About the Researcher

With three decades of experience spanning theater production, marketing, and academia, my career path reflects adaptability and perseverance across diverse fields. Discovering theater in high school, I studied design and production at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Embarking on my professional career as an IATSE stagehand at Walt Disney World, I then worked on several prestigious Broadway productions, enriching my understanding of live entertainment. My experience as a theatrical stagehand—building sets, welding, lighting, props, etc.—has provided me with related knowledge and experience applicable to offsite construction.

Seeking to expand my skillset, I pursued an MFA at Columbia University. This afforded me the opportunity to manage accounts at Serino Coyne for Tony Award®-winning productions, including “Monty Python’s Spamalot” and “Spring Awakening.” I later moved to Disney Theatrical Productions, supporting marketing for “The Lion King” and “Mary Poppins” on Broadway. At Blue Man Group, I helped launch their new interactive website and spearheaded social media marketing for all North American productions. These diverse experiences prepared me for a move to London to open the West End production of Disney’s “Aladdin.”

Major world events have impacted and shaped the arc of my career, necessitating adaptation and reflection to plan ahead. The September 11th attacks, the 2008 recession, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic all affected my professional path, influencing my various career changes. These personal transitions made me realize others may face similar challenges in adapting to an evolving economy. This led me to pursue a PhD at University College London (UCL), focusing my research on the future of work and career transitions. 

My research now centers on the skills gap in offsite construction, an area rapidly evolving due to digitalization and industrialization. My primary focus is to identify necessary competencies for tradespeople as the industry shifts towards modern methods of construction (MMC). This work is vital for equipping workers with training tailored to future occupations potentially impacted by artificial intelligence and automation.