Resume

Work Experience

February 2019-November 2023 Best Buy Richfield, MN / Remote

Experience Researcher, Product Experience Research

    • Supported research democratization efforts by educating designers on our testing tools, setting up unmoderated tests, developing test plans and discussion guides, and participating in collaboration meetings where I advocated for a customer-first mentality

    • Co-founded a Tools Committee with colleagues to organize all of the documentation, capabilities, and best practices for the many tools that our research team had access to

    • Supported multiple e-commerce product teams with research needs, prioritization, and roadmap planning

      • E-commerce consumer-facing experiences supported: Store locator, Mobile phone activations, Support dashboard, Chat, Virtual Sales

    • Prepared, planned, and executed high-impact discovery research efforts

    • Partnered with Engineering and Product to implement a live intercept on the Best Buy Support page to gain contextual feedback from users

    • Dedicated time to be part of committees supporting research tools and vendors and diversity
      initiatives for BIPOC employees 

Associate Researcher, Product Experience Research

    • Full scope, from start to finish, ran research studies on projects for teams such as Chat, Best Buy Enterprise Services, and Mobile Phone Activations

    • Helped the Health team with the Apple Watch Onboarding project.  I iterated on the discussion guide, moderated all sessions, reported the findings, and walked the team through what we learned

    • Introduced our team to a new research observation technique named ‘The Rainbow Spreadsheet’ and implemented this method during the Testing Tuesdays pilot program. This helped our team quickly understand what we had learned after a full day of moderated research

    • Identified opportunities to improve the Pathways program, which helps teens from the Teen Tech Centers land internships and partnered with internal teams who support this program

    • Presented an Inclusive Research talk alongside our team director to educate other researchers on the importance and implications of inclusiveness in our field

    • Engaged in Inclusion and Diversity work and co-led an Allies in Action training session

    • Supported a team of researchers across multiple product teams over the entire research spectrum

June-October 2018 Prime Digital Academy Minneapolis, MN

UX Design & Research Student

  • Worked with clients to research and test usability issues, synthesize research findings and recommend solutions, and develop a multi-touchpoint UX Strategy

      • Solo Project - Heard. 

      • Client: Restaurant Industry

      • Problem: Employees in the restaurant industry often are not able to speak up about workplace issues because of the lack of Human Resources services

      • Designed an application to allow employees to anonymously communicate with other levels of restaurant management without fear of retaliation

      • Research methods used: competitive analysis, desirability testing, usability testing, storyboarding, personas, wireframing & prototyping 

2015-2018 Barrio Restaurant Group   Twin Cities Metro, MN

Working at Barrio prepared me for my role in UX research by helping me learn how the staff used the point-of-sale software and understand their needs to accomplish their daily tasks. Empathizing with them and implementing their feedback taught me the importance of understanding the user and how that can lead to an intuitive and enjoyable digital experience. 

General Manager / Asst. General Manager  Jan 2017- April 2018

  • Implemented and maintained point of sale software, Aloha POS. With this software, I continually sought staff feedback to improve the ordering experience, increase efficiency, and improve communications between the front and back-of-house teams

  • Assisted with new restaurant opening: staff hiring & training, defining procedures, and software optimization

  • Front-of-house management duties included budget management and accounting, sales reports, monitoring staff performance, ensuring guest satisfaction, and enforcing food safety requirements

  • Consulted with owners and senior leadership on business operations procedures and improvements

  • Trained and educated staff on new procedures & menu items

Supervisor   May 2015 - Dec 2016

2006-2013 Water Park of America Bloomington, MN

Working at Water Park of America prepared me for my role in UX research by exposing me to customer frustrations and needs when purchasing tickets on our website.  Fielding numerous calls daily to help customers troubleshoot the ordering process taught me to empathize with users of different ability levels and how instructions must be communicated to help users with varying technical competencies. 

Assistant Director of Aquatics  Nov 2010 - Sept 2013

Head Lifeguard  July 2006 - Nov 2010

  • Project Management: I collaborated on designing a web application for our team. Aquatic Management System is an internal tool for managing employee records, incident reports, employee evaluations, and customer service documentation

  • Maintained capacity control software, coordinated online sales, provided customer support for our website and group sales and provided technical staff support

  • Work Coordination: worked across multiple departments to meet the needs of our guests and employees

  • Leadership: managed a team of supervisors and created a work environment centered on teamwork and effective communication

Education 

June-October 2018 Prime Digital Academy Minneapolis, MN

User Experience Design Certification

• UXPA

January-June 2011 Inver Hills Community College Minneapolis, MN

Emergency Medical Technician Certification

August 2008-May 2010 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND

General Studies

Study Abroad Program - Norway

Volunteer Work

Prime Digital Academy

  • Guest speaker on Research Synthesis and Usability Testing

  • Guest critique on Findings and Recommendations reports

  • Student mentor

Adopt a Husky Minnesota

  • Website support

  • Foster home for displaced Siberian Huskies in need

  • Fundraising event representative

  • Transporting dogs to events, vet appointments, and foster homes