I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. I’ve always been passionate about the creative arts, getting involved in art and dance classes, and participating in theater and choir extracurricular activities throughout my school years.
I majored in Digital Arts and Multimedia Design at La Salle University, a multi-discplinary program that focused on the theory of design. Classes spanned fine arts, mass communication, computer science, and marketing. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in May 2002.
Since then, aside from a brief detour in the world of pastry arts, I have worked as a graphic designer in a variety of industries, including publishing, health insurance, eCommerce and financial services. I have worked as a freelancer, in design agencies, and in-house marketing departments. Each experience taught me something new, whether it was new software, a new kind of design, or soft skills such as project management, or designing within branding standards.
Now, I am graphic designer in the in-house agency arm of the marketing department at Ascensus, a retirement, health, and college savings services provider in Dresher, PA. I create a variety of marketing materials, including print materials, digital graphics, emails, presentations, infographics, social media ads, and videos. I was asked to serve as the Subject Matter Expert for all things related to email design.
That brief stint in pastry arts? I attended culinary school from 2005 to 2007, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Associate of Science in Pastry Arts. I worked in a bread bakery, a fine-dining restaurant, a wholesale bakery, and a grocery-store bakery before deciding that I was not cut out for waking up at 4 a.m.
I’ve used the knowledge I learned in culinary school and as a pastry chef, combined with my graphic design knowlege, to start a successful food blog, The Redhead Baker. That’s why, in my spare time, you’ll find me in the kitchen, cooking and baking, and photographing food for my website.