Professional Experience
Engineering Manager, Editorial Experimentation 2021-Present
- Owned the engineering roadmap for the News Experimentation teams, regularly sharing demos and strategy presentations to executive stakeholders.
- Hired, managed, and mentored a newsroom software development team, planning sprints and leading one-on-ones, code reviews, and retrospectives.
- Designed and maintained internal systems to enable rapid experimentation at the presentation layer across McClatchy’s network of 30+ local news sites.
- Architected, designed, and built an internal React app on top of Apache Solr, resulting in a >10x speed improvement to editorial search capabilities.
- Managed the technical implementation and creative direction of experimental local news products for national Gen-Z and Spanish-language audiences.
Lead Web Developer & Graduate Student2018-2021
While finishing my graduate degree at Northwestern, I took on a full-stack engineering position at Mother Jones where I worked with designers, marketers, and journalists to create engaging user experiences for Mother Jones's audience and improve the underlying technologies supporting the nonprofit.
- Lead engineer on major initiatives including MotherJones.com redesigns, CMS upgrades, fundraising pages, editorial tools, and feature stories.
- Implemented integrations with third-party platforms and vendors such as Apple News, Facebook Instant Articles, Google Ad Manager, Twitter Scroll, and SailThru newsletters.
- Analyzed datasets for select investigations and produced interactive maps and graphics for investigative reports for the website and print magazine.
Director, Product & Technology2016-2018
Previous Positions: Design Lead, Independent Contractor
As the director of INN Labs, I lead a team of technologists to develop and maintain publishing tools, news websites, and editorial applications for news organizations across the US.
- Directed INN's technology program with a budget of $1M in earned revenue and foundation support, meeting monthly targets and grant requirements.
- Led a remote team of engineers and designers to provide consulting, tech support, and trainings for 220+ nonprofit news organizations in the U.S.
- Orchestrated a major hosting platform migration for 40+ INN-managed client sites, improving individual site performance and reducing overhead costs.
- Managed a portfolio of 16 publishing products used on 150+ news sites.
- Completed numerous member site redesigns, bespoke editorial projects, and technology contracts for clients including Poynter, NPR, and The Trust Project.
- Created and maintained style documentation and pattern libraries for Largo, INN's open-source framework for news websites.
Knight-Mozilla Fellow 2015
As CIR's 2015 OpenNews fellow, I worked within the journalism industry to develop open-source tools that support news reporting and help create an open, accessible web.
- Scraped, parsed, and analyzed data on missing and unidentified persons for Reveal's Emmy-winning documentary, "The Dead Unknown."
- Presented keynote talks and facilitated technical workshops at international media conferences.
- Created news applications, visualizations, and custom interactives for revealnews.org.
- Developed prototypes exploring data sonification and new formats for interactive graphics.
- Researched and documented best practices for mobile-friendly and accessible data visualizations.
Web Developer & Site Administrator 2014-2015
As the sole full-stack developer for Oxide (an information design firm), I designed, developed, enhanced, and deployed websites for clients including the Center for Civic Design, Usability Works, Nebraskans for Civic Reform, and the Omaha Metro Transit System.
- Managed more than 20 client websites, executing associated tasks including DNS administration, database migrations, front-end enhancements, and content updates.
- Designed and developed custom Wordpress themes with significant focus on performance, responsive design, and accessibility.
- Designed information architecture and user flow for new websites.
- Implemented BitBucket source control for Oxide's projects.
Data Visualization Engineer & Mobile Apps Lead 2012-2014
As a front-end developer on Gallup's UX team, I provided creative and technical expertise on many of Gallup's responsive web and native mobile applications. My work covered both design and development tasks, including information architecture, wireframes, mockups, interaction design, HTML and CSS markup, and JavaScript development. My specialties are interactive data visualizations and mobile application design.
- Worked within the SDLC to develop jQuery plugins for deployment on top of Gallup's existing web applications. This work included defining XML schema, identifying integration points with our content management system and web platforms, writing and testing code, and documenting solutions.
- Collaborated with accessibility specialists, server-side developers, and project managers to build products that meet stakeholder needs.
- Designed and developed interfaces for Gallup's Android applications.
- Implemented SVG and HTML5 Canvas widgets to replace internal Flash applications.
- Redesigned company intranet.
Developed interactive data visualizations and UI elements for Gallup.com. Led research initiatives and implementation of SVG and HTML5 Canvas widgets to replace internal Flash applications. Created Gallup.com's "State of the States" interactive – a responsive, mobile-friendly jQuery app that visualizes 5+ years of U.S. public opinion data.
Software Engineer, SAP Development2011-2012
As an Associate Business Systems Analyst on ConAgra's SAP Development team, I programmed and enhanced custom ABAP reports, user exits, EDI interfaces, smartforms, data extracts, and remote function calls on SAP modules including R3, WM, P2P, PPPI, QM, and FI/CO.
- Optimized code using performance tuning tools like SQL Trace and Runtime Analysis.
- Collaborated with business associates to gather and document functional and technical requirements.
- Gained extensive experience with business and IT processes, systems analysis and design.
Niche Publications Designer 2009-2012
Previous Position: Special Sections Intern
I worked under a creative director to design layouts and identity elements for the World-Herald's client publications. My relationship with the Niche Publications department began as a summer internship and developed into a freelance contract.
- Re-branded Momaha: The Magazine and designed monthly issues based off the new identity.
- Designed the 2011 Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce “Extraordinary Opportunities” book, an annual 144-page business and lifestyle publication highlighting Omaha-area businesses and attractions.
- Designed the program for the 2009 American Society of Interior Designers annual showhouse.
- Fact checked, wrote copy, and designed page layouts for special publications including the World Herald's 2009 Metro Guide, Campus Guides, and Wedding Essentials magazine.
Web Development Intern 2010-2011
ConAgra's rotational IT Intern program introduced me to the functional and technical processes essential to the operation of a Fortune 500 corporation's IT organization. I completed rotations on the following teams: RQI Innovation/Recipes Support; Portal, Workflow & Imaging; Web Development; and Incident Management. The majority of my contributions were in the design and development spaces – creating and updating internal web applications using C#/ASP.NET, Java, HTML, CSS and jQuery.
- Designed and implemented UI enhancements for two major deliverables.
- Developed ConAgra’s first advanced SharePoint site, which involved requirements gathering, information architecture, wireframing, custom Web Part development, documentation, and end-user training.
- Configured and provisioned SharePoint sites.
- Used BMC Remedy to report, resolve, and document support tickets and change management deliverables.
Creative Director & Project Manager — StudioBlue 2009-2011
Previous Position: Designer
I managed Creighton's student-run graphic design and development studio during my senior year, leading a group of eight talented designers in creating identity resources, websites, and print products for clients including the American Cancer Society and Creighton University. Prior to becoming Creative Director in 2010, I spent the prior year as a staff designer and developer. In that capacity, I created the studio's logo and website.
- Facilitated client relationships.
- Led weekly team meetings and design collaborations.
- Designed and developed websites, logos, and print products for clients.
- Organized annual team retreat.
Editor-in-Chief — Creightonian Newspaper 2007-2010
Previous Positions: Assistant Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Reporter
As editor of Creighton’s student newspaper, I managed a 40-person staff of reporters, section editors, designers, and photographers, and helped to shape the publication's journalistic style and online presence. I became editor-in-chief in 2010 after previously holding a number of reporting and editing positions.
- Successfully transitioned the content structure to support daily publishing on Creightonian.com.
- Produced content for weekly 16-page print issues.
- Organized triweekly staff meetings.
- Managed partnership with our printers.
- Attended and presented at ACP/CMA National College Media Conventions.
Web Producer — Omaha.com 2008-2010
- Posted breaking news, edited online content, coded news briefs, wrote headlines, built slideshows.
- Trained staff to use Saxotech, the newspaper’s content management system.
Education
Master of Science in Information Design & Strategy — Northwestern University2020
Specialization: Data Science & Analytics
Research: The State of Surveillance Capitalism in Nonprofit Newsrooms
GPA: 3.97 / 4.0
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication — Creighton University2011
summa cum laude
Majors: Journalism (News Production Track), Graphic Design
Minors: Computer Science, Interactive Web Development, Film Studies
Capstone: Optimizing Music Composition Using Fuzzy Set Theory: an iPad Application
GPA: 3.94 / 4.0
Talks & Workshops
Creighton University: Creightonian 100Omaha, NE — 2022
Panelist for the session, "What's Next For News."
Presented two guest lectures about careers in journalism and software development.
Local Independent Online News (LION) ConferenceChicago, IL — 2017
Co-presented session, "#LION17 Site Design Critiques."
WordCamp for PublishersDenver, CO — 2017
Led workshop, "Designing for Customization."
Panelist for the session, "Hiring and Career Roundtable," about recruiting and team-building for news product teams.
IRE CAR Conference (NICAR)Jacksonville, FL — 2017
Panelist for the session, "Working together without sitting together," about building happy and productive distributed teams.
Future is NextOmaha, NE — 2016
Panelist discussing the future of the web.
Product Design for Newsroom LeadersChicago, IL — 2016
Co-presented session, "Planning & executing successful data projects."
StoryologySydney, AU — 2016
Panelist for the session, "Data Gets Personal," discussing ways to use interactivity and user data to make dry reports engaging and shareable for broader impact.
Co-presented session, "Case Studies in Interactive Storytelling."
SRCCONPortland, OR — 2016
Led workshop, "Give and Receive: Can we strengthen our community through remote mentorship and office hours?"
IRE CAR Conference (NICAR)Denver, CO — 2016
"Data Viz for All: Creating interactive experiences that are usable, accessible, and mobile-friendly."
Creighton University: Computer Science ClubOmaha, NE — 2016
Guest talk about on web development in the newsroom.
Mozilla FestivalLondon, UK — 2015
Facilitated workshops "Data in Motion" and "Tufte: The Musical."
Hacks/Hackers Buenos Aires Media PartyBuenos Aires, AR — 2015
Presented keynote "Animating Data" to 300+ journalists and developers.
Led workshop "Animation Basics with Snap.svg."
Stanford University: Investigative Reporting TechniquesStanford, CA — 2015
Guest lecturer on data mining and visualization.
Nebraska JavaScript Conference (NEJS Conf)Omaha, NE — 2015
Presented talk "SVG Animation with Snap.svg" to 200+ developers.
SRCCON Minneapolis, MN — 2015
Co-facilitated workshop "Data Viz for All."
SNDMakes at SNDDCWashington, DC — 2015
Presented lightning talk "Designing for Performance" at SNDMakes.
IRE CAR Conference (NICAR) Atlanta, GA — 2015
Co-faciliatated pre-conference workshop "Bootstrapping the News."
ACP/CMA National College Media Convention Austin, TX — 2009
Co-presented talk "Setting Standards for Multimedia Content: A Menu of Guidelines to Help Students Maintain Quality on News Websites."
