Who I Am

I was born and raised in the small town of Trenton, Florida, where our one red light emphasized the remoteness of being. As a farming town bound by its Southern roots, there was not more to my life than daydreaming of the great beyond. But my parents raised me to hold fruitful aspirations - to make more of my life than what this place produces of its people. My father is a humble man, who built his career from the ground up, thriving in the agriculture industry. My mother, an ultrasound tech turned stay-at-home mom when the bustling lives of her two children grew harder and harder to bear. I spent my childhood yearning to feel a part of something. I partook in every sport from horseback riding to tennis to swimming to volleyball and everything in between. Yet nothing I did filled the gaping hole in my life. Not until I discovered music. Although I picked up my pale pink acoustic guitar for the first time at 8 years old, it wasn’t until I hit those pre-teen years that I finally understood the depth of a song. It was that time when I stopped simply hearing a song but instead listening. Reading between every single line, visualizing every breath and word spoken. When I began to listen I began to find a home, a shelter, a place to escape the isolation of my youth. As I trucked on through school, I thrived on paper. Starting dual enrollment my Freshman year of high school was a life-changing experience, and by the time I reached my Senior year of high school I was fully considered a “college student”, having completed the last of my core high school classes in my Junior year. I finished high school having already completed my A.A.degree, graduating 3rd in my class, but with nothing to look forward to beside my eminent gap year. My parents had convinced me to postpone my Bachelor’s degree while I decided just what I wanted to do with my life. It took me two full years to understand my path and the ways in which music could shape it. In a town that throws out nothing but nurses and farmers, it was unfathomable to me that I could make music my career, my life. Finding my future at the University of Florida turned my world upside down. I met likeminded people who foresaw the same vision as I did. I learned that music was more than an industry, it was an entire community, built of single individuals that wanted nothing more than to deliver art to the world. That is why I am here today - to bring music to the masses. I’ve lived a life both on and off the stage, studying, learning and surrounding myself with those that have molded the way I view the industry. I’ve grown more passionate with each day, with every triumph and failure. Building a career in the music industry is not a want for me. This is something I need to do. It is my purpose in the world and my ultimate source of fulfillment. To awaken each day, devoting my life to creating and delivering music, to helping artists pour their hearts out, to forming memorable experiences for others - this is who I am meant to be.

Education & Work Experience

  • University of Florida - Class of 2026

    Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management - Specialization in Event Management

    Minor in Mass Communications

    Certification in Entrepreneurship in THEM

    Certification in Artificial Intelligence & Data Analysis in THEM

  • Marketing & Events Assistant, Photographer, Site Management | January 2025 - Present

    • Managing implementation of facility events into website calendar (i.e. concerts, restaurant events, bookstore signings.), boosting calendar traffic and engagement by 50%.

    • Handling tasks for Marketing and Events Coordinator including creation of event graphics, collection of vendor fees and generating awareness of community-based events to local news pages and websites.

    • Working on-site at events, completing set-up and breakdown, being point-of-contact for outsourced vendors, managing f&b and merchandise retail.

    • Conducting photography for South Main Station’s two Instagram handles of site-wide events, construction progress, and overall support of SMS’s curated aesthetic.

  • Producer, Site Manager | June 2024 - Present

    Producer

    • Producing weekly events named "Community Nights" that aim to build bonds among local creatives. Delegated overall decision making for event; created graphics used for marketing; curating weekly skillshare itineraries; worked on-sight at each event

    • Produced "Songs From the Heart" Showcase: a lineup of 10 artists playing original music that is recorded, mixed and videoed; Created graphics for marketing; Coordinated with musicians and production staff; Assisted on day-of-show setup, breakdown and management

    • Edit show footage using Davinci Resolve Media and deliver to 20+ artists.

    • Creating and implementing in-app systems to further staff communication and bring awareness to important tasks to be resolved, which has increased productivity by 25%.

    • Assisted in proposal writing to secure a $4,000 grant from the City of Gainesville to produce a 3-month community-centered concert series, “Live on the Lawn”

    • Producing “Live on the Lawn”, a free, community-based concert series to occur over a 3-month period. Collaborating with events such as Tom Petty Weekend and FEST to co-produce the series, as well as book talent and generate awareness; Inviting local non-profits and UF music/media-related clubs to table at shows; Managing the facilitation of grant and approved budget.

    Site Manager

    • Directing and delegating overall site procedures for live events with over 50+ attendees while managing on-site staff, facilitating point-of-purchase as well as monetary distribution and collection.

    • Overseeing crowd safety through site monitoring and directed signage, fielding attendee questions and concerns and attempting to accommodate in any way possible to ensure a top-tier customer experience.

    • Manage venue layout of stage, seating, A/V equipment and vendor areas.

    • Point-of-contact for artists on day-of-show, managing hospitality, merchandise and settling with artists.

    Internship

    • Producing weekly events named "Community Nights" that aim to build bonds among local creatives. Delegated overall decision making for event; created graphics used for marketing; curating weekly skillshare itineraries; worked on-sight at each event

    • Assistant to the General Manager: Organizing emails; Attending weekly meetings; Completing various tasks assigned

  • SWAMP Records | University of Florida Club (August 2024 - Present)

    • Student-led Artist Resource Agency that assists in booking, promoting and producing live shows for local & regional musicians.

    • Worked with several teammates to provide resources for local band, MADWOMAN, including producing shows and social media content, merchandise design, graphics and various tasks for artists.

    Anthem Community Church | Contract Musician (March 2022 - June 2024)

    • Planned and organized long-term contracts among an ever-changing environment

    • Coordinate with staff and bandmates to organize daily operations, while also maintaining friendly relations with attendees

    • Utilize personal assessment and development outside operational hours, which has led to a 50% improvement of skills

    • Learn new music, rehearse, and execute weekly performances in a timely manner

    Nutrition Nook of Trenton | Barista (October 2021 - July 2023)

    • Communicated with customers and collaborated with a team of employees. Managed training of new employees, as well as implementation of new products. Improved efficiency among employees by 35% during peak rush hours by reviewing performance and providing effective feedback.

    • Operating point of sale systems and cash handling for over 80% of client base, ensuring satisfaction by listening intently and meeting customer needs

Miscellaneous

Clubs | Organizations

  • SWAMP Records

  • SKAL International - UF Chapter

  • Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society

  • Fan to Band

  • Women in Music

  • Grammy U

  • D.A.M.N (Developing Artists Management Network)

Technical Certifications

  • CHIA (Certificate in Hotel Industry Analytics)

  • Hootsuite

  • Certificate in A.I. & Data Analytics in THEM (UF)

  • Certificate in Entrepreneurship in THEM (UF)

  • Microsoft Office - Powerpoint, Excel, Word

  • Adobe Photoshop

Awards

  • Dean’s List | University of Florida & Florida Gateway College

  • Bright Futures Scholarship Recipient

  • Dr. Rachel J. Fu Endowed Scholarship Recipient

  • Florida Talented Twenty

Involvement

UF’s THEM Department

World Tourism Day Event Coordinator

  • Met with students to promote and provide information about UF’s Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management degree

  • Collaborated with classmates to delegate the division of duties while exhibiting a welcoming environment to encourage visitation to the booth

THEM Ambassador | THEM Open House

  • Supported THEM Dept. Chair (Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu) in outreach and in welcoming 15+ prospective students

Skills

  • Microsoft Office

  • Google Suite - Slides, Sheets, Docs, Calendar

  • Website Development

  • DaVinci Resolve

  • Photography

  • Musician - Guitar, Bass, Piano

  • Customer Service

  • Event Management & Production

  • Canva

  • Social Media Management

  • Music History Buff

What Makes My Life Worth Living…

In case you didn’t guess, I’m more than just my work! Although I’ve turned my passion for music into a career, much of my life outside of work still revolves around its implementation in my life. I’ve been playing guitar for over 14 years now, bass for 7+ years and piano for around 5. Life is hectic, but I do my absolute best to pick up an instrument for at least 15 minutes every day. At its very basic, playing music has been my outlet for anxiety and depression - it’s a natural medicine! I’ve got a constant itch to produce art, whether that’s through songwriting, drawing, graphic design, writing or film photography. I may not be great at any, but I sure do enjoy every second I spend partaking in them. If I’m not playing music myself, I’m spending time listening to my 100+ vinyl collection, each record carefully curated and undoubtedly loved. And if I’m not at home listening to music, I’m 100% watching it live. I’ve spent every extra penny on concerts and shows. I’ve seen everyone from the Red Hot Chili Peppers (my favorite band ever) to Paramore to Guns n’ Roses to Sunny Day Real Estate, and so, so many more. Live music is exactly why I’m an Event Management major for crying out loud! When I finally take a step back from music and art creation, I will find myself reading book after book after book (I even read the dictionary every single morning - gotta boost that vocabulary). I love to stay moving and have begun to indulge in hiking as the best form of exercise for my body. Florida is not exactly the ideal location for this - lack of trails, hot & humid weather, and a nasty amount of mosquitoes - but nonetheless, I pull on my hiking boots any chance I get. My best source of entertainment, though, truly comes from my family. Although we are small (two grandparents, my parents, my brother and I), we have traveled the world far and wide and spent every significant moment together. From exploring my grandfather’s hometown of Frankfurt, Germany to roadtripping across Canada to camping the mountains of North Georgia, we never find ourselves bored. It’s a short life we live, riddled with uncertainty and fear, but also beauty and wonder every step of the way. It’s my truest desire to enjoy all I can, while I can. These are the things that make life worth living.