Center Program Manager

• Jul 2022 - Present

Founder

• Jun 2018 - Present

Conscious Costume is a visionary approach to costume design, construction and management that challenges the creative process to be conscious of the unique environmental and ethical impact that textiles, clothing and fashion has on the world. Identify relevant grant prospecting opportunities. Acquired over 5k in successful grant funding in 2 years.Survey industry professionals on practices related to sustainable costume production.Develop educational events and workshops to disseminate sustainable practices to artists and the general public.Supervise event management for in-person, virtual, and hybrid non-profit fundraising and educational experiences.Consult with local designers, national makers groups, and clients to build supplemental PPE during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic and create local production opportunities.Design and Publish social media including data visualizations, graphic design, campaign strategy, and copywriting.Author artist profiles, research digests, and other articles for online publication.Develop relationships and edit for guest authors on online publication.Built an online retail store and oversaw customer communication and satisfaction.Recruit, train, and guide both paid staff and volunteers.

Costume Designer

• Sep 2010 - Jul 2022

Various Credits Include:Be More Chill, Dir: Izzy Smelkinson, Monumental Theatre Co. 7/19Daddy Long Legs, Dir: Michael Windsor, Monumental Theatre Co. 3/19Illyria, Dir: Mitchell Hebert, WSC Avant Bard 10/18Seven Deadly Sins, Dir: Septime Webre, Wolf Trap Opera/Halcyon 6/18Judy Moody...Treasure Hunt, Dir: Mitchell Hebert, Adventure Theatre 4/18The Princess and the Pauper, Dir: Janet Stanford, Imagination Stage 2/18Sketchbook: Life, Collaboraction 1/16Bronte, Dir: Jaclynn Jutting, Promethean Theatre 1/16Girl in the Train, Dir: Elizabeth Margolius, Chicago Folks Operetta 9/15Xtigone, Dir: Alexander St. John, Chicago Danztheatre 5/15Taming of the Shrew, Dir: Jemma Levy, Muse of Fire 6/13Inventing Van Gogh, Dir: Aaron Henrickson, Strange Bedfellows 8/13James and the Giant Peach, Dir: Kevin Wiczer, Metropolis 7/12Annie, Dir: Ken Preuss, Big Deal Prod 7/12Floyd Collins, Dir: Peter Marston Sullivan, BoHo Theatre 6/124 Women (Sketchbook), Dir: Patrese D. McClain, Collaboraction 6/12The Phantom Tollbooth, Dir: Amy Malcolm, Metropolis, 5/12Train is Comin’, Dir: McKinley Johnson, Open Door Rep. 4/12Once On This Island, Jr. Dir: Karen Shuman-Lysen, Big Deal Prod. 11/11The Fever Chart, Dir: S. Moeller/S. Fedoruk, Eclipse Theatre Co. 9/11Choose Thine Own Adventure, Dir: Julie Ritchey, Filament Theatre 10/10Franklin Expedition, Dir: Blake Montgomery, Building Stage 9/10

Graduate Assistant

• Aug 2016 - May 2019

Coordinated communication between faculty, students, admin, and other professionals.Established new documentation and templates to streamline new student onboarding.Standardized supply intake process between student designers and costume staff.Designs:Street Scene, Director: Amanda Consol, 4/19Love and Information, Director: Jennifer Nelson, 11/17UMoves: Hyperbolic, Choreographer: Monstah Black, 5/17The Amish Project, Director: Mitchell Hebert, 2/17 Coordinated communication between faculty, students, admin, and other professionals.Established new documentation and templates to streamline new student onboarding.Standardized supply intake process between student designers and costume staff.Designs:Street Scene, Director: Amanda Consol, 4/19Love and Information, Director: Jennifer Nelson, 11/17UMoves: Hyperbolic, Choreographer: Monstah Black, 5/17The Amish Project, Director: Mitchell Hebert, 2/17

Costume Shop Manager and Designer

• May 2014 - Aug 2016

Generated staff schedules to meet firm production deadlines.Authored documentation for smooth transition of design details between staff teams.Advised management on interdepartmental scheduling needs while remaining flexible to unforeseen circumstances.Acquired and maintained project materials within budget.Organized up to 4 simultaneous team projects with unique stakeholders and deadlines.Designed:The Fantasticks Directed by Joe Neissen, 7/2016Hairspray Directed by Fred Tessler, 6/2016Les Miserables Directed by David Colacci, 6/15Hot Mikado Directed by Fred Tessler, 7/14

Freelance Costume Designer

• 2010 - Jan 2016

Workbook: "Let Them Eat Cake" and "Like a Virgin"Sketchbook 2012 and 2016After Dark at the Chicago Arts Institute featuring Betrand Goldberg Workbook: "Let Them Eat Cake" and "Like a Virgin"Sketchbook 2012 and 2016After Dark at the Chicago Arts Institute featuring Betrand Goldberg

Artistic Director

• Dec 2012 - Aug 2015

Strange Bedfellows Theatre is dedicated to finding unlikely companions to theatre and art, while focusing on engaging audiences in experiential storytelling. We seek to bring dynamic insight to the re-telling of familiar stories and characters through both existing and newly developed text. We collaborate with other artists in interactive, mixed media and mystically charged performances to augment the Chicago community. Strange Bedfellows Theatre earnestly works at inspiring audiences to discover the beauty of various art in the everyday strange.

Costume Shop Manager

• Sep 2011 - May 2015

I run a small university shop with four academic shows a season. Responsibilities also include maintaining stock and occasional maintenance for guest artist shows.Created schedules and delegated work for student staff including teaching new skills.Collaborated with guest designers to execute designs.Oversaw costume rentals to local artists. Shows designed:Our Town, Fall 2014As You Like It, Spring 2014Drowsy Chaperon, Fall 20136 Characters in Search of an Author, Spring 2013Rent, Fall 2012The Art of Dining, Spring 2012Gift of the Magi, Fall 2011

Wardrobe Head

• 2011 - Mar 2015

2012: The Cunning Little Vixen2013: La Boheme2014: Falstaff, also Assistant Costume Designer2015: The Magic Flute2011: The Gondoliers, also Assistant Costume Designer 2012: The Cunning Little Vixen2013: La Boheme2014: Falstaff, also Assistant Costume Designer2015: The Magic Flute2011: The Gondoliers, also Assistant Costume Designer

Costume Designer

• Apr 2012 - Aug 2012

Phantom TollboothThoroughly Modern Millie Jr.James and the Giant Peach Phantom TollboothThoroughly Modern Millie Jr.James and the Giant Peach

Costume Designer

• Sep 2011 - Aug 2012

Previous design credits:Once On This Island Jr, November 2011Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr, February 2012Annie, July 2012 Previous design credits:Once On This Island Jr, November 2011Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr, February 2012Annie, July 2012

Costume Designer for "Train is Comin'"

• Mar 2012 - May 2012

"I have no idea what Open Door’s costume budget might be for this show but the cast looks especially stunning in Kristen Ahern’s designs in the closing scenes, c. 1875, when the Fisk Jubilee Singers have “made it” and are touring Europe and Russia."See the full review here:http://www.opendoorrep.org/news "I have no idea what Open Door’s costume budget might be for this show but the cast looks especially stunning in Kristen Ahern’s designs in the closing scenes, c. 1875, when the Fisk Jubilee Singers have “made it” and are touring Europe and Russia."See the full review here:http://www.opendoorrep.org/news

Wardrobe Supervisor

• Jun 2009 - Aug 2011

Working here during summers has been the perfect combination of vacation and hard work. I love the people I work with here and observing the fast and furious creation of a fantastic finished product.Productions:The Full Monty 6/09 - 7/09Pump Boys and Dinettes 7/09The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee 8/09Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 6/10 - 7/10Chicago 6/10 - 7/10The 39 Steps 8/10 Working here during summers has been the perfect combination of vacation and hard work. I love the people I work with here and observing the fast and furious creation of a fantastic finished product.Productions:The Full Monty 6/09 - 7/09Pump Boys and Dinettes 7/09The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee 8/09Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 6/10 - 7/10Chicago 6/10 - 7/10The 39 Steps 8/10

Costume Designer

• Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

" It is a tale of the human spirit in search of finding life and understanding through the private battles of transition, confusion, and betrayal. It chronicles a community of people, each searching for a way to leave their mark."Based on the life of Czech artist, Misa. " It is a tale of the human spirit in search of finding life and understanding through the private battles of transition, confusion, and betrayal. It chronicles a community of people, each searching for a way to leave their mark."Based on the life of Czech artist, Misa.

Fine Jewelry Associate

• Aug 2010 - Feb 2011

Assistant Costume Designer

• Aug 2010 - Dec 2010

Assisting Ms. Hiltner on her autumn projects including "1001" with Collaboraction and "The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe: A Love Story" with First Folio as well as various events. Assisting Ms. Hiltner on her autumn projects including "1001" with Collaboraction and "The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe: A Love Story" with First Folio as well as various events.

Costume Shop Assistant

• Sep 2008 - Apr 2010

The WMU theatre department costume shop employed several students each year and I was fortunate enough to get one of these and get paid for the time I was putting in anyways to further my career. The WMU theatre department costume shop employed several students each year and I was fortunate enough to get one of these and get paid for the time I was putting in anyways to further my career.

Costume Intern

• May 2008 - Aug 2008

I really enjoyed working in opera and expanding my experiences.While here, I primarily worked on the wardrobe crew for the following:The Rape of LucretiaWest Side StorySusannahAlso I supervised wardrobe on the smaller productions of:Curlew RiverDido and Aeneas I really enjoyed working in opera and expanding my experiences.While here, I primarily worked on the wardrobe crew for the following:The Rape of LucretiaWest Side StorySusannahAlso I supervised wardrobe on the smaller productions of:Curlew RiverDido and Aeneas

Costume Design Intern

• May 2007 - Aug 2007

This was the perfect first professional theatre job because I was working in the costume shop, something I was already accustomed to at my university and it gave me the opportunity to assist professional designers and supervise wardrobe. Taking on such responsibilities so early in my career has been an important experience.I assisted on the design of:The Hypochondriac, under Elizabeth FlautoGo Dog Go, under Liz JasperseI was wardrobe supervisor of:Junie B. Jones, A Little Monkey BusinessShe Loves Me