I’m an RGD because I wanted to prove to myself that I had what it takes to be part of an elite community of like-minded design professionals – and to give back to an industry I am passionate about. With over two-decades of successful design, marketing and communications experience acquired from being part of in-house and agency teams; I have stories, experiences, and lessons-learned to share from my challenges and successes with the good (and not so good) design and our industry.

I would also like to learn from new creatives. I would love to talk to others about their mindset in today’s advertising world, what they look for in marketing best practices, how they navigate our current digital landscape, and their views on what design and communication tools/strategies will be in the future.

hmmm... I have a few. I've had fantastic experiences at DesignThinkers with colleagues, attending the new In-House Conference in Ottawa and hobnobbing with like-minded creative leaders – but the most memorable moment was in my interview to become an RGD. I had just logged in and was chatting with Heidi Veri about my panel interview. We were talking about expectations, process and getting to know each other when it happened. My colleague saw I was in a boardroom (door closed – but there was a window) and he jumped out and scared the living daylights out of me. Unfortunately, in that exact moment dropped the biggest F-bomb and jumped back in my chair. This resulted in a very flushed, embarrassed yet hopefully memorable applicant.

I am a designer because I love visual storytelling (an image depicting an emotion or experience can say so much more than just words). I love bringing ideas to life (when you’re trusted and are given a napkin from a client with an idea on it they sketched in an airport lounge). I love thinking outside of the box (I may not burst out of the box, but I’ll certainly push those walls). I love giving back (working for non-profits, charities, and other organizations that cannot afford an agency, but deserve agency quality work). And lastly, I love seeing the community interact with what I produce (in-person and online – seeing or hearing about the impact just warms me from the inside out).

You should hire me because I am a big picture thinker. I can take a simple or complex project, and holistically look at every opportunity for growth before starting any creative. I always look beyond what is asked of me – not because I have to but because I want to deliver the most sustainable and flexible products possible. I work towards ensuring my designs are fluid and sustainable across all platforms so the client is equipped with elements that promote stability, coherence and longevity.

I see myself developing my career further at the City of Ottawa, shaping campaigns and our image/presence in the community and hopefully leading my team/becoming a campaign coordinator. Or I would have won the lottery and be freelancing from a Canadian run BNB we'd start in the Greek Isles.

I am an active RGD mentor, Certification Committee member and RGD Evaluator. I also like to attend conferences (In-House Design / DesignThinkers) and attend webinars when possible.