It’s almost certainly selection bias, but it always strikes me how often, on How I Built This or similar shows, the guest’s story begins with building websites. It is rarely the headline, just a brief stop on the way to launching the next RXBar or Burt’s Bees.
I also started out making websites (though never felt the same pull toward egg whites or beeswax).
It began as a way to pay the bills, but quickly became more. A creative outlet, a puzzle, and a way to build things that mattered. Over time, I realized websites can teach you just about everything: storytelling, strategy, design, psychology, marketing, leadership, failure, and feedback.
You break things. You fix them. You learn.
That mindset led to the founding of Protos, a creative studio supporting mission-driven teams. We built it around adaptability, as a place to shape ideas, shift forms, prototype, and grow. It drew me into work I hadn't studied formally: conservation, land stewardship, re-Indigenization, childhood literacy, workforce development, and social equity. I left college as a sophomore, but through design and communication, have worked side by side with experts in these fields to help them tell their stories, reach their audiences, and build trust.
I've worn a lot of hats over the past decade. Designer, strategist, creator, facilitator, overworked accountant, and advisor. As an agency owner, I've guided projects that combined message development, stakeholder alignment, and campaign strategy, ensuring design supported larger communications goals. From coordinating cross-team initiatives to developing branding and digital platforms, my focus has always been on connecting organizations with the people they serve.
Across all of these roles, the throughline has been clear communication in service of meaningful work. I believe organizations should be honest and adaptable, and that design, when paired with strategy, empathy, and strong messaging, can move people and drive real change.
Now, I'm ready to bring that experience in-house, to strengthen communications, build relationships, and contribute to a mission that matters.
