My Core Characteristics
Driven
Diligently set and achieve goals through thoughtful planning and execution.
Collaborative
Establish cross-functional working groups and value diverse perspectives to create effective research plans that enable teams to achieve common goals.
Detail Oriented
Sharp eye for small details in user feedback and data analysis that enables me to identify patterns, issues, and needs quickly and efficiently.
Celebrate Success
Acknowledge and appreciate individual and team achievements to boost morale, grow team cohesion and engagement, and create a positive work environment.
Growth Mindest
Greatly value opportunities to try new things and learn along the way, adapting as necessary as I gain experience.
Fun / Positive
Approach tasks and projects with enthusiasm and a "how might we" attitude to create an inviting and enjoyable working environment for everyone.
My Background
Personal
As a Minnesota native, born and raised in the Twin Cities metro, I greatly enjoy spending my free time exploring the great outdoors with family and friends. This comes in many forms; from swimming, biking, running my way across the town/state while training for triathlons and road races; to taking to the sky in small aircraft to explore places near and far; to camping and hiking to recharge away from the cities.
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I currently reside in the north-central Twin Cities metro with my wife and three kiddos (6 yo., 3 yo., & 6 mo.). Life with three kids is a crazy adventure, but I wouldn't have it any other way! When I'm having a rough day, seeing my kiddo's imagination at work, or their pure joy over the little things helps keep everything in perspective!
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Professional
My professional journey started at the University of Minnesota as a pre-med student. Certain that I wanted to be a Radiologist, I spent many days shadowing Radiologists between my freshman and sophomore years at a local hospital. During this time, I watched the doctors, nurses, and support staff struggle with the electronic health records software they used to check in patients, review procedure protocols, record exam notes, etc. At this point, a lightbulb went off in my head. I thought there must be a way to make these systems better and easier to use!
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Sophomore year, I talked to my advisor who made me aware of the Scientific and Technical Communications (S&TC) major with an emphasis in design. I then switched my major from pre-med to S&TC. From coursework within my new major, I learned that the U of MN had a Usability Lab on campus, and they were hiring lab assistants! After working in the lab for several months, I was able to work out an internship as an assistant researcher, where I had the opportunity to lead my own research project. The rest is pretty much history. Since graduating in 2011, I've been honing my UXD and UXD Research skills across various industries (i.e., health care, e-commerce, and banking).
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Select the 'Resume' button below to see a detailed overview of my entire professional career!