For the last 22 years, I’ve lived an entrepreneurial life. I’ve worked as a professional artist, selling my work across the country in galleries, retail stores, and top-tier shows. I’ve also owned and operated several small businesses in the Portland metro area.

I know what it’s like to be the Chief Storyteller, Chief Sales Officer, and Chief Everything Else — all at once.

Over the past two decades, I’ve mentored artists and creative entrepreneurs on everything from website copy and product photography to logos and bios. I even taught branding and marketing to the early Etsy community during its startup years. Through years of building, refining, and listening, I learned something simple but powerful: people connect most when you can clearly articulate what drives you.

Now I teach others how to do the same — how to talk about themselves in ways that connect, build community, and create confidence. I bring that real-world experience directly to you.

I’m a Brand Clarity Strategist, helping individuals and small-business owners connect with their clients through the power of authentic communication. The goal isn’t just better words; it’s telling your story — better.

Founder, Campfire Tales — Portland, OR
Built and now host a growing live storytelling series that brings people together to share real stories in an atmosphere of connection and creativity.
Coach speakers, shape stories, and lead events that combine narrative craft with a genuine sense of community.

Emerging Arts Director, Art in the Pearl — Portland, OR (Current)
Oversee the Emerging Artist Program, mentoring and supporting new artists as they prepare to exhibit at one of the Northwest’s leading art festivals.
Guide participants in refining their presentation, communication, and professional readiness so they can confidently share their work with jurors, collectors, and the public.

PR & Communications Director, Art in the Pearl — Portland, OR (Former)
Managed media outreach and public communications for the festival.
Wrote press releases, coordinated interviews, and collaborated with artists and sponsors to highlight the event’s creative community.
Ensured consistent messaging that reflected the festival’s reputation for quality and connection.

Mentor & Educator — Various Programs & Organizations
Taught business and branding workshops for artists and entrepreneurs, including programs at PNCA and within the early Etsy community.
Helped creatives communicate their value with confidence and clarity.

My background is rich and deeply unique.

My parents divorced when I was four. My father, a brilliant, blue-collar, off-grid kind of man, moved to the wild countryside of Northern California, built a tiny cabin along the Pacific ocean, and raised us on hard work and ingenuity.

My mother, a city girl with a large trust fund, settled into a beautiful flat in a quiet San Francisco neighborhood overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and raised us with nannies and dinner out, most evenings.

I grew up between both worlds. I went to private schools and also to a one-room trailer schools. My best friends wore hand-me-downs or tailored clothes.

I was incredibly well-educated and completely under-educated all at the same time.

That contrast shaped me. It made me:

• Incredibly adaptable

• Easygoing

• Deeply empathetic

• Comfortable with people rooted in the land and labor and equally at ease with those earning their place through education, ambition, and drive

Learning to move between these worlds is what made me great at communication, adaptation, problem solving and thinking outside the box.

My life has been complex, life is complex and I credit my skill in both business and the creative arts to learning how to thrive in dueling environments.

Thanks for taking a minute to get to know me :). I’d love the opportunity to get to know you too!