I was born and raised in Marion, Indiana, a small tightly-knit town an hour and a half north of Indianapolis.  I chose to pursue my passion in design at Ball State University, continuing my mother’s and grandmother’s tradition, where I majored in Landscape Architecture and had the opportunity study sustainable design and architecture around the world in over thirty different countries.  Two summer internships landed me a full-time position after graduation at LandDesign, a land planning and civil engineering firm, in Southern Pines, North Carolina.  There, over the course of three years, I designed large scale planned communities and high-end resorts while becoming a Registered Landscape Architect and LEED GA certified.  As I grew into a project management position, I realized that I lacked critical business skills to successfully manage larger projects and needed further education.

At UNC Kenan-Flagler, I discovered that marketing held enormous potential to combine my passions for creative and analytical problem solving.  During my time at business school, I have had three goals.  First, I have sought to leverage my creative and analytical skills into the field of design consulting or innovative marketing.  Second, I have hoped to develop my leadership capabilities, and third, I have desired to build a network of people of consequence.  To accomplish these goals I have concentrated in both marketing and management consulting, led and participated in two STAR team projects, acted as a Leadership Coach and teacher’s assistant for both core strategy and marketing courses, and have been a member of the consulting, marketing, and retail clubs – all in addition to my most active role as a Kenan Institute Leadership Fellow.  After graduation, I will be working as an Associate Brand Manager for Darden Restaurants, owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, in Orlando, Florida.

Ideally, I would spend my free time sketching passing pedestrians in quaint European villages. More realistically, though, I love to create graphic design, photography, and sculpture.  When I am not practicing art or design, I teach CrossFit, participate in multiple triathlons per year and enjoy cycling, swimming, and volleyball.  Finally, to relax, I enjoying lounging on my back deck with my husband, Chris, and our two black Labradors, Cleopatra and Ramses.