Resume

SKILLS

• UI design, design systems, component libraries, prototyping with Figma and Adobe XD
• UX Research methodologies including A/B testing, card sort, first click tests, heuristic evaluations, interviews, tree tests, and usability testing
• Build, grow, and manage in-house creative teams, art directing, design mentoring, and project management
• Digital asset management standards and procedures, metadata schema, and information architecture
• Branding, brand management, marketplace positioning, creative development, corporate identity design
• Proficient understanding of HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Angular Material, Material UI, Vue, Vuetify, MJML
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, XD
• Video editing with Adobe Premiere and motion graphics with After Effects
• Managing external agencies and vendor relationships
• Agile multitasker capable of working on several projects simultaneously, offering sound design solutions while adjusting output based on real-time feedback

EXPERIENCE

UX Manager — Astra Space Inc. (Jan 2024 – Current )

• Lead user experience team being responsible for design, research, as well as front-end developers.
  
• Conduct all user research and manage repository.
  
• Creating and delivering well documented designs to front-end development and ensure alignment with user needs and business goals.
  
• Drive front-end work, responsible for creating all epics and features.
  
• Craft design system to power launch control, simulation, and data analysis applications.
  
  

STAFF UX/UI DESIGNER — Astra Space Inc. (Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 )

• Design command and control systems for Astra’s Launch System 2.0, including the R4 rocket, launcher and all ground support equipment.
  
• Evolve user research and software testing methods, ensuring we understand needs and test how we fly.
  
• Build out component and pattern library with with frontend engineering to ensure consistent user experience.
  
  

SENIOR INTERACTION & UI DESIGNER — Astra Space Inc. (Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 )

• Design next generation user interfaces for spacecraft control, data visualization, and analysis.
  
• Conduct user interviews, discovery meetings, and ideation sessions that inform decisions made by product and program management.

UI/UX DESIGNER II — Groups360 (Nov 2021 – Jan 2022 )

• Craft UI for a world-leader in group travel management and planning. Designing interfaces for room reservation, flight-booking integration, and space planning that power daily operations of partner organizations like IHG, Hilton, Marriott, and Accor.
  
• Contribute new work to design system, and refine existing assets with UI team to ensure consistent usage within all prototypes and mockups.
  
• Collaborate with product management on requirement reviews, design expectations, and user flows.

UX/UI Designer Developer — Precise Systems Inc. (2020 – Oct 2021)

• Responsible for the user interface design of end-to-end procurement and contract management software whose user base has grown 400% in the last year. This software, used by the Department of Defense, encompasses Contract Creation, Lifecycle Management, Document and Financial Record Workflows, Event and Milestone Planning, as well as Product Ordering and Logistics.
  
• Lead presentations of high-fidelity prototypes with the government client and representatives. Drive design forward through collaboration with Product Owners, demonstrating mockups and proposed interactions to uncover insights and generate User Stories.
  
• Conduct user interviews, discovery meetings, and ideation sessions with subject matter experts that inform decisions made by the Product Owner and primary software architect.
  
• Develop and maintain the component library used for all prototypes and mockups made by the UX/UI Team.
  
• Document user interface patterns and maintain consistent usage by working with developers as components are added to the codebase.
  
• Light font-end development and styling with Vue/Vuetify, CSS/SASS, and JavaScript.

Creative Services Manager — National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) (2014 – 2020)

• Lead the Creative Services team as an in-house agency, managing designers and project coordinators to produce 600+ projects per year saving millions of dollars of previously outsourced work. My expertise includes developing creative strategy and advertising collateral for the healthcare, personal and commercial insurance, automotive, and industrial supply industries.
  
• Key player in a complete rebrand, focusing on visual identity, language style, messaging architecture for all digital and print channels, developed style guides for NFIB.com, mobile apps, and all print materials. Designed 30+ email templates that are primary customer life-cycle touchpoints from prospect drip campaigns to renewing business relationships. Overhauled NFIB’s social media identity on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and built 20+ branded templates for quick deployment of communications in those channels. Reimagined hundreds of graphic elements on NFIB.com, rebranded the mobile App NFIB Engage, and developed 50+ print pieces that are used by NFIB’s sales team when closing all new and renewing business.
  
• Collaborated with product development team on UX and UI design for NFIB.com, primary mobile app, and internal apps for the sales team. Also, built a foundational design system and component library for the website and mobile apps.
  
• Designed, built, and administered NFIB’s Digital Asset Management (DAM) system that is the central hub for all brand collateral (logos, photography, videos, digital graphics and ads, etc.). Also implemented a training program for 250+ employees on how to use it for their daily work.

Creative Services Designer — National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) (2011 – 2014)

• Designed all graphics for NFIB.com, email, social media advertising campaigns, and print collateral. Developed and implemented all workflow processes for Creative Services ranging from client project intake, proofing of design concepts, and output to digital channels or printing facilities.

• Coordinated strategic plans for internal and outer department marketing initiatives. Maintained brand standards and cohesion for all outgoing digital and print materials. As the liaison between outside departments, external vendors, and the Creative Services team, I ensured projects defined were delivered on time and stay within budget.

Art Director — Nashville Portraits (2008 – 2011)

• Executed design concepts and creative vision for music industry clients with work including complete album packages, print advertising, digital billboards, and websites.
• Main responsibilities entailed digital imaging, retouching, restoration, and compositing of photos.

Marketing/Art Director — P&E Distributors (2007 – 2008)

• Created and executed all advertising campaigns for print and digital channels. Administered the Content Management System (CMS) and managed the company website. Produced multiple 460+ page automotive catalogues with distribution of 50,000+.

Graphic Artist and Photographer — Ace Photography (2004 – 2007)

• Worked as a lead photographer for clients, design print layouts, retouch and composite images, and video editing.
• Created and maintained the company website design and graphics as well as managing the SEO, Google Analytics, and AdWords to increase website traffic.

EDUCATION

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) — B.S. Computer Animation – Digital Media / Mass Communications – 2004
Minors – Computer Science & Fine Art

eCornell — Johnson Graduate School of Management – Marketing Strategy Certificate (3 Months) – 2015
Demonstrate the value of a brand, analyze markets and apply segmentation, targeting, and positioning to a product or service in order to increase adoption and sales.

Nashville Software School (NSS) — UX/UI for Digital Products Certificate (4 Months) – 2016
UX Research Methodologies – Interviews, questionnaires, card sorts, usability testing, user personas, journey maps, and case studies
UI Design – Prototyping web pages and apps, creating design systems