What do you do for the Visitors Center?
As a graphic designer I plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communication problems. It's my job to make sure all materials produced by the OVC communicates the information clearly to the audience. I do this through layout, color, type, illustration, photography, and animation. I also evaluate the different marketing opportunities presented to the center and offer my advice to the Executive Director and Board of Directors. Maintaining and updating the web-site and supervise the social media presence is another part of my duties. Above all represent the city of Ottawa and the Visitors Center to the best of my ability.
What brought you to the Ottawa area originally? How long have you lived here?
I live on a farm outside of Ottawa in the small community of Grand Ridge. It's been in my family for over 100yrs! Living here my whole life I've come to know the area, communities, and the people quite well and wouldn't trade it for anything.
What is your favorite thing about our community?
Every time I'm in Ottawa I find myself looking at the architecture and the details in each building, some of which are adorn with incredible murals. As an artist I can appreciate them on another level. I also love the vast history here and all the little stories of the past. Being a Lincoln fan it's remarkable knowing I'm just a few feet from where he debated Douglas for the first time!
What famous OTTAWA person would you like to meet?
I would like to meet The Founding Fathers of Ottawa. To hear the vision they had for laying out this town would be interesting. I'd like to know what their expectations, structure, and thought process was and how it developed or didn't the way they wanted. Knowing how a town got its start from the mouths of the ones who made it happen would be fascinating.
What do you enjoy most about working at the Visitors Center?
I enjoy having the opportunity to combine my passion of design and history together as my job here at the Visitors Center. So few people can say that. I also enjoy the people I work with and the next tourist coming through the door..
