How long have you worked for Brightspot? What brought you here?
I’ve worked for Brightspot for about three years now, and the path here was honestly a pretty natural one. I worked for one of Brightspot’s customers, NBC Sports and Golf Channel, so I came in with a solid foundation in the CMS already under my belt.
What really excited me about making the jump was the opportunity to work across a much wider range of clients and industries. At NBC Sports and Golf Channel, everything was sports-related — which, don’t get me wrong, is amazing — but I was genuinely curious to see how different industries approach their implementations and what that looks like in practice. It’s been a fun ride.
Can you tell me more about your role as Senior Manager, Product Delivery? What is a typical day like for you?
If you looked at my calendar, you might think my job title is Senior Manager of Meetings — and you wouldn’t be wrong. On a typical day, it’s a lot of back-to-back meetings: reviewing backlogs with customers, discussing road maps, getting into the technical weeds with my engineers, strategizing with other departmental leads on process improvements — the list goes on. When I do surface for air between meetings, I’m heads down on the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything moving: writing up Jira tickets, drafting documentation and unblocking people in whatever way I can. It’s a lot of prepping the field so others can run the plays and reach the finish line.
What inspired you to become a product manager?
Honestly, “inspired” isn’t quite the right word — it felt more like a natural evolution. I’ve always had a comfortable relationship with technology and been endlessly fascinated by how people interact with digital products and why. At some point I looked up and realized that curiosity had quietly steered me into product management.
During your time at Brightspot, you’ve played an important role on teams supporting the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. Live events are a unique, high-stakes environment. Do you have a special memory or rewarding moment from those projects?
Where do I even start? My very first year, I watched Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka walk down 18 for their final putt the year Phil won — from a hospitality tent with a perfect view. The crowd completely lost it, broke through the barriers and stormed the hole. Watching it from above felt almost cinematic, and that’s not something you easily forget. Then there was the Ryder Cup in Rome: aperitivos, pasta, drinks with Justin Rose and Keegan Bradley, a smile and wave from Tiger Woods, and somehow a conversation with Michael Jordan. Not a bad work perk.
But beyond the experiences and the people, what really sticks with me is the pressure. There’s no “we’ll try again next week.” Everything is live, and you only get one shot — or in the case of the Ryder Cup, one shot every two years. That sharpens your focus in a way nothing else does. It’s nerve-wracking and exhilarating, and honestly, that pressure is exactly what makes getting it right so satisfying.
For the past few years, you’ve managed the Brightspot upgrade program, ensuring all customers are on the latest version of the CMS. What have you learned from leading this effort?
Leading this program has changed how I approach a lot of things, which I honestly didn’t expect going in.
The biggest lesson has been learning to balance speed with thoroughness. There’s always pressure to move fast and get customers onto the latest version quickly — but rushing means you risk missing something important. And being too thorough means the process drags on, and nobody’s happy with that either. Finding that balance, and knowing when to lean which way depending on the situation, is something I’m constantly refining. The upgrade program has definitely accelerated that.
If you could pick another role to try at Brightspot for one week, what would it be and why?
I’d shadow Ian Paterson (Senior DevOps Engineer) in DevOps. There’s something about that role that feels like the truest form of what’s happening behind the scenes, and it genuinely blows my mind. I’d probably spend the entire week asking Ian “how does that work?” I’m sure I’d drive him absolutely crazy — but I think it would be so much fun.
Besides the people, what is your favorite part about working at Brightspot?
The sheer diversity of industries we support. It’s a constant reminder of how powerful and flexible the platform is and how it can be tailored to virtually any industry or use case. Seeing how different industries approach the same problems in different ways never gets old.
What are your favorite activities or hobbies outside of the office?
I like to think I’m happiest when I’m outside. There’s something about being in nature that completely resets my brain in a way nothing else does. I love traveling — seeing new places, experiencing different parts of the world, soaking in environments that are completely different from my own. I also love taking care of plants. I’m a big cactus person, but the past couple of years I’ve been growing my own vegetables and starting to dabble in fruits too. There’s nothing quite like eating something you grew yourself.
We’re headed to your favorite restaurant. What are the three courses we’re ordering, and what makes it the perfect meal?
I’m in the middle of a move, so my restaurant loyalty is currently in transition — but I’ll go with one from Orlando, where I lived for a while: Pizza Bruno. Obviously, we’re starting with the garlic knots. I need you to understand these are not normal garlic knots. Crisp on the outside, light and airy on the inside, smothered with minced garlic, Parmesan and herbs. My mouth waters just thinking about them. Second course: their kale salad. It’s super thinly sliced, incredibly tender, with a dressing that somehow makes kale exciting. Then the pizza to finish — they have so many and you genuinely can’t go wrong. It’s South Jersey-style, wood-fired, and they do seasonal pies so there’s always something new alongside the classics. It’s the kind of spot where you settle in and lose track of time. Good food, good conversation, good environment — that’s what makes it perfect.
What’s your favorite place to visit in your free time?
Anywhere my family and friends are, honestly. The location is just a backdrop — it’s the people that make it matter.
