’d been in a six-year relationship with Selena—most of it long-distance—and I knew she was who I wanted to build a life with. I was comfortable in my job in Wilmington and quietly hoped she might move there. Instead, my work shifted and suddenly I was commuting to Dover five days a week. That was the moment I realized: if I was going to uproot my life, it needed to be for the right reasons.
So I sent out resumes. I took screening calls. One of them was with The Motley Fool. I’m pretty sure I advanced past the phone screen by reading the room and taking a risk—admitting I really didn’t enjoy working in .NET. Apparently, that honesty landed.
Then… nothing. For weeks.
Long enough that I accepted (and then rescinded) one offer, accepted another, and nearly started down a very different career path in DC. That alternate timeline would have been exciting—and stressful in ways I’m not sure suited me.
Before that path could begin, it stalled. My start date got pushed back, and I decided not to wait around. Because that’s when The Motley Fool finally circled back.
I was thrilled. I’d admired the company for years, believed in what it stood for, and the interview felt like a perfect fit. I got the offer within a day. I started in 2006—and what I expected to be a chapter became a 20-year journey.
Over that time, I worked primarily in Design, helping shape regulated businesses, premium services, investing tools, and scorecards, along with video graphics, conference booths, and brand systems. I had a hand in everything from the corporate logo and brand kit to tee-shirts, candles, and even the giant sign atop the office.
Along the way, I broadened my skill set—becoming a capable developer, a coach, a community leader, and eventually a manager and director. One of the most meaningful chapters was hiring and leading a team of ten exceptional designers and watching the value of design reach a real high point.
And somehow, two decades in, the most energizing chapter is the current one. Post-sabbatical, I shifted to a small, fast-moving marketing team working on a rapidly growing part of the business. The work is impactful, the people are outstanding, and it’s genuinely fun.
Here’s a short video of just some of the things I’ve built along the way. I wanted to include shout-outs to everyone who helped me on this journey, but the list quickly grew longer than this post. I’ll save the full acknowledgements for the autobiography. For now, I hope you know who you are, what you mean to me—and that I wouldn’t be here without you.
Disclosure: This is a personal post about my design journey and creative work. Any references in the writing or images are design artifacts only and are not investment advice, marketing, or recommendations for any stock, ETF, or financial product. This is just me, sharing my own experience. All views expressed are my own and do not represent The Motley Fool.