ABOUT ME

Studied Marketing at Michigan State University, alongside interning at a software development company and DJ’ing at our college radio station, WDBM The Impact.

After graduating, I wanted to find a way to combine my background in marketing, software and radio, and I found myself in New York City with MJI Interactive, an interactive arm of Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia.) This was when radio stations were undergoing massive consolidation and in-house webmasters quickly become unrealistic. MJI Interactive offered easy-to-use software platforms for radio DJs, and admin staff, to easily create / author websites, e-mail communications, online contests and more. We not only taught them how to use the software, but we also taught them how to be marketers, driving additional value to their listeners and advertising sponsors, alike. What interested me most was when I worked on a 3-person team to develop and deliver a SMS platform that would allow radio DJs a easier way to log song requests, feedback, votes and contest entries. This was pre-iPhone and honestly, fairly under-adopted, but my gut told me that mobile marketing was about to blow up. Feeling claustrophobic in New York, I took a leap to Los Angeles to work in mobile marketing.

In Los Angeles (Part I,) I worked at (3) small and scrappy mobile marketing focused companies. The first and second, Mobile Messenger and Twistbox, were focused on premium mobile content. At the time, this included ringtones, wallpapers, horoscopes, new alerts and adult content (I know .. but honestly, this vertical is always innovating!) Just after the iPhone launched and mobile web searching and browsing was suddenly user-friendly, I expanded from SMS / MMS into WAP / mobile web site creation and mobile app builds. Working with a small, entertainment company, Pliq, our small team designed and programmed some of the earliest .mobi websites and apps for brands like Land Rover, Toshiba, Arco, Purina, Moneygram and more. Building useful, on-the-go tools, like an early dog park finder app by Purina, felt great and offered scaled impact for my ideas.

I didn’t intend to leave Los Angeles, but when I had an opportunity to build a mobile marketing practice at the world-renowned advertising agency, Leo Burnett, under their interactive and shopper marketing arm, Arc Worldwide, I couldn’t resist. In Chicago, I continued to partner with large brands creating and executing mobile marketing strategies. I ensured AllState insurance subscribers could easily submit a claim, that Special K eaters could connect with other people taking the Special K challenge, and Millennials could make the most of summer by engaging with McDonald’s. While continuing to grow the mobile practice and bringing on other subject matter experts, I began to scale my expertise to omni-channel digital strategy - building muscle in social media strategy and management, search engine marketing, content strategy, shopper marketing, media connections planning and more. Working with clients like Intel, Whirlpool, Samsung, Nintendo, Coca-Cola, Miller Coors, P&G, Norton, Firestone and more, I was able to gain experience across a number of verticals like CPG, QSR, Electronics, Home Appliances, Personal Computing, Auto, Pet Supplies and Insurance. After 5 years, it was time to move back west.

Back in Los Angeles (Part II,) I leaped into the beauty space as a Senior Brand Manager, Digital Marketing at Johnson & Johnson Consumer - focused on driving the company’s #1 consumer brand in the US, Neutrogena, and later, their re-launched acne brand, Clean & Clear. With the beauty category growing and changing so quickly, similar to other FMCG, this role was challenging, yet incredibly rewarding. Charged with overseeing digital and e-commerce, I worked on projects like right-sizing digital media and analytics, overhauling Neutrogena.com on to Demandware / SalesForce Commerce Cloud to set up the brand for driving DTC and first-party data collection, facilitating processes and asset production for the business’ Amazon.com acceleration. launching and growing Neutrogena’s social community on Instagram and Pinterest and overseeing digital agency and partner relationships. Reflecting back on my mobile roots, I also proposed and led the strategy and execution for Johnson & Johnson’s first-ever beauty app, Neutrogena Skin360. Debuting at CES 2018, the connected tool and app measured and tracked skin health, innovating beyond the bottles and tubes, for which the brand was known for. The app received a “Best of CES 2018” award from USA Today’s Reviewed.com and laid a foundation for future releases.

Currently, I am an independent contractor, working with one of FDM’s fastest growing makeup brands, Milani Cosmetics. In addition to agency and partner oversight, I’ve supported a website redesign for MilaniCosmetics.com, building out advanced Shopify payment and personalization features to easy the path to purchase. The set-up and launch of cross-border international shipping opened the brand to global markets, while the oversight of key asset production, like Brand Stories, Ingredient Stories and Product Demos, drove the brand’s purpose and consumer engagement. Managing the brand’s rapidly growing Amazon business, I partnered with our agency to optimize and maximize our presence, while planning for new market expansion. In addition to eCommerce, I’m also supported the PR team leading a key upcoming launch activation.

When I’m not working, I’m likely traveling or exploring Los Angeles. Curious and adventurous, I often find myself in remote locations that offer me a chance to connect with locals and learn their stories.

Get in Touch

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