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After graduating with a Diploma of Applied Arts and Technology from Mohawk College in 1987, I began my career working in Brantford for the Ontario Housing Authority as a Maintenance Supervisor.  Following two years in Brantford, I decided to diversify to the private sector and over the next 9 years worked for a Kitchener-based Architect and two homebuilders in Waterloo Region. With the experience gained in the home-building industry, I partnered with Bryan in 1997 to start Orchard Design Studio. My role is to meet with existing and prospective clients, develop site plan concepts, work with clients to obtain site plan approval for projects and initiate the drawing phase. In addition to being a principal in the company, I am actively involved in the day to day operations and corporate culture of Orchard Design Studio Inc.

Interest in the environments that society creates for itself led me to study at the University of Waterloo. After graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (1985) and a Bachelor of Architecture (1989), I worked for architects and developers in Southwestern Ontario focusing on new-home community design. In 1997, I partnered with Keith and founded Orchard Design Studio Inc. with the vision of providing complete community vision management and design services for all aspects the residential development industry. As a Senior Architectural Designer at Orchard, I am either designing or providing design direction to our team of architectural designers for various projects of all scales and densities.

After graduating from Fanshawe College in 1999 with a diploma in Interior Design, I began my career wanting to gain more experience and knowledge in construction and soon realized technical drafting, mixed with design was the field I enjoyed most. Pursuing my career in architectural drafting, I worked with a large residential home builder for 3 years and gained a great understanding of production home building. In 2003, I accepted a position with Orchard Design to further my knowledge with more in-depth projects. 20 years of experience has brought my role from a technical draftsperson to a project manager of the drafting department. My diverse experience with Orchard has exposed me to many different types of projects from production housing to various renovations of both large and small capacities to custom home projects, cottages and many unique multi-family residences.
Outside the Office: I love cottaging, some fine red wine, baseball, fishing and travel, but nothing holds a light to my two girls.

Orchard Design is where my career started. Initially, I began with a placement through my College co-op program and after graduating in 2007, I entered the company with the position of Junior Drafter. I have spent years gaining the knowledge and skills to work my way up to my current position of Project Manager. I take pride in my efficiency, attention to detail, and providing a product that builders and home owners can also be proud of. My personal home projects, renovations and developments have helped to grow my knowledge of the industry. These experiences have helped me to better understand the clients’ perspective in home building/renovations and given me the critical field experience that influences my design and management process.
Outside the Office: At home I have 2 young kids who keep me busy. In my spare time, I enjoy playing hockey, golf and woodworking.

After graduating with a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2002, I started my career in Toronto at one of the leading residential marketing advertising agencies in Canada. After three years, I made the decision to return to Southwestern Ontario, which I had always considered home. Taking the GTA mentality to marketing real estate and adapting it to the South Western Ontario marketplace, my early experiences played a major role in shifting the home builder merchandising, marketing and advertising in Southwestern Ontario. I believe my analytical and strategic approach to product development and positioning equips the design team with the information and action plan needed to develop a solution with a clear and concise message.
Outside the Office: You can expect to find me camping, coaching kids sports, taste-testing at micro-breweries, rocking out at a Pearl Jam concert, or spending time with my two boys… but not necessarily in that order.

With Orchard since 2006, my skill-sets in a variety of creative fields including graphic and interface design, copy-writing, merchandising and marketing, have propelled numerous campaigns to success. My experience in the real estate and building industries continues to grow and evolve with the market to provide clients with visual communications that effectively target the intended demographic. I graduated from the Advanced Graphic Design and Advertising Program at Conestoga College. Recognized as one of the top design programs in the province, my studies there provided a sound foundation to understanding and executing the principle theories and fundamentals of design demanded in today’s advertising. Today, I am an award-winning, highly-driven and diversely experienced creative director guided by a belief that an artist who aims for perfection in everything, achieves it in nothing. I am also a painter, writer, designer, manager, mentor, listener, and builder of creative ideas. I am a partner, animal enthusiast, yoga practitioner and cyclist. I am full of opinion and passion, but never full of myself.

Outside the Office: As an avid yoga practitioner, you can always find me detoxing and de-stressing at a hot yoga or hot pilates class, inventing new recipes at home, or cycling in the summer months. In winter you will not find me because I will be hibernating indoors near a fireplace.