Summary

A passionate collaborator with experience on cross-functional teams infusing a user-centered approach to any new product development project. My work has been focused on the ‘fuzzy front-end’ of the development process with an emphasis on strategic programs designed discover and engage new business opportunities.

My teaching experience has given me a unique skill-set to evangelize user-centered design within companies.  

Experience

Tufts Gordon Institute                                                                                     Medford, MA        2014-Present

Lecturer, MSEM program

Teach the Experience Design Management course in the Gordon Institutes’ Master of Science in Engineering Management.

Bose Corporation                                                                                      Framingham, MA        2013-Present

Manager, Concept Experiences

Currently manage a group of UX researchers on foundational and early-stage product development projects.

  • Work includes c-level presentations with recommendations on how to proceed with proposed new products and services. 

Product Concept Strategist

Member of Bose Health Applied Research and Concept Development group.

  • Researched potential areas of new business opportunities for Bose Health.

  • Led classes and workshops reaching over 500 employees to build awareness and inspire company-wide empathy for consumers.

User Experience Advanced Development Lead

Led the User Experience arm of new product innovation programs.

  • Design and conduct or manage user research initiatives including ethnographic studies, contextual inquiries, user testing, focus groups and interviews.

  • Collaborate with project teams, marketing and research departments to carry out business objectives

  • Advocate for user design research; ensure high research standards and rigor

 

Microsoft Corporation                                                                                     Cambridge, MA        2000-2011

Senior Program Manager

Member of the Office 365 team developing a suite of online communication and collaboration products.  Also managed the Office Live Small Business product: a line of web applications for small businesses to market their products and services online. 

  • Determined new features and created detailed software specification documents

  • Managed both internal and external relationships

  • Provided ongoing user feedback across all features to incrementally improve Office Live and reduce support costs by 20%

 

Kensington Technology Group                                                                     San Mateo, CA        1995-2000

A division of ACCO Brands, Inc., providing computer input device and accessory products for home and office use.

Product Development Manager

Responsible for managing product development programs, which included user testing, market research, industrial design, software integration, engineering and manufacturing.

  • The Orbit product exceeded sales expectations and became the number-one selling input device for Kensington

  • Projects included validation meetings with industry ergonomists and trips to manufacturing plants in the Far East

  • Acted as Kensington's representative in the OERC (Office Ergonomic Research Committee)

 

Milcare, Inc.                                                                                                Grandville, MI            1991-1995

A subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc. providing clinical modular casework, material handling systems and furniture for healthcare facilities.

Research and Design Program Manager

Responsible for managing research and design programs, which included conducting focus groups, investigating emerging technologies and industry trends, managing and evaluating alpha and beta test sites, and establishing design criteria.

  • Worked with mechanical and software engineers to develop a medication control and tracking system.  The resultant product opened up a new business opportunity for the company

  • Conducted contextual inquiry research to map the work processes of hospital staff when delivering medications

 

United States Peace Corps                                                                      Togo, West Africa       1988-1990

Appropriate Technology Volunteer

Worked with Togolese villagers to address various needs, using local technology to promote self-sufficiency.  Conducted research on various appropriate technology systems including passive solar energy, hand-dug wells, biogas energy and cisterns.

  • Designed and implemented programs to disseminate information concerning deforestation problems and improved wood cook stove technology

  • Conducted a seminar to teach other volunteers, artisans and high school teachers the principles behind passive solar energy

  • Co-author, Guide to Appropriate Technology Passive Solar Energy Use in Togo, West Africa (Lomé, Togo, Peace Corps, 1990)

 

Education

Carnegie Mellon University                                                                                                                     1988

BFA in Industrial Design with a minor in Industrial Management

Andrew Carnegie Society Scholar graduating with honors

Bentley University                                                                                                                                      2013

MS in Human Factors in Information Design

Patents

US10561362, US10517527, US10434279, US10653856, USD402973, USD431037, USD442178, USD439906, USD436962, USD430877, USD428012, USD424548, USD415746, USD409991, USD409181, USD406121, USD402973