WHERE I’M FROM
Born and raised in a multi-generational household in the small town of Bonham, Texas, I’m no stranger to southern comfort...foods! And I was fortunate to learn from the best. My grandmother -"Mimi"- would always be milling around the kitchen whipping something up – anything from ambrosia to fried chicken...rice pudding to chicken & dumplings. It was always food that soothed the soul. And my mother made it known that no proper southern home was complete without one of her delicious homemade pies, cobblers, or cakes. They were beautiful enough for display, but meant to be joyfully shared and devoured.
WHERE I WENT
I packed my bags (and pom poms!) and moved to the big city of Austin, TX, where I majored in Advertising/Marketing at The University of Texas at Austin and developed an art direction portfolio through the highly selective Texas Creative program. But it was my internship at GSD&M in Art Production, where I scouted, negotiated, and worked with some of the most talented local and national food photographers and directors in the country. It was during that time, I realized that I was destined to make food the medium in which I would create art.
WHAT I DID
Whether it was as Art Buyer/Producer, or Art Director on the agency side, or as Pastry Chef at Shoreline Grill and The Four Seasons in Austin, and later as Pastry Chef at Neiman Marcus’s Zodiac Room in Dallas, I’ve always pursued my passion for food. When faced with the decision to move to Las Vegas to further my career as a Chef or to work at a world-renowned agency, I chose the latter, accepting an offer to work at the advertising agency, Publicis USA. I was an Art Producer working closely with clients, such as Denny’s, Hot Pockets, Powerbar, and Nestle for over six years. I gained an immense amount of experience through problem-solving and working through challenges with some of the most amazing people in the industry.
WHERE I AM
In 2010, I got married and started a family. At that time, I also realized I was ready to leave the agency world and take the leap towards my career as a professional Food Stylist. I started out assisting and after many years of schlepping my kit, have worked my way up to lead stylist for Smirnoff, Mrs. Baird's Bread, Swan's Down, QuikTrip, Burger King, Takis, Chili's, Avocados From Mexico, Michaels, Cici's Pizza, Frito Lay, Kroger, La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe, Food Lion, and more. I am so fortunate to be doing what I love, and even more fortunate my three beautiful girls have been able to see that if you are passionate about something, you can achieve great things.
