I'll always be a designer
I guess I'm first and foremost a designer—I always have been, and always will be. I enjoy being creative and am thankful everyday that I get to do what I do. As I've continued to grow into higher-level management roles throughout my career, I find that bringing out that creativity in others is just as rewarding.
I've actually spent my entire career with two companies. The first was an outdoor products company called High Sierra. A small family-owned business that manufactured bags and outerwear, High Sierra gave me the opportunity to develop my talents as a designer and grow right along with the company itself. I worked under a terrific boss that showed me the ropes and gave me the design ideals I still hold today. My second stop was a men's accessories company called Randa. This was my introduction to big national brands, multiple product categories, overseas travel, and the incredibly demanding world of retail. I was brought in to lead a packaging team and we ended up creating a department that functioned as so much more.
Looking ahead to my next design challenge, I am sure I'll be working with some great new products, a new team to collaborate with, some additional paperwork and maybe some travel. But one thing I know for sure…I'll be a designer.