I grew up loving art but never considered it a possible career until I was encouraged by a high school art teacher. I made the decision to major in Graphic Design at the University of Georgia, where I received formal training in art history, design concepts and industry standard applications. I also continued my fine arts training in figure drawing, illustration, painting, and calligraphy. After graduation, I found employment with an Atlanta, GA based design studio. Through that position, I had the opportunity to design for national clients such as Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Applebee’s, Hasbro and Dunkin’ Donuts. I also donated my time to the Friend’s Junior Committee as Publicity Chair, where I volunteered design work to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Next I worked at a marketing firm as a production artist, and then later as a temporary Traffic Manager. My responsibilities included estimating project hours and assigning designers to tasks using company databases. I helped organize projects for General Mills, advertising their product lines Big G Cereals, Yoplait, Pillsbury and more to supermarkets. During this time, I also completed night college courses to enhance my understanding of web design and programming.
Later I moved to Meridian, MS where I founded my own business Like Minds Designs. Since it’s launch, I have worked with local companies such as Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Regional Airport, Great Southern Bank and Queen City Fair. I have continued my education on databases, web development, and scripting languages with online courses and a constant drive to learn and improve.
My life in Meridian is centered around my Christian faith, my family, and contributing to the community. I have been a part-time aerobics instructor at both Meridian Naval Air Station and Meridian Community College. I served as Publicity Co-Coordinator for Fifteenth Avenue Baptist MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for two years, then a year as Coordinator. At Central United Methodist Church, I served on the Central’s Children’s Center preschool board and the Evangelism Committee. I have also donated volunteer design work to charities such as ASLANE’s Mission, which fights homelessness in Meridian, and service groups like Junior Auxiliary of Meridian.
My desire to multitask and never settle means I work hard every day. In 2023, I graduated with an additional degree in Education. I enjoy spending my work time with a variety of creative endeavors, from freelance graphic design work, to substitute teaching, and even decorating cakes as part of my cottage bakery business. In addition, I keep my skills sharp with college level courses on software and front end development (I just wrapped up an intro course on Python).While it may seem like my scope is too diverse, I hope potential employers recognize my drive, ability to handle multiple endeavors, and desire to continue learning. Now, I’m looking forward to the next phase of my career, and would gladly devote my full attention to the right role.
