Major: 
Integrated Strategic Communication (Advertising)
Year Graduated: 
1997
Hometown: 
Bardwell, KY
Current City: 
Lexington, KY
Current Employer: 
Self-employed brand developer at Serif Group Creative Marketing Agency
Top played song on your playlist?: 
God of Miracles by Chris McClarney
Where has your CI degree taken you?: 

I’ve been thrilled to run a small, successful Lexington agency with my husband, Bill (Advertising 1996), since 2000. Staying in Kentucky doesn’t mean work has been boring. Last spring, I had the opportunity to travel to NYC to work on a project for a fellow UK grad at an investment firm in the New York Times building. Over 20 years, we’ve worked for a variety of clients—naming businesses, and designing everything from logos and brochures to books and websites. I am still great friends with a few fellow classmates and see them regularly. I’ve also been able to participate on the UK CI National Advisory Board.

What is your favorite thing about your job?: 

I love creating content and designs that effectively and succinctly explain a client’s business. Seeing their face light up when it all comes together is my favorite thing. As a business owner, I also love being in charge of my own schedule—balancing work and family. This was especially important when our two boys were younger.

What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?: 

To advocate for myself, really listen to people, network within and outside UK and CI, and get to know teachers. When we contemplated starting our business in 2000, the economy was in the toilet and health insurance costs rising. We were just a few years out of school, expecting our first child, and most people thought we were crazy. We bumped into Professor Rick Roth at a Lexington Ad Club function and ran our ideas by him. He said confidently, “If anyone can make it work, it’s you two.” That was all the spark we needed. After that, we made it work.

What advice would you give to current CI students?: 

Get involved in extracurricular activities. My opportunities were greatly expanded due to connections made at the Kernel and yearbook, UK Ad Club, various internships, and informational interviews. You never know who you’ll meet. I met my hubby at the first UK Ad Club meeting my sophomore year!