I build brands with words.

Whether it's brand positioning, foundational guidelines, naming, tone and voice, marketing copy, UI writing, or anything else, I help establish and manage brands in all industries, to all audiences. From small, scrappy lifestyle brands speaking directly to consumers to established multi-national B2B corporations, I've done it.

I thrive on bringing order to chaos, building culture as I build brands, and working with everyone along the way.

Career so far:
 
Google 
Mountain View, California
Head of Naming, Brand Studio
July 2014 to right now
• Oversee and make sense all product and program names, domains, entertainment placements and third-party usage within the Google brand
• Work with independent groups (and later Alphabet companies) to develop new identities (names, brand stories) outside of the Google brand
• Develop guidelines and processes to make things go faster, smoother 

Hewlett-Packard Company
Palo Alto, California
Brand Strategist, Brand and Strategy Group, Global Marketing
April 2011 to May 2012; May 2013 to July 2014
• Led product naming for all of HP, working with all the business groups and teams
• Managed agencies in brand-right implementation of naming, brand strategy and icon design
• Served as a naming, messaging and brand consultant to business and internal groups within HP
• Developed interactive tools for the development of product names, brand licensing approvals

Alliance for Climate Education
Oakland, California
Director, Marketing and Communications
May 2012 to May 2013
• Created a new mission, vision, values, and brand positioning for the organization 
• Led the marketing, web, social media, public relations, analytics, IT and SalesForce team
• Managed video and design agencies to roll out new brand look and feel, merchandise and video
• Developed new web, social media, information integration and gamification efforts to engage high school students, teachers, donors and the public

Logitech, Inc.
Fremont, California
Global Director, Writing, Naming and Brand Architecture, Global Marketing
August 2008 to April 2011
• Led the team developing all packaging and web copy, product naming,
trademark management and product documentation
• Served as the reference point for the product managers on product, portfolio and brand 
positioning
• Led process improvements including component content management 
• Headed up a seven-person team of writers, layout artists and illustrators,  plus a large
stable of talented contractors

Landor Associates
San Francisco, California
Senior Manager, Naming and Writing
October 2003 to February 2007; August 2007 to August 2008
• Created names, brand voice strategies, and positioning for products, companies, 
and mergers
• Led naming and writing projects, with direct client relationships from pitch to wrap up
• Partnered with insights and design to keep client engagements on strategy and on brand
• Worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Energizer, Boost Mobile, 
Microsoft, Adobe, Motorola, Samsung, Frito-Lay, FedEx, Coors, Pepsico, Hilton, J. Jill, Medtronic, Dole, EarthLink, Texas Instruments, WellPoint and NetApp


Schools I’ve gotten degrees from:

Academy of Art College
San Francisco, California
Master of Fine Arts in Advertising Design 
September 2000
• Focus in copywriting and strategic planning

University of Illinois
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Bachelor of Science in Advertising 
August 1997
• Focus in integrated marketing communications and film