DESIGN

High-level content strategy, UX concept development and evolution, AI integration, E2E frameworking, storyboarding, and

workshopping to achieve intuitive user experiences, digital redesigns, site optimizations, brand enhancements, and product launches.

Cross-functional collab with product, legal, research, engineering, localization, XD, product marketing, and brand teams.

Study plan development, prototype testing, and data deep dives to evolve wow-worthy, test-winning experiences.

INSIGHT

Specialization in travel and tourism, brand marketing, business and finance, consumer lifestyle,

and arts & entertainment to inspire, engage, and build target markets.

Travel industry subject matter expert: multi-item trip shopping, post-purchase cross-sell, trip boards/planning, destination discovery/inspiration, recommendation models/personalization, package travel (curated, pre-bundled, dynamic).

LEADERSHIP

XD team facilitator; guideline, policy and best practice development for organization-wide implementation

and scalable solutioning; executive-level presentation and review.

Sourcing and managing creative talent; onboarding and mentoring content teams; leading content critiques and project reviews.

WRITING

E2E UX writing and experience design; copywriting; user research content and reporting.

Award-winning, internationally published feature writing and blog writing with high like/share engagement record;

award-winning editor-in-chief and copy editor.

Content Designer III

Expedia Group, Chicago, Illinois / November 2020-Present

• E2E content design and experience strategy, including trip inspiration, shopping, and planning; in-brand and cross-brand x-sell and attach; curated, pre-bundled, and dynamic packages; and AI integrations.
• Identifying and leveraging untapped avenues into multi-item trip shopping to empower a holistic vision of the user experience.
• Developing comprehensive messaging frameworks, including foundational research, best practices, TOV and empathy strategies, personalization, and contextual use cases.
• Research analysis, user scenario building, storyboarding, and traveler persona development to underscore experience-led, human-centered content strategies.
• Close collaboration with XD, Product, Legal, Research, and Engineering teams to define scope and develop envelope-pushing prototypes, North Star visions, and MVPs.
• Partnering with Research for lab, Adaptex, and A/B test planning, question development, and research analysis/synthesis.
• Content auditing, storyboarding, workshopping, cross-functional workstream syntheses, and competitive/comparative analyses to elevate user experiences, find “sweet spot” market differentiators, and develop powerful value propositions.
• Developing content guidelines and best practices for organization-wide adoption, including legal requirements and localization variances.
• Onboarding and mentoring content design teams; leading content critiques and project reviews.

Content Designer (contract)

Critical Mass, Chicago, Illinois / October-November 2020

• B2B digital content writer for Cereals Canada in preparation for website relaunch.
• Collaboration with UX and SEO teams to target end-user information needs.
• In-depth report analysis, translating technical subject matter into engaging digital content designed to support user journeys.
• Event email campaign content creation, incorporating new brand messaging and branding strategies.

Content Designer (contract)

Imagination Publishing, Chicago, Illinois / August 2019-January 2020

• Web and mWeb content writer for the Project Management Institute (PMI), creating engaging long-form and short-form content to boost association awareness and membership across demographics.
• Interviewing, in-depth feature writing, how-to quick bytes, and technical blog content.
• Feature writer for the International Interior Design Association, with Perspective magazine articles published in print and online.
• Article and web page editing for clients in various verticals.

Senior Copywriter + Content Strategist

Envisionit, Chicago, Illinois / November 2017-June 2019

• Content lead for Choose Chicago website rebuild, including branding; taxonomy development; UX and SEO team collaboration; and 1,000+ web page content auditing, aggregation, and repositioning.
• Content strategy development to identify visitor personas, creating compelling visitor journeys in the tourism and B2B membership space.
• Day-to-day website management, including content uploads and edits, copywriting, blog writing, editorial calendar development, and brand and campaign messaging.
• Industry, audience, and subject matter research deep-dives in preparation for content strategy development and client presentations.
• Envisionit blog writing, with specialization in destination marketing.

Writer, Editor and Content Strategist (freelance)

Chicago, Illinois / January 2001-November 2017

• Internationally published, award-winning writer and blogger, specializing in film, arts & entertainment, interior design, travel/tourism, lifestyle, culture, career, leadership, and human interest.
• Blog writing and/or blog management for arts marketing, travel marketing, and customer-facing leisure travel.
• Long-range editorial planning and article ideation for clients across verticals.
• Copywriting and branding, from identifying niches and developing ID concepts to campaign/event brainstorms, and marketing content writing.
• Website development and redesign, including ideation, content, and design team collaboration.
• Event ideation and onsite collaboration, including museum after-hours programming and festival crewing.
• Verticals: Production companies, museums, tourism boards, marketing agencies, interior design firms/architects, custom publishers, retail boutiques, agribusiness, law firms, in-flight magazines, international newsstand publications, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and international distribution companies.
• Sample clients: CS/Modern Luxury, Roaming Hunger, Medici Museums, Chicago Underground Film Festival, Curmudgeon Group, International Interior Design Association, Project Management Institute, MF Digital, ClearStream, Arizona State University, Proctor & Gamble, Trunki UK, Brinks Hofer Gilson Lione, Bortz Entertainment Law, Chempetitive, Arizona State University, Today Paris, Urbana London, American Modern, Homescape.

Director, Digital Publishing / Editor-in-Chief & Art Director

INSIGHT Magazine, Illinois CPA Society Publications & Creative Services Group, Chicago, Illinois / June 1999-April 2017

• Multi-award-winning redesign, editorial leadership, and art direction of quarterly INSIGHT Magazine, “Exploring the issues that shape today’s business world.”
• Development, design and direction of new Copy Desk online editorial hub, diving deep into topics to help shape career success.
• Concept development/redesign of integrated family of eNewsletters, targeting career, industry and business, public accounting, and legislative content.
• In-depth audience and competitor analysis for niche publication development and open rate growth (60% increase achieved).
• Long-range editorial planning and special edition development.
• Publications Department leadership and integration with Creative Services to create the ICPAS Publications & Creative Services Group.
• Freelance writer assignment; management of contracted creatives and advertising sales specialists.
• Award-winning feature writing, news writing, and copy editing.
• Publication quality control and proofing.
• Lead magazine layout designer.
• Budget management across all print and digital publication channels.

Deputy Editor

Complete Woman, Chicago, Illinois / September 1998-March 1999

• Feature writing and copy editing for a women’s lifestyle magazine, including celebrity interviews and articles relating to relationships and health & beauty.
• Quality control and proofreading protocol supervision.
• Photo styling, photo research, and model contracting.

Senior Editor

The Rotarian, Rotary International, Evanston, Illinois / March 1998-September 1998

• Human interest and travel feature writing.
• Reporting on fundraising initiatives and humanitarian efforts internationally.
• Articles reprinted within The Rotarian magazine family internationally.

Director, Special Publications
John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois / May 1996-March 1998

• Award-winning redesign and relaunch of quarterly legal features alumni magazine with international distribution.
• Development of a national stable of freelance writers, proofreaders, designers, and photographers.
• Feature writing with a focus on human rights and censorship issues.
• Coordination of special projects, including an organization-wide, award-winning graphic ID initiative and centennial book.

Managing Editor

Kansas City Magazine + WHERE Kansas City, ABARTA Metro Publishing, Overland Park, Kansas / April 1994-May 1996

• Integral member of launch team for award-winning city magazine and visitor publication (part of the WHERE magazine franchise).
• Feature writing; cover story development; Style, Home Design, and Arts & Entertainment editor.
• Long-range editorial planning and freelance writer/photographer/artist assignment.
• Copy editing, proofreading, and general quality control supervision.
• Coordination and supervision of fashion, interior design, and local personality photo shoots.
• Coordination of cultural events in partnership with area museums and arts institutions.
• Mentoring of freshman students in the Journalism Department at Avila University, Kansas.
• Editor training in preparation for new WHERE magazine franchise launches.

Assistant Editor

American Art Review, Leawood, Kansas / June 1993-April1994

• Coordinating and editing articles submitted by museum curators and fine arts experts.
• Proofreading and quality control responsibilities.
• Circulation database management.

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence, Magazines, Journals & Tabloids

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence, Feature Writing, 10 Worst Business Decisions Ever Made

Association Trends All Media Contest Gold Award for Annual or Quarterly Magazines or Journals

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence for Magazines + Journals

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence for Magazines + Journals

Magnum Opus Award for Best Association Publication

Graphic Design USA American In house Design Award for Publication Design

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence for Magazines + Journals

Magnum Opus Award for Best CSR/Green Series or Article

Magnum Opus Award Honoree for Best CSR/Green Series or Article

Communications Concepts Apex Award of Excellence for Magazine + Journal Writing

Magnum Opus Award for Best All-around Association Publication