ABOUT ME
PROUD TO BE MINNESOTA-GROWN
JOY OF MN...
I’m a Minnesota Girl … and proud of it! I was born in the beautiful port city of Duluth, just blocks from Lake Superior. I grew up surrounded by the woods and water of Nisswa, a jewel in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area. It was there that I began to discover all the joys of Minnesota … boating, fishing, camping, winter activities, and exploring all the Land of 10,000 Lakes has to offer … including frequent family trips to Duluth and the stunning beauty of the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Lake has always been like a lighthouse beacon, beckoning me back home.
College and career took me to Nashville, Tennessee, where I attended Belmont University, studying marketing and business administration. I worked for several years in non-profit marketing, development, and event planning for Tennessee Repertory Theater and the Nashville Humane Association. I began my work as a freelance designer in 2001 … more than 20 years ago!
But, as most Midwesterners will tell you, that pull back to your roots is strong. I missed my home. I missed my family. I missed lefse! I missed the pristine waters and glorious changing seasons. Yes, I even missed these bone-chilling Minnesota winters! So, in 2002, this Minnesota girl came home to stay. I settled in the twin cities and was thrilled and proud to be hired by the University of Minnesota – Go Gophers! – where I still work today, in the School of Public Health as a Web and Marketing Coordinator.
COMING FULL CIRCLE...
However, there was one more move in store – a move that would bring me back full circle – to the city of my birth. In 2020, as the COVID pandemic caused a shift in the workplace and my job became a permanent telecommuting position, I decided to finally heed the call of the Lake and settle near her shores.
I returned to Duluth, and feel I have finally come home. Exploring the trails along the waterfalls and the lake, watching the ships come in and listening to their haunting salutes from my home on the hill, visiting the multitude of stores and restaurants and discovering the beauty of the people of Duluth… the craftspeople, the adventurers, the neighbors who help clear that mountain of a snow drift that settled on your front step overnight. THAT is the true joy of Minnesota … and I am SO proud to call this place HOME.
Go Bulldogs!
AT THE HEART OF WHAT I DO
MY CORE PRINCIPLES
COOKIE CUTTERS ARE FOR COOKIES!
Your business is unique; your website should be, too! I don’t create cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all websites with reusable templates. I believe your site should be a creative extension of who you are and what you do. I will work with you to create a custom website, tailored to fit your goals and needs.
HONESTY. FAIRNESS. SERVICE. RESPECT.
These core values are at the heart of my personal beliefs and my business model. You work hard to build your business. I respect and appreciate the trust placed in me to help promote it. I believe in honest and fair up front pricing, quality work, delivering on promises, and providing personal, friendly customer service.
LEAVE SELF-SERVE TO THE GAS STATION.
Full service stations may be a thing of the past, but that philosophy is still alive here. Web design can be confusing, with many “moving parts”. Domain, hosting, email, registrars… who has time to learn or go to multiple shops? Good news, you don’t have to! One of the joys of a full service shop!
I HAVE A BIG HEART FOR
SMALL BUSINESS
Small businesses are the bedrock of our communities and economy.
I grew up working in a family business. My parents owned a small pizza shop in a tourist town in Central Minnesota. As all members of a family business do, I spent many hours working every job in all shifts – from washing dishes to managing the office.
I know the hard work and personal sacrifice first hand, but also the deep commitment and satisfaction that comes from pouring your heart into your business and seeing your efforts pay off.
For this reason, I am particularly dedicated to working with small businesses. I enjoy helping entrepreneurs promote their products and services with quality design, fair prices, and friendly service. Isn’t that what small businesses are all about?