I have taken the road less traveled.
Growing up as a competitive figure skater, I spent countless hours training in frigid ice arenas, ballet studios, and gyms. Figure skating demands perfection, achieved through a never-ending process of learning and incremental improvement, lessons that shape the way I approach tasks and achieve success.
After competing for a decade at the national level, I spent five years as a professional figure skater performing with Disney On Ice. I traveled and performed on five continents (46 states and 35 countries), and lived, worked, and collaborated with a large international cast and crew. A show is not just the performers, but a culmination of hundreds of people often working unseen across numerous departments. This collaborative spirit instilled in me the importance of being an energetic, empathetic team player who knows how to get things done.
The show must go on every night, on time, and right.
Following my dreams to be a professional figure skater also taught me the value of loving your job.
Every day, I was thrilled to bring Disney magic to families throughout the country and world, often to those who could never have afforded a trip to Disney World. Performing wasn't just a job, but my small part of making the world happier and brighter. Now, as a figure skating coach, it is incredibly rewarding to pass on the lessons of competitive figure skating and performing to a new generation.
After leaving "the road," I attended Iowa State University to study Industrial Design, graduating in May 2020. Like figure skating, design is a fusion of analytical problem-solving and pure creativity. It channels user research, ergonomics, manufacturing constraints, economics, marketing, culture, and so much more into innovative and meaningful objects, systems, and experiences.
Outside of the design studio, I spent countless hours working to increase civic engagement on campus and elect progressive people to office. After working with multiple campaigns and leading the ISU College Democrats as president to achieve record-breaking student turnout in the 2018 elections, I was eager for the next challenge.
In 2019, I was the campaign manager for 20-year-old progressive ISU student Rachel Junck's run for Ames City Council. Rachel had a lot against her: age, gender, progressive platform, and a young, disengaged electorate. Through hard work and innovative tactics that were quickly emulated by the many presidential campaigns in town for the 2020 Iowa Caucus, Rachel beat all the odds and defeated a two-time incumbent. Alongside the wide-ranging tasks of a campaign manager, I was also the sole designer for print and digital communications. Door cards, mailers, digital ads, social media posts, fundraising letters, buttons, stickers, yard signs, and many more quick-turnaround, high-impact designs were needed.
At first glance, my diverse set of experiences may seem disconnected. But together, my figure skating, campaign, and design experience have made me who I am today: passionate, hard-working, organized, and detail-orientated. I am curious and excited to learn. I am a good listener and ask tough questions. I am driven by a never-ending desire to improve the world around me, and I am not afraid to take action.
I want to use my unique experiences and diverse skillset to make the world a more joyful, equitable, and beautiful place. If you would like to do the same, let's get to work together!