivery tool and user interface that enables WBEZ listeners to time-shift the live broadcast up to seven days● Conceived of, prototyped, and authored an audio-focused metadata approach for a custom CMS to power future WBEZ web and mobile applications ● Awarded and managed a grant from Chicago Community Trust and the Smart Chicago Collaborative to fund data journalism projects and reporting at WBEZ● Awarded a Knight Prototype Fund grant for the Metadata Graphing Interface, a project designed to produce an interface based approach to tagging and creating data relationships to users with no specific technical expertise or experience● Managed the development of CPM’s first online member center and custom mobile donation forms, where over 65,000 active members can manage their communications and giving information

Worked with client audiences, stakeholders and focus groups to develop personas, content taxonomies, wireframes and prototypes in addition to recommending digital strategies designed to increase engagement. Clients: University of Illinois-Chicago’s (UIC) College of Education, The Society of Women Engineers, Third Coast International Audio Festival, Dynomapper LLC, and the David James Group.

Conceived of, pitched, and was appointed first Director of Columbia College Chicago’s first student-focused communications operation with an emphasis on developing an online student community and establishing an editorial operation focused on student retention and success. Served as the primary voice to 12,000 students at the largest arts and media college in the world.● Developed and managed a custom student community including a student portal, email and text communication plans, calendar, blog, course catalog, and digital locker for student portfolios● Managed an editorial team of full-time staff and student content producers in the production of print and online content including video and interactive media● Produced, wrote, and distributed a family of outbound emails, newsletters, and text alerts which had an open and read rate of over 15% above the national collegiate average● Launched Columbia’s online social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube including the development of a widely adopted, student-only Facebook application● Co-developed Columbia’s first interactive new student orientation experience combining video, campus maps, and an online quiz● Tripled web traffic while remaining $50,000 under budget in first year managing marketing and communications for the Manifest Urban Arts Festival, Columbia’s signature annual year-end event.

Co-founded the college’s Portfolio Center, the first collegiate career center focused completely on the development of a body of work and the development of a non-academic curriculum for students interested in pursuing professional experiences in the arts & media.● Developed extra-curricular career-focused events, presentations, and experiences in collaboration with arts and media professionals● Acted as Columbia’s primary point of content for potential employers and industry relationships● Provided career advice and guidance● Co-developed Columbia’s end-of-the-year Industry Nights series, which brings thousands of arts and media professionals to Columbia each year to meet graduating students and review their body of work● Built the Portfolio Center’s first website● Promoted 5 times in 5 years

Specialized in full-time placement of mid- to executive-level creative professionals in advertising, marketing, and new media communications. Clients included Ernst & Young; Foote, Cone & Belding; Kraft; VSA; and Upshot.● Located, interviewed, and placed creative talent in the field of advertising, marketing, and web development● Tripled first year placement goals, placing some of Chicago’s top creative talent● Signed new business deals with over 25 of Chicago’s most high profile advertising, marketing, and web development agencies

Scouted locations and assisted with location management for film, television and commercial productions, including the feature film productions Big Brass Ring and Stir of Echoes.

Provided detailed information, including location photography, to prospective film and television crews considering filming in Missouri.● Provided location photography● Coordinated scouting trips for prospective film crews● Designed and administered database● Built the first database used to track potential film locations around the state