Work Experience

USER EXPERIENCE AND INTERACTION DESIGN CONSULTANT - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
FREELANCE / CLIENTS INCLUDED AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL
AUGUST 2014 - PRESENT

• Write, edit, publish, and maintain content and user-facing materials including graphics and original artwork

• Develop and distribute pattern libraries and design style guides 

• Worked with brand to maintain and implement standards across all materials

• Designed/developed Solutions Selection Guide prototype for Ameriprise Financial

• Utilize design tools available at client sites – often with constraints and workarounds – to produce training, UX, and UI solutions that integrate video, graphics, animation, and interactive responsive user-centered content within online courses and online experience

• Heavily involved in requirements gathering and user studies with the product marketing team at Ameriprise Financial

• Created interactive trainings for Park Dental and The Dental Specialists

ASSOCIATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
OPTUM
JANUARY 2012 - JULY 2014

• Built and managed a 15-person team of technical writers and instructional designers resulting in a one-stop shop for development of user-facing content

• Managed multiple projects (15-20) including print and online content, online help, eLearning, and curriculum design

• Coordinated the integration of writing, training, and user experience (UX) to create a shared service partnership between content-developing teams

• Designed content management architecture using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)

USER EXPERIENCE CONSULTANT - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
FREELANCE / CLIENTS INCLUDED BEST BUY, MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, UNITEDHEALTHCARE, HENNEPIN COUNTY, ALLEN INTERACTIONS, AND SPS COMMERCE
OCTOBER 2005 – DECEMBER 2011

• Created interactive trainings and training materials for Best Buy, SPS Commerce, Allen Interactions, and UnitedHealthcare 

• Designed and developed Veterans Eligibility Transfer System (VETS) prototype for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

• Conducted dozens of focus groups and UX requirements gathering sessions

• Provided strategy and recommendations for internal and public-facing site content

• Presented trainings, UX design documents, and prototypes to senior leadership 

• Produced prototypes, UI recommendations, and live websites for multiple clients including Millerbernd Manufacturing, Advanced Process Technologies, Paint the Elephant, UpNet, and Strategic Growth Initiative

• Provided site maintenance and administration

TECHNICAL WRITER AND INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
FEBRUARY 2000 - JULY 2005

• Designed and developed training materials for internal and external software applications (50-1000 participants) 

• Conducted design workshops and user requirements sessions 

• Developed and presented interaction prototypes 

• Hosted online trainings and presented application prototypes to internal, customer, and media audiences 

• Maintained and administered project portals, websites, and numerous team SharePoint sites

• Designed logos and graphics, developed and managed website standards 

• Worked daily with team contacts in design and management of their online space 

• Designed, wrote, and maintained user guides, reference manuals, online help, and online courses 

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
THE MEYERS GROUP
FEBRUARY 1999 - OCTOBER 1999

• Collected sales and construction data at residential real estate development sites in 11-county metropolitan area

• Analyzed housing starts, construction trends and costs, and zoning regulations

Education

• UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

• UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SUMMER ARCHITECTURE STUDIO INTENSIVE

• GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE BACHELOR OF ARTS CUM LAUDE ENGLISH MAJOR WITH WRITING CONCENTRATION, HISTORY AND ART MINORS

Skills

• Adobe Audition

• Adobe Captivate

• Adobe Creative Cloud

• Adobe Dreamweaver

• Adobe Illustrator

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe PhotoShop

• Adobe PremierePro

• Adobe RoboHelp

• Altova StyleVision

• Articulate Storyline

• Articulate Rise

• Axure

• CSS and HTML

• Figma

• Fluid UI

• Microsoft Office

• Sketch

• Sketchup

• Vyond