If I'm creating, I'm content. Smart designer, problem solver, and jack of all trades.
I was born and raised in a small town in Virginia in 1986 by a truck driver & a waitress, J.D. & Brenda.
In high school, I took art every single semester until my art teacher made me take yearbook. I was the editor my senior year.
I was also one of the editors of our short-lived school newspaper.
I'm an "art school dropout" but didn't let that slow me down.
I transferred from Virginia Commonwealth University to Halifax Community College where I got my Associate degree in Advertising & Graphic Design.
It was while in school in North Carolina that I got my first newspaper job at the Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald and met my future husband, Todd.
I did freelance design for the the local theatre, The Centre at HCC, designing posters and playbills for shows.
I also worked at the copy center at Staples for a brief period learning the art of printing, book binding and all that comes with working at a print shop.
I earned my Bachelor's in Social Science from Ashford University in 2010.
I took a small break from the publishing industries and worked as an ABA Tutor and a Preschool teacher for a few years.
I'm helping raise my 15 year old little brother, Jerry, who is on the autism spectrum and has ADHD.
I continued to do art and design on the side, designing posters and playbills for my roller derby team, the Ring City Rollergirls.
I returned to working in newspapers and graphic design and joined my husband at the Duplin Times.
I grew a lot there, and enjoyed my time learning newspaper page layout and designing Southeast North Carolina Magazine.
It was during our time in Kenansville that we welcomed our son, Dylan into the world.
After a few years, we both were able to find work closer to home, and joined the New Bern Sun Journal.
I do various design and advertising work for the entire ENC Media Group, which also includes the Jacksonville Daily News and the Kinston Free Press.
I also do freelance design work for Cooke Communications, designing special projects & publications &
Work Terms
I have a day job, Mon-Fri, 8-5pm (EST) so I'm available for jobs on nights and weekends. My hope is to get enough freelance to work to be able to eventually work from home.