QuickTakes Q&A ~
Brief Bio (background):
Originally from North Carolina, I’ve lived in Portland for over a decade now and am grateful for this wonderful city and surrounding nature.
I have a passion for helping others, surfing, board games, animals, and life itself!
Why did you select University of Portland for your degree program?
I selected UP for my MBA because I knew it was the right place to take my career to the next level.
A major bonus was how UP offered flexible scheduling, which allowed me to still work full time while completing my degree.
What are you doing now since graduating from UP School of Business?
I had been working in digital marketing post MBA, and successfully grew my career working for top brands and advertising agencies- achieving my pre MBA goal of becoming a Marketing Director for an agency in 2022.
I since have pivoted my career some after getting some amazing opportunities, and now I wear several hats-
- CMO and Equity Partner at a global consulting firm ITG
- Runway Model (walked in over 15 shows now)
- Owner/Operator of a nature reserve, Peaks Valley Preserve
- Event producer
- Most recently for the Flock Food Hall at the Ritz Carlton Portland
- Next event is 9/27/25 – Fashion Show 9/27
What advice would you give to someone considering a graduate degree or certificate?
- I would highly recommend getting a graduate degree or certificate for several reasons:
- It can help take your career to the next level
- You gain lifetime connections and support from institutions such as UP- through professors, classmates, alumni, and more
- Getting opportunities to work on outside the box projects, and work on case studies for existing brands
- Personally, I would not be where I am today without getting my MBA from the University of Portland, and I am proud to be a Pilot!
