About Me
From Foundations to Scale: The Evolution of My Career
My professional journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to systems thinking—approaching design as a structured, scalable process that delivers consistent, high-quality results.
Philosophy
At the heart of my design philosophy is the belief that design systems are not just about tools and processes—they’re about people. Successful systems are built through strong relationships, collaboration, and clear communication across teams.
Central to this philosophy is the idea that design systems should support people in their work, making their processes more efficient while enabling them to focus on creativity and innovation. Through strong relationships, active collaboration, and a commitment to understanding the needs of all stakeholders, I ensure that the design system becomes a tool for growth, both for the product and the people who build it.
The Cornerstone
From the start of my career, systems thinking has shaped my approach to design, with a focus on creating scalable, adaptable, and consistent solutions. Whether I was integrating tools and processes to streamline content management at Findlay Digital Design or driving the design system toward enterprise adoption at Cardinal Health, I’ve continuously refined my ability to build systems that evolve with user needs while maintaining structure and cohesion.
This case study highlights the evolution of my career, detailing how each role built upon the last and refined my expertise as a system-thinking designer. From early roles focusing on process integration and reusability to more complex initiatives like technical integration and design system scalability, my journey has centered on building sustainable systems that adapt to business needs.
Building Foundations
At the start of my career, Findlay Digital Design was where I began developing the foundational skills that would guide my approach to systems thinking. Here, I worked on designing and coding websites for a diverse range of clients, learning how to balance creative design with technical execution. This role provided the first opportunity to apply process integration, reusability, and efficient workflows, principles that would later become central to my design systems work.
Findlay Digital Design was where I first developed the ability to build scalable, reusable frameworks that could adapt to various client needs. I learned to streamline processes, centralize content, and deliver consistent results while maintaining flexibility. These foundational skills in modularity, process improvement, and systems integration have informed every aspect of my career and continue to shape how I approach complex challenges in design systems today.
Ensuring Consistency and Scaling Across Locations
In my role at a John Deere dealership, I managed the marketing strategies for six dealership locations, each operating independently with their own identity. My responsibility was to unify their marketing efforts while aligning with the broader John Deere corporate brand. This role challenged me to build scalable material that maintained consistency across different locations, further developing my ability to balance individual needs with brand cohesion.
This role taught me how to scale systems across independent teams while maintaining brand consistency. The experience of managing multiple dealership locations under a unified strategy further strengthened my ability to create scalable, flexible processes that ensure consistency. These skills were essential as I moved on to my role at Bowling Green State University, where I applied these lessons to even larger, more complex systems with a focus on accessibility and collaboration.
Accessibility, Reusability, and Cross-Functional Collaboration
At Bowling Green State University, I played a crucial role in leading the university’s digital initiatives. I designed and developed accessible, user-centered websites, email campaigns, and marketing collateral. This role was a significant step toward design systems work, where I focused on creating reusable components, ensuring accessibility, and collaborating across departments to maintain consistency and efficiency.
This role marked a critical turning point toward design systems work. By leading efforts in accessibility, reusability, and cross-functional collaboration, I further developed the skills needed to create scalable systems that could adapt to different user needs. The experience gained at Bowling Green shaped my approach to design systems, where the focus on modularity, efficiency, and inclusive design became key principles that I applied in my later roles, including at Root, where I further refined these skills in more visual design projects.
Inclusivity, User-Centered Design, and Visual Excellence
At Root, inclusivity wasn’t just a value—it was the core of their business model, where insurance rates were based on driving behavior instead of demographic factors. This unique approach to fairness shaped my design work, where I ensured that every user experience aligned with the company’s message of inclusivity while collaborating with multiple teams to keep the brand and user-centered design consistent.
My time at Root allowed me to champion design at the highest level, balancing brand strategy with inclusive design principles. I ensured that every digital interaction was not only accessible but visually striking. I carried these refined skills with me to Walgreens, where I tackled even more complex challenges.
Simplifying Complex User Flows and Expanding Component Libraries
At Walgreens, I enhanced the digital experience for the COVID-19 test scheduling feature, focusing on flow optimization, user transparency, and expanding the design system. This role allowed me to simplify complex processes while contributing new components to the existing system and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams.
At Walgreens, I refined my skills in simplifying complex user flows, creating scalable components, and collaborating across teams to deliver a more transparent, user-centered experience. These experiences laid the groundwork for my move to Cardinal Health, where I took on more comprehensive design system leadership responsibilities.
Transforming into a Scalable, Strategic Asset
When I joined Cardinal Health, the design system was in its infancy, and the potential for its impact was yet to be realized. Over time, I led the design system’s transformation from a foundational set of components into a dynamic, enterprise-wide asset that bridged design, development, and product management. This journey was not just about building components, but about creating a system that unified teams, scaled effectively, and contributed to organizational efficiency and innovation.
Under my leadership, the design system has grown from a nascent project into a scalable, strategic asset that unites teams, enhances efficiency, and drives innovation. My journey at Cardinal Health has been defined by my ability to transform ideas into actionable, scalable solutions, and I remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what design systems can achieve.
Conclusion
Through each of these experiences, I’ve not only solved complex design challenges but also created systems that empower teams and elevate user experiences. From building scalable, reusable components to driving cross-functional collaboration, my journey has been defined by a commitment to clarity, consistency, and inclusivity. As I continue to evolve as a designer, I aim to push the boundaries of what design systems can achieve—streamlining processes, fostering innovation, and ultimately delivering experiences that are not just functional, but transformative.