Curriculum Vitae

I have been creating digital experiences and strategies since 1996. Combine that with a passion for creating deliverables that meet business needs, delight users, and strengthen market position. My unique blend of professional experience in the non-profit, private business, and government sectors will enhance any digital team.

Professional Experience

Consultant/Chief Experience Officer

Eriss AI, Pittsburgh, PA (03/2025 – present)

  • Created product mock-ups, updated configuration UIs, and introduced ethical AI usage and boundary concerns.
  • Produced website content outlining personal and business use cases and overhauled product benefit and feature pages to make them more relevant for our target markets

User Experience Designer

Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh, PA (08/2024 – present)

  • Developed a process for reviewing and updating the IRS Design System, revised components in Figma, ensured UI consistency across product teams, and collaborated with external teams to enhance the US Web Design System

Founder/Principal Designer

Esbeem, Pittsburgh, PA (04/2023 – present)

  • Founded a UX-centric research and website agency focusing on local small businesses and nonprofits; consulted with local marketing agencies offering customer research and design expertise for large-scale projects

Senior Product Designer

Annexus Health, Pittsburgh, PA (08/2022 – 07/2023)

  • Led UX operations by creating workflows, processes, document templates, and product idea intake.
  • Took on lead researcher role; updated methodologies, templates, maintenance cadence, and artifact storage; guided and mentored junior product designer on research projects, including persona interviews and creation.

Senior UX Designer

SoftWriters, Pittsburgh, PA (02/2021 – 07/2022)

  • Established the company’s inaugural UX practice with design processes and tools for agile product teams.
  • Created an Atomic Design-based system, documenting UI patterns and interaction standards for developers to use across products, from cutting-edge web technologies to legacy desktop applications.
  • Worked alongside product managers to create a 3-year vision for product and service offerings, creating a narrative and visuals to tell the story of our company’s renewed focus on enhancing our product ecosystem.

UX/Digital Content Specialist

Black Box, Lawrence, PA (09/2017 – 10/2020)

  • Created four behavior-based personas for the marketing team; interviewed and surveyed product managers, sales, and tech support to get the customer’s pulse; then validated via customer interviews, surveys, and focus groups.
  • Updated wireframes for e-commerce journeys, including product routers, landing pages, and item detail pages; all reworked to tell stories based on page goals, updated personas, and UX & SEO best practices.
  • Developed a new product-centric homepage template. Interviewed organization leadership for company voice, market position, and value proposition. The new template offered multiple promotional tools to be used by marketing, sales, and product managers.
  • Proposed and helped create website update process and calendar, focusing on homepage and landing page updates; synchronized with product launches, buying seasons, and trade show campaigns.

UX Architect

Confluence, Pittsburgh, PA (07/2015 – 6/2017)

  • Designed screens, workflows, and interfaces for financial reporting software through research; validated personas to better understand customers; guided UX from inception to delivery in an agile environment.
  • Led stakeholder and customer interviews, analyzing results; presented findings to key decision makers.
  • Ran usability studies on a legacy software platform. Targeted specific goals, drafted script, and met remotely with customers; analyzed results & identified best fixes for maximum usability impact.
  • Mentored UX intern; provided regular design feedback, task assignments, training, and career advice.

Business Analyst

TowerMetriX, Wexford, PA (08/2014 – 4/2015)

  • Analyzed a legacy system with no documentation for integration with the new platform. Turned existing requirements listing into clickable prototypes, customer overviews, & detailed technical specifications.
  • Initiated content audit of error messages & instructional text to unify the company/product voice & tone.

Information Architect

Thermo Fisher Scientific, eBusiness User Experience Team, Pittsburgh, PA (11/2011 – 8/2014)

  • A key player in a major eCommerce re-platforming project; managed wireframe build efforts and was the technical lead for wireframing software; led to a fully annotated working prototype in less than two months.
  • Created six modules of training material for the Axure wireframing tool; led workshops to train all IA and BA team members, including lessons learned and best practices gathered from re-platforming projects
  • Spearheaded creation of component requirements document, outlined all key reusable content formats; eliminated re-work & duplicate effort; delivered pilot/concept site prototype to senior management on time
  • Led usability testing sessions, validating eCommerce website changes for high visibility quarterly project

Business Analyst

National Energy Technology Laboratory, South Park, PA (2/2011 – 10/2011)

  • Turned customer ideas into complex technical requirements for numerous medium/small-scale web apps, providing data integrity benefits, universal access, tiered permission, and ease of use.
  • Spearheaded initiative to collect detailed web analytics data and conduct usability testing; created new gold standard for Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) in less than two months of starting
  • Brought a new level of discipline and organization to an executive dashboard project that directly supported the director’s office; created detailed RTMs and basic wireframes.

Consultant, Blogger, Podcaster

Freelance, Cranberry Township, PA (7/2011 – 10/2021)

  • Produced over 315 articles focusing on user experience, usability testing, content strategy, social media, personas, SEO, content marketing, and managing digital projects and teams.
  • Coached international non-profit groups to create industry-standard digital platforms; encouraged consistent branding, more effective donation platforms, use of social media, and a regular content production schedule.

Web Applications Project Manager

Affiliated Computer Services, Pittsburgh, PA (7/2007 – 2/2009)

  • Managed multiple web projects for a Fortune 500 company’s fast-paced User Experience team; enabled on-time delivery of demos; guided rapid web application prototyping for improved usability & visual treatments.
  • Developed & tracked a $3.7M capital expenditure budget; projected team involvement, resources, and scope.
  • Presented detailed weekly status reports directly to external and internal clients, reported monthly budget status to upper management, conducted post-mortem meetings, & led weekly team progress meetings.

Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies / Recruiting Officer

AFROTC Det 490, Newark, NJ (5/2005 – 7/2007)

  • Instructed a senior-level class according to university & Air Force policy; 90+% student satisfaction rating.
  • Primary recruiting officer; managed a $5K budget, oversaw website compliance, designed local brochures and promotional items, and extended campus presence, resulting in a 25% increase in recruiting & retention.

Project Manager

552nd Computer Systems Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK (7/2002 – 5/2005)

  • Orchestrated CMMI Level 3 software projects from conception to implementation; directed all activities according to Air Force and DoD standards, providing ground support for critical air weapon systems.
  • Team chief for 10+ enlisted Airmen and civilian employees; conducted performance reviews and worked with senior enlisted troops to manage daily activities.
  • Served as the sole communications liaison officer for all coalition troops at an overseas location. Multi-national network project manager; 2,500+ coalition partners shared classified information easily & securely.

Network Engineer

Air Force Communications Agency, Scott AF, IL (7/2000 – 7/2002)

  • Member of traveling multi-faceted team providing efficiency & security solutions for Air Force networks; made detailed technical and policy recommendations and provided training on changes and upgrades.
  • Team Leader of Network Management group; organized hands-on training sessions and best practices documentation for 11 contractors and military personnel; new team members trained in record time.

Education and Training

  • Master of Science in Professional and Technical Communications (in progress)
    New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, minor in Aerospace Studies
    Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Certifications

Publications

  • Morrissey, Stephen. The Rookie Year: Church Web Strategies Blog Vol. 1. Pittsburgh, PA: CreateSpace, 2012
    View on Amazon

Technical Background / Computer Skills

Familiar with:

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • PHP
  • MySQL

Software/Platforms:

  • Axure RP
  • Figma
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Teams)
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop & Illustrator)