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 EDUCATION:
  • Yale University: B.A. 2013, cum laude, Art Major

 WORK EXPERIENCE
  • Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters
    Product Designer (plush, clothing and accessories): October 2014–Present
    Product Designer/Developer (plush only): June 2013–October 2014
    • Hired as first in-house plush designer; have designed substantially all stuffed animals sold in 400+ Build-A-Bear locations worldwide since 2014; role expanded to include design of clothing and accessories in 2014; have designed over 500 products; innovate and develop on-trend intellectual properties
    • Appointed head designer for boy and universal consumer groups in 2014; designs have increased segment sales, including 20% growth in boys in second half of 2014, with 3 of top 10 products in boys (vs. none in 2013)
    • Improve product margins through value-engineering, cost-reduction negotiations with vendors in China and Vietnam, and efficient prototype design; have improved product margins by 250-800 basis points; CEO credited value-engineering with contributing to company’s first profitable year (2014) since 2007
    • Negotiate with licensing partners such as Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm, Hasbro, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, and Fox to reinterpret and design licensed properties for Build-A-Bear. Examples include: Hulk Bear; Frozen Elsa Bear; Star Wars Chewbacca; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; the Minions
    • Design the animal characters used in all BABW iOS apps; work with app companies to refine models
    • Present design concepts and strategies to senior management team in biweekly reviews
    • Train and lead the associate product designer and interns in projects
  • Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, Product Development Intern, Summer 2012
    • Sole animal/plush designer during Summer 2012; designed and developed eight stuffed animals.
    • Also helped manage department; worked with vendors to make prototypes; researched trends.
  • Internet Art Business (www.kalicoart.com): 2005–2013
    • Created website to sell my original art; shipped to customers around the world; sold over a hundred works (primarily commissions) in a wide range of media
  • Fox Television Animation Intern: The Cleveland Show, June 2008; July 2009; August 2010
    • Worked with animation team; broke down scripts to determine artwork needed in episodes
  • Graphic Design Work: 2009–2013
    • Designed logos and publicity materials for numerous Yale organizations
  • Sterling Associates (Nonprofit Consulting Firm), Summer Intern: Houston, Summer 2010
    • Researched and analyzed giving trends; co-authored published research report on giving in Houston

 ACTIVITIES/LEADERSHIP:
  • Yale Club of St. Louis: Board Member, 2014-Present
    • Organize events for local alumni and mentor summer interns
  • Microsoft DigiGirlz Day St. Louis, 2015
    • Invited panelist at conference for high school girls interested in STEM careers
  • Yale College Council; Mental Health Committee, 2011-2012
    • Elected student representatives of Yale student government; organized events
    • Helped spearhead Mental Health Fellows program to improve student access to mental health resources
  • Yale Sophomore Class Council: Executive Committee; Communications Chair, 2010–2011
    • Elected representative; planned events for sophomore class; created marketing materials

 SELECTED EXHIBITIONS/PUBLICATIONS:
  • Slifka Arts Grant: “Deluge: Paintings of Endangered Animals,” 2012
    • Won grant to paint seven paintings; exhibited in solo show at Yale Slifka gallery
  • Grant from Shakespeare at Yale: “A Midsummer Night’s Painting,” 2011–2012
    • Won grant to paint Shakespeare-themed artwork; exhibited in Davenport art gallery
  • Animal Diversity Web: University of Michigan, May 2012
    • Published species account on the extinct Dusicyon australis in online animal history database
  • Yale Art Show: “Sagging Spaces, Falling Rooms,” Slifka Center, 2011–2012
    • 5 works selected for juried show of undergraduate work
  • Yale Spring Fling Concert, 2010
    • Won contest to design logo for Yale’s largest concert; used on promotional material
  • University of Houston, 2008, 2006
    • Awards for Creative Excellence and Technical Virtuosity in juried art shows
  • Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, 2007
    • 3 works selected for juried show, “Comic Art”
  • Nintendo Power Magazine, September 2009
    • Art featured in article and interview

 SKILLS
  • Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, After Effects, Flash, Microsoft Word/Powerpoint/Excel, Maya, Final Cut Pro, HTML, CSS, Corel Painter, OpenCanvas