Experienced Senior Product Design Executive with 15+ years leading global design initiatives and driving transformative business outcomes. Proven expertise in scaling high-performing teams, delivering omni-channel and AI-driven product strategies, and fostering a culture of innovation. Passionate about creating inclusive, human-centric experiences that drive engagement, elevate brand presence, and generate significant revenue growth. Skilled in aligning cross-functional teams with business objectives to deliver purpose-driven solutions across diverse industries, including FinTech, eCommerce, and real estate.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in product design, I’ve led transformative initiatives across multiple industries. While not all my experience is reflected here, additional details are available upon request to provide a fuller picture of my impact and scope.

• Expanded the design team from 8 to 60+, driving omni-channel experiences for SMB, Partner, and Enterprise users across PayPal’s Merchant Platform, Native App, Checkout, Growth & Activation, Reporting, and Developer Portal.
• Championed omni-channel strategies across multiple business units, driving design transformation and delivering measurable growth across SMB, Partner, and Enterprise verticals.
• Transformed onboarding and lifecycle experiences from a series of wizards to a unified platform experience, integrating digital and in-store design elements.
• Implemented new information architecture, navigation systems, and a hubs-based framework to enhance scalability, wayfinding, and user-centric design.
• Revitalized step-up guides, setting high standards for design excellence and advancing design culture with clear expectations and growth strategies for designers.
• Achieved a 74% increase in account creation, 33% boost in activations, 3.7% rise in net-new-active users, and generated $53M+ in incremental revenue through innovative design solutions.

• Led the strategy and migration of the SMB experience to the PayPal Commerce Platform, focusing on integrated services and omni-channel design.
• Launched PayPal’s app store and machine learning-based recommendation engine, driving innovation and enhancing user experiences.
• Fostered a culture of experimentation, encouraging designers to push boundaries and learn from both successes and failures.
• Increased product usage from 1 to 5+ integrated solutions, improved homepage engagement by 93%, boosted activation by 36%, reduced development costs by 80%, and drove $35M in incremental revenue.

• Managed design for Payroll, Payments, and Capital, growing the team from 3 to 46, and enhancing omni-channel and human-centric design practices.
• Refined payments with a focus on “right-for-me” relationships, emphasizing trust and user experience over traditional invoice processes.
• Contributed to a monthly charge volume of $1B and a 35% increase in active merchants through innovative and user-centric design solutions.

• Redesigned payroll experiences from web-based tables to card-based native interfaces, significantly improving user engagement.
• Resulted in 88K new SMBs and generated $1.27M in quarterly revenue by enhancing user experience and driving business growth.

• Directed multi-platform strategies and execution, leading to a $1B acquisition by News Corp, showcasing leadership in integrated services and enterprise design.
• Elevated UX maturity from “Invested” to “Committed,” expanding the design team from 6 to 20 and driving innovation across multiple channels.
• Enhanced user metrics: 42.28% increase in unique users, 62.19% rise in page views, 7.57% growth in time-on-site, 114% increase in leads per visit, and 13.40% decrease in bounce rate through effective omni-channel design strategies.
• Standardized design processes, methods, and system libraries, improving consistency and reducing development time.

• Led user interaction and data visualization strategy, ensuring designs met usability objectives, user requirements, and monetization goals, while promoting human-centric and purpose-driven design.

• BS, Mechanical Engineering
• Minor, Mechanical Drafting and Computer Aided Design

I’m honored to have partnered with exceptional teams and cross-functional leaders to drive success in our projects. The testimonials nested within my career experience reflect the mutual trust, collaboration, and shared achievements that have defined my journey in design leadership.

Early life found me born in Iowa and raised on a small pig farm in Rensselaer, Indiana, where life lessons came early. Surrounded by endless chores and the unpredictable nature of farm life, I quickly learned the value of hard work, resourcefulness, and creativity—because when something breaks in the middle of nowhere, you learn to fix it yourself. My early dreams of becoming an English teacher and penning the next great novel were fueled by a love for storytelling. But after churning out enough questionable poetry to wallpaper a barn, I had to face facts: my writing was, well, let’s just say “an acquired taste.”

Guidance from my high school counselor was a turning point. Knowing I’d need to put myself through school, he suggested I consider a career path that could, you know, actually pay back my loans. Enter Mechanical Engineering—practical, structured, and full of opportunity. And, not being a huge fan of math, it was probably for the best that I didn’t fully connect “engineering” with “math” at the time. But as it turns out, I loved the blend of logic and creativity. Engineering gave me a strong foundation in problem-solving and process, but it didn’t take long to realize that what really fascinated me wasn’t just how things worked, but how people interacted with them. That’s when I found my true calling: design.

I started my career as a mechanical draftsman, designing parts for night vision goggles and submarine towed arrays. One day, I was asked if I’d like to learn to code and become a developer. Sure, why not? I was decent at coding but even better at designing experiences—foreshadowing my future in product design. My journey took me to American Express, where I led front-end development and design teams, introducing design into the organization. But I had made a promise to my wife when I proposed that we’d move to Hollywood so she could pursue her acting career—so, one day, we did.

I built a small agency, threePop, bringing design and front-end teams into companies that lacked them, working with clients like iManage (later acquired by Interwoven). Craving stability, I transitioned to Ameriquest Mortgage, where I learned the intricacies of two-sided networks and enterprise systems—experience that caught the eye of Move, who runs Realtor.com and a variety of other sites.

At Move, aka Realtor.com, I was brought on to transform how the company approached design. When I started, the design team consisted of just 4 people, and design was seen as something that made things look good rather than as a strategic tool for innovation. Over time, I grew the team to 28 talented designers and researchers, embedding design into the company’s DNA. This shift fundamentally changed how Realtor.com developed products and engaged with users. By raising the bar on craft and strategy, we not only improved customer satisfaction but also increased the company’s value—culminating in Realtor.com’s $1 billion acquisition.

Then came Intuit, where I took on the challenge of disrupting the payments and payroll space. At the time, the design team consisted of just 3 people, but I saw the potential for much more. Over the next few years, I grew the team to 46 designers, scaling our efforts and targeting customer-focused solutions. This work contributed to significant business growth, driving $1B in monthly charge volume. Through innovative design strategies, we made complex financial tools accessible, user-friendly, and impactful for small businesses.

At PayPal, I took the helm of a pivotal project: transforming the global Merchant Platform. My mission was clear—scale the platform to new heights, focus fiercely on user-centric design, and align every facet of customer interaction with our broader business objectives. This wasn’t just a redesign; it was a complete re-envisioning of how the platform operates and serves businesses from the ground up.

The impact? We saw a 33% surge in activations and sparked over $53 million in incremental revenue. But the numbers only tell part of the story. By reimagining the platform’s experience, I crafted a space where businesses of all sizes could thrive. Whether a small startup or a sprawling enterprise, merchants found a newfound ease in engaging and transacting, propelled by a platform that anticipated and adapted to their diverse needs.

This transformation didn’t just tweak the existing framework—it revolutionized how PayPal supports and interacts with its global merchants, establishing a new standard for how technology can enhance commercial interactions in the digital age.

When I dove into the redesign of the Merchant Platform at PayPal, I wasn’t just tweaking a few features—I was setting the stage for a revolution in how merchants onboard and interact with our systems. My goal? To create a gateway so seamless that new merchants could integrate with ease and speed, transforming their first encounter with PayPal into a launching pad for success.

The heart of this transformation was a radically simplified onboarding process. We stripped away the complexities that had bogged down our new merchants, paving a path that was clear and intuitive. This wasn’t just about cutting down setup times—though we dramatically did—it was about crafting that first impression to be as engaging as possible, setting the tone for all future interactions.

But why stop at onboarding? We pushed the envelope further by rolling out AI-powered recommendations across the platform. Imagine a system intelligent enough to not just respond to merchant needs but anticipate them, offering personalized insights that catalyze business growth. This was no longer just a platform; it became a proactive partner in each merchant’s journey.

These initiatives transformed the Merchant Platform from a tool into an experience, reinforcing PayPal’s role as a pioneer in seamless financial solutions. Through this blend of technology and thoughtful design, we didn’t just keep up with the demands of global commerce—we stayed ahead, shaping its future.

Beyond my design career, family and adventure are at the heart of my life. My wife, Michelle, runs the blog Staying Blonde (stayingblonde.com), which has us constantly exploring new places—and where I moonlight as an editor, writer, designer, and part-time engineer. Together with our two amazing kids, William (16) and Audrey (13), we’ve embarked on countless journeys. Before the kids were born, Michelle and I backpacked through Vietnam and Mexico, and now we continue to share our adventures with them in tow.

This year, we explored Greece and Ireland, while last year took us to Italy. We’ve road-tripped across the U.S. for six weeks, ventured through Costa Rica, and, of course, made regular stops at Disneyland—because who doesn’t love a little magic? Michelle, William and Audrey keep me humble, but they’re also the best travel companions I could ask for, always ready for the next adventure.

Today, I’m a curious, strategic design leader who provokes what’s possible, elevates  craft, and builds empowered, inclusive teams. When I’m not shaping the future of design, you’ll find me mentoring, traveling, or dreaming up our next family adventure.

For the next stop in my journey I’m looking for a leadership role where I can leverage my experience in scaling design teams, driving innovation, and building impactful, user-centric solutions. Whether focused on consumer or merchant experiences, I’m most excited by the challenge of solving complex problems and guiding the team to grow through those challenges. I’m drawn to a team with a strong vision where design is viewed as a strategic asset aligned with the company’s goals. I thrive in environments that foster talent, innovation, and inclusivity. My ideal role would allow me to grow as a leader, shape the design function, and contribute to a meaningful mission. Good stuff.

As for the future? I imagine I’ll lose a bit more hair, sport a well-loved cardigan, and maybe even embrace socks with sandals. I’ll catch up on all the books and video games I’ve missed, and if the stars align, the D&D campaign I’ve run for 5 years will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. I’ll still be designing and coding—because creating things just for the joy of it never gets old. And, yes, I’ll probably still be writing bad poetry.

But today is not that day. Instead, let’s create something amazing together, shall we?