Who I Am
From full-stack development to cybersecurity - a journey of growth, resilience, and passion for technology.
Where It Started
I didn't start in tech—I discovered it. Working in financial services on digital marketing campaigns, I became more interested in how the technology worked than the campaigns themselves. I earned a Webmaster certification and made the jump.
The League of Historic American Theatres gave me my first real technical home. For six years, I was their one-person IT department—managing websites, databases, email systems, mobile apps, vendor relationships, and training. If something broke, I fixed it. If something needed to be built, I figured out how.
After earning a full-stack web development certification from the University of Arizona, my husband and I co-founded GeeCubed—a technical services company where I lead all IT operations. These experiences taught me that technology isn't just about code—it's about understanding people, processes, and how to make complex systems work for everyone.
The Pivot to Cybersecurity
Security had always been in the background of my work—a checkbox, a best practice. But when I became Director of IT at Wallace MacDonald, a green energy startup, it moved to the foreground. Managing infrastructure and protecting proprietary technology, I realized that security wasn't just part of the job—it was the job.
That insight led me to pursue a B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at Western Governors University. In 2026, I earned my CompTIA A+ certification, and I'm currently working toward Network+ and Security+.
The pivot from development and IT operations to cybersecurity felt natural—it's the evolution of my technical journey, combining my understanding of systems with a focus on protecting them.
What Drives Me
Photo by ABHIJEET SINGH from Pexels
My journey hasn't been conventional. In 2024, I made a strategic decision to step back from full-time work and invest in my education. The following year brought challenges I didn't anticipate—health issues that could have stopped me. They didn't. Instead, they reinforced what I've always known: meaningful work requires persistence, especially when the path gets hard.
I learned resilience, patience, and the value of long-term commitment. I learned that setbacks are part of any worthwhile journey.
I'm driven by the challenge of mastering complex systems, the satisfaction of solving difficult problems, and the responsibility of protecting the digital infrastructure that organizations depend on. Cybersecurity isn't just my career path—it's my commitment to making technology safer for everyone.
Beyond the Code
When I'm not diving into networks, studying for certifications, or configuring systems, you'll find me immersed in creative worlds. I'm an avid consumer of anime and manga, a dedicated gamer, and a cosplayer. That's me as the Lone Wanderer from Fallout—I have standards for my work, even when it's play.
I'm also a writer working on a book series, because storytelling - whether through code, security architecture, or fiction - is fundamentally about creating something meaningful that others can experience.
These interests aren't separate from my professional life - they inform it. Gaming teaches strategy and systems thinking. Writing requires attention to detail and logical structure. And cosplay? That's project management, problem-solving, and creative execution all in one.
I'm an introverted extrovert - comfortable presenting and communicating, but energized by deep focus work. That balance serves me well in cybersecurity, where you need both technical expertise and the ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Let's Connect
Interested in working together or just want to talk tech, gaming, or cybersecurity?