Born and raised in Glen Ellyn, a suburban village of Chicago, I grew up surrounded by nature, with a river that froze over in winter—literally a river I could skate on. The blend of small-town charm and proximity to Chicago’s vibrant culture shaped my early creative outlook.

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I headed west after high school, earning a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from Colorado State University. My instructors, John Sorbie and Phil Risbeck since became known for establishing the first biennial Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition in 1979. (CIIPE) is the oldest and most prestigious poster exhibition and archive in North America. Fueled by a deep passion for lifelong learning, I expanded my studies in Advertising at the Art College of Design in Chicago and Art Center in Pasadena, as well as Photography at College of DuPage.

 

My professional career began at a local ad agency in Aspen, Colorado, where I stepped into my first art director role. Where creativity met world-class weekend skiing, it was a great experience!​​

 

With a drive to advance my career, I moved on to San Francisco, working as an art director in food-service advertising while strengthening my illustration portfolio at the Academy of Art College (now University). After freelancing for several more years in advertising, illustration, and design, I relocated to Los Angeles, securing a full-time role at direct response agency, Smith, Hemmings, Gosden. While there, I strived to raise creative standards in direct marketing, eventually launching my own award-winning creative agency in Pasadena.​

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In the early ‘90s, I returned to the Bay Area, joining catalog marketing agency MoreNow, which later split apart. I continued as Associate Creative Director with The Haggin Group. Over time, I transitioned to full-time independent contracting, leading projects in creative direction, graphic design, photo art direction, illustration, and photography. Most recently, I served as Brand & Communication Manager for a major nonprofit, spearheading a complete rebrand across all marketing channels.

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In my free time, I started oil painting again and enjoy wildlife, nature and street photography with an interest in photojournalism and writing.