Making video games is an ambitious balance of art, science, and business.
I’ve dedicated my life to that balance and helping others handle it all too.
Speaking
Experience
Refereum Clients
At nine years old, I premiered my first movie to my biggest audience yet: my proud parents. Right when it looked like the bad guy could win, I pressed pause — and asked the audience to choose what would happen next (with two pre-recorded endings up my sleeve). I will never forget their excitement in choosing what would happen. In that moment, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life spreading joy through interactive entertainment.
Since then, I’ve gained experience in all areas of making games. I led a community of independent game creators in crafting award-winning games. I know the science that goes into top-grossing Facebook and mobile games having worked on them as a systems game designer. I’ve marketed all types of games, including the biggest AAA games in the industry.
Now as the CEO of Refereum, we enable game developers to reward and empower fans who play and share their games. I’ve also co-founded Topia, a digital space to connect with friends and make new ones.
Speaking Highlights
Best practices in game analytics
Unite: Boston — preview
How do you concretely derive and action on what’s most important from game data and analytics? Delivered on the main stage of Unity’s biggest annual event, this talk provides a crash course in the power of analytics to increase revenue and make an objectively better game.
How to build game developer communities
Game Developers Conference: San Francisco — preview / watch talk
From my experience founding and running San Francisco’s influential game co-working space Gamenest, this GDC talk shares actionable insights, tips on fostering inclusive communities, and the emotional rollercoasters involved. With a line out the door, this talk inspired a new wave of game co-working locations across the globe.
Building gamer communities
Ubisoft’s Blockchain Game Summit: Paris — watch talk
Established game companies are starting to explore how games can utilize blockchain technology. From my experience running one of the largest blockchain communities for Refereum, this panel provides hard-learned lessons, emerging regulations, and education on this fast-growing technology.
How to succeed in blockchain gaming
Blockchain Gamer: Seattle — watch talk
Through the analogy of the Dorthy’s Yellow Brick Road, I share Refereum’s highly requested tactics and hindsights, and the ups and downs of founding one of the most high-profile gaming and blockchain companies in the industry.
Includes full list of speaking engagements, headshots, bios, and company assets.
Current Work
Topia
Co-Founder
In an age where connection is remote, Topia allows you to create a digital space, customize it, and video chat with others. It’s unique spatial video allows you to naturally join groups of conversations, wander, or make new friends as you discover on your journeys. Think of it as an browser based MMO, but all the content is exploration, new friends, and conversations.
Licensed by communities like Burning Man to unite their community during COVID-19
Made big waves in the press for it’s inclusive style and purpose
Thousands of people and companies have created their own Topia to socialize
Topia has been discussed in publications like:
Refereum
Co-Founder
Refereum enables game developers to reward and empower fans who play and share their games. The platform has millions of users, and works directly with numerous renowned games. Refereum utilizes blockchain technology to conduct payments for micro-influencers all over the globe.
Founded the company and attracted top tech talent for the growing team
Millions of dollars in game marketing revenue
International speaking tour on game influence marketing
Refereum has clients like:
Previous Work
Gamenest
Co-Founder
Gamenest was an influential inclusive game developer co-working space in the heart of San Francisco. It hosted numerous game events such as networking meetups, conference events, game art nights, game jams, and Alternate Reality experiences. Gamenest opened the door for co-working methodologies spread far and wide to create new game co-working spaces all around the world.
Founded and managed a 3,500 foot co-working space in San Francisco for 3 years
Attracted and fostered a community of award-winning game developers
Offered game development and game marketing mentorship
KIXEYE
Game Systems Designer
KIXEYE is the game studio that pioneered the RTS MMO genre that dominates today’s mobile top charts. KIXEYE specializes in a data-first approach to game design and bringing AAA graphics to mobile experiences.
Transitioned one of Facebook’s top-grossing games onto mobile
Balanced an MMO economy and unit power using complex game data
Optimized and lead monetization on games with $30 million USD annual revenue
Unity
Analytics Consultant
Unity is the world's most-used game engine. Their goal is to democratize game development, and they focus on providing data insights to help developers understand and monetize their games better.
Worked directly with game studios to help Unity prioritize features on their roadmap
Curated Unity's global selection of games to present spotlighted use cases
Was a featured blogger and speaker for Unity at numerous events, such as Unite
Bane Games
Game Designer and Marketer
Bane Games is a venture-backed mobile game studio based in Brisbane Australia that has launched multiple titles for PC, Mac, iOS and Android.
Lead game design and UX for the Independent Games Festival award-nominated Battle Group 2
Created marketing and partner plans, and was responsible for marketing content such as a widely distributed trailer
Shepherded the game’s acquisition by NetEase and its subsequent transition into eastern markets
Additional Experience
Created the world’s largest Unity game development meetup, curating speakers and presentations for 200+ developers monthly in San Francisco
Operated the International Game Developers’ Association Colorado chapter meeting between 2009 and- 2013
Supported and grew the audience of Women in Games International events in San Francisco in 2016
Judged numerous years of indie games for IndieCade and the IGF
Established a personal blog on which I share expertise, with numerous articles having been reposted and featured by game development websites such as Gamasutra
Education
University of Denver
DU is a private university founded in 1864 that prides itself on nationally recognized academic programs, its history of widespread influence, and a forward-looking vision for a 21st century education.
Double Bachelor’s degree of Arts in Digital Media and Human Interaction Design with a minor in Marketing, 2013
University achievements
Earned a Cherrington Global Scholar GPA
Established an accredited motion capture program for students
Received Google’s certification in Google’ Analytics
Tutored Myers Learning Games for the Young sessions
