With over 15 years experience in user research, I continue to deliver insights to help teams focus their product development on what matters most to the user. By involving stakeholders in the process, I am able to best tailor a research approach, whether using a single methodology or mixing methods, to best answer stakeholder research questions and deliver results that reveal opportunities in the problem-space.
Amazon.com | 11.2015 – Present
Sole Researcher responsible for conducting in-person and remote generative and evaluative research to support all stages of new product development
Developed and managed research roadmap
Collaborated with cross-functional team members to define research needs
Designed, executed, analyzed and reported on qualitative and quantitative research utilizing various methods, including field studies, IDIs, diary studies, focus groups, online surveys, and usability testing
Developed user stories and personas to define product requirements for product with hard and soft interfaces
Regularly communicated plans and findings with organization Vice President
Amazon.com | 02.2012 – 11.2015
Conducted research sponsored by product team leadership to inform strategic planning
Collaborated with internal and partner cross functional teams to define research goals to support all stages of development
Designed, executed, analyzed and reported on domestic and international qualitative research
Communicated relevant research findings to external, non-stakeholder teams
Drove cross-team product development brainstorm sessions
Regularly communicated research plans and findings to product team Vice President and his direct reports to inform strategic direction and tune research plans
Trained international teams on self service research tools
Defined product team research roadmap
Tektronix Inc. | 02.2006 – 02.2012
Designed, executed, analyzed and reported on domestic and international user research to support strategic planning and all stages of product development
Practiced qualitative and quantitative research methods
Responsible for planning and managing product line research budget
Developed hard and soft interfaces using contextual design process
Developed product line design policies and guidelines
Usability Architects, Inc. | 03.2004 – 02.2006
Defined high tech product features and functions
Worked with product teams to evaluate new product requirements
Designed, executed, analyzed and reported on user research
Designed user interfaces for test and measurement equipment
Developed and maintained product line user interface guidelines
Worked with team to design and implement product line interface designs
Siemens Building Technologies | 08.2001 – 03.2004
Accomplished planned sales goals by targeting, growing and developing accounts
Identified and related best total solutions for customers through a consultative approach
Acquired technical expertise in HVAC and fire and life safety realms
Tektronix, Inc. | 02.2000 – 06.2001
Defined product features and functions from user research
Designed user interfaces for WinCE products
Developed Visual Basic prototypes
Designed, executed, analyzed and reported on usability tests
Wrote and maintained interface specifications
Managed customer relationships
Tektronix, Inc. | 06.1996 – 02.2000
Manufacturing Team Leader on new product introductions
Project leader to redesign and implement new web-based manufacturing work instruction system
Sustaining Engineer for product line
Designed and implemented production lines
Montana State University | 1996
Concentration on human factors, manufacturing and quality engineering
Montana State University | 1993
Concentration on statistics, simulation, and operations research
Cooper U, Nielsen Norman Group
UPA (Usability Professionals’ Association)
CHIFOO (Computer Human Interaction Forum of Oregon)
MRA (Marketing Research Association)