A portfolio built by endless curiosity and a collaborative spirit.

I led a tiny team (a designer and a few trade colleagues) to produce a vibrant digital cookbook in just shy of six months. El Camino del Albariño in the Kitchen features 32 recipes and reflections from chefs and wine experts around the world, and reached over 1 million people and raised thousands for Wine on Wheels.

Education, event planning, and community-building passions converged in this dual cocktail party-expert panel sponsored by the Ambassador Council of the Digestive Health Foundation. We recruited new members while offering a forum for some of the field’s top minds to share the latest research and developments in the field.

A new client needed to kick off their business in Chicago, and I knew we’d want to maximize the glorious May weather. Together with the culinary team at PQM, we created a sold-out evening that drew trade, destination diners, and locals. Even better was the opportunity to present an established, legacy brand to a new audience.

Friends and collaborators from Market Box reached out to me after joining a dinner party I threw with STOCK at Marz Brewing. Thanks to killer teamwork on our planning committee, generous hosts at Marz and Taco Sublime, and enthusiastic donors, the event raised over $20K for food mutual aid on the south side of Chicago.

Spring 2020. Before virtual events became de rigeur we created a scrappy, fun series of wine pairing cooking classes designed to support retail and restaurant partners (and food lovers!) which also served as an effective fundraiser for wonderful organizations like Bakers Against Racism and World Central Kitchen.

We received an invitation to present for sommelier colleagues at TEXSOM, which sent me deep into the far reaches of Iberian winemaking lore. I was a le to educate on 10,000 years of Iberian innovation while providing historical context through the lens of 6 special wines—in just 30 minutes over lunch!

In the wake of the 2016 election, my group of friends knew that activism focused on our local community was the best way to fight against the bigotry facing Muslims in the US. We partnered with a local bar, a local Syrian-American catering company, and threw a party to raise funds in support of services for our new neighbors.