Portfolio
Through my classes in CEP, as well as through my work and internships, I have created quite a few professional documents that I feel represent my abilities and education. Below I have included the items that I feel best represent my abilities as a planner and marketer, with a short description of the context of the work.
University of Washington Planning Portfolio
CEP 302: Environmental Response
This class looked at environmental problems within Washington State, and what the next 100 years will do the mitigate or exacerbate that problem. We were assigned water availability in relation to hydroelectric power production as a reliable and sustainable process. We created 4 products: a statement of concern, a 21 page research paper, a brochure to disseminate this information to the public, and a presentation to be given to the class.
adapting_washington_research_paper.docx | |
File Size: | 1894 kb |
File Type: | docx |
hydropower_production_on_the_columbia_river_2-front.jpg | |
File Size: | 459 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
hydropower_production_on_the_columbia_river_2.jpg | |
File Size: | 463 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
presentation_hydro.pdf | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
File Type: |
hydroelectricity_paper.docx | |
File Size: | 540 kb |
File Type: | docx |
CEP 303: Social Structures & Processes
In this class, students worked for the Pierre Family on the initial design steps to redevelop their 750 acres of land in Lake City. The Pierre Family has owned property (the majority of Lake City) and lived in the Lake City neighborhood for more than 50 years. With gas prices rising, and a move towards internet based car sales, the Pierre Family has decided to relocate their car sales and repair business to Lynnwood, and to redevelop the property that they own in Lake City. The family decided that they wanted the direct input of the community, and did not want to use the more traditional planning methods, in which planners come in and tell the community what would be beneficial for the community. As such, the Pierre Family hired CEP 303 students to provide a series of redevelopment guidelines for use in their redevelopment process. We learned surveying, observation, and community meeting facilitation skills in developing our final product, a report entitled: Unifying Lake City: Developing a Cohesive Neighborhood. I learned Lynchian Mapping techniques, Mental Mapping techniques, White's Observation styles, Interviewing techniques, Surveying techniques, and how to design and facilitate a community meeting. The following report was the conclusion of our final report, written in conjunction with 3 other students. At the end of the quarter we were given the opportunity to present our research to the community at a community meeting; the power point we created for that presentation is also posted below.
conclusionsgroup-cep303.docx | |
File Size: | 616 kb |
File Type: | docx |
lake_city_final_report-conclusions-mueller_brophy_hiffman_hamburg.pptx | |
File Size: | 1593 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
L Arch 362: Urban Landscapes - DIY Urbanism
This class focused on how the people within a city or place can redefine the intended use of space to create social structures for the benefit of the city. We explored examples from around the world, and then end by creating a memo reporting on a case of DIY Urbanism here in Seattle. I wrote mine on Nickelsville, a homeless run encampment meant to provide security and stability to the many homeless that are trying to work towards a better life.
mueller_casestudy_nickelsville.pdf | |
File Size: | 309 kb |
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Organizing Orientation: CEP Structure
Every Fall we have to figure out how to explain our program to the incoming Junior class. Our program has a fairly complex structure, as we have only one staff member, and most of our infrastructure is student run. The summer between my Junior and Senior years, I organized Orientation for the incoming Junior class with the help of two fellow students. As part of the process, we had to figure out how to explain our program to the Juniors so that they can start off the program with a good understanding of their educational track. The program manager, 2 other students, and I decided to put me in charge of creating a presentation to explain the ins and outs of CEP in an easy to understand way, which hopefully can be used in Orientation for years to come. I put together this power point presentation in my free time, using my knowledge of the CEP program. This power point is posted on the CEP website to help applicants understand what they are applying for before they enter our program.
cephardware2012.pdf | |
File Size: | 4455 kb |
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CEP 460
In this class I worked in a group with 3 other students to create a Facade Improvement Program for the City of Des Moines, WA.
dmfinalreport.pdf | |
File Size: | 7502 kb |
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I grew up in a blue collar household, with little money to spare for extra expenses. So I ran my own business as a babysitter from the age of 10-15, and got my first real job at the age of 14. Since then I have had many experiences that have allowed me to grow as a person. I find that the older I get the more I realize the impact that those early jobs had on me. The worse the job was, the more that I learned from it. I have posted two resumes below. One is my professional resume: what I have completed as a young professional looking to branch out into the field of sustainability. The other is a compilation of the resume descriptions of every job I have ever held. I firmly believe that almost every job has transferable knowledge, and therefore take pride in even the most back-breaking, menial jobs I have worked. They have harden my resolve, and allowed me to pull myself up to where I am today. I am grateful to every boss and coworker I have ever had, regardless of our relationship, because they have helped to create who I am today. They have facilitated my growth to this point, and I continue to have revelations about those experiences even years after I have stopped working those jobs.
Work: KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn
Internship Positions
After the first 3 months in my position as Marketing Manager, it became resoundingly clear that I needed an intern to help me complete my work load. The work to be done is not complex, nor is it difficult, and it only takes about 10 hours per week, but is for these reasons not worth hiring a new employee. It is, however, great experience for someone trying to break into the Marketing field. As such, I created a position through the University of Washington for a Marketing Intern. The internship lasts for 10 weeks (1 quarter), with a requirement of 12-15 hours per week. The job is outlined below in the Marketing Intern Agreement form.
updated_marketing_intern_position_agreement.docx | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Fundraising Program
Three of the main goals of Marketing are to A) reach our target audience, B) get our popcorn into their hands, and C) have our product vouched for by a credible source. Fundraising is an excellent way to accomplish all of these goals in one fell swoop. One of our target audience is families with extra income. The school community provides credibility, and through the fundraising of the school, we are able to get our product into their hands.
While the program costs us money, and we make no profit, communities like to support companies that return the favor. Our fundraising program has, hands down, the highest return of any fundraising program I've ever seen. 50% of the money they earn goes straight to the school, whereas most programs only give 10-12% back. This further supports our efforts to be beneficial to the community, and in turn, creates a trusting relationship between the school community and our business.
I created the forms for the Popcorn Pavilion program, and my intern, Caleb Shih, followed my design and created the KuKuRuZa forms under my direction.
These are the forms that we use for outreach and running our fundraising program, for both KuKuRuZa and Popcorn Pavilion.
While the program costs us money, and we make no profit, communities like to support companies that return the favor. Our fundraising program has, hands down, the highest return of any fundraising program I've ever seen. 50% of the money they earn goes straight to the school, whereas most programs only give 10-12% back. This further supports our efforts to be beneficial to the community, and in turn, creates a trusting relationship between the school community and our business.
I created the forms for the Popcorn Pavilion program, and my intern, Caleb Shih, followed my design and created the KuKuRuZa forms under my direction.
These are the forms that we use for outreach and running our fundraising program, for both KuKuRuZa and Popcorn Pavilion.
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Structural Support for Popcorn Pavilion, LLC & KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn
I worked for Popcorn Pavilion, LLC as a manager of their Bellevue Square location at the time, but also did an internship through the company working on business infrastructure and management tools. I created FAQ and training manuals, as well as forms for the employees to utilize in daily tasks. I worked on these during a difficult time for the company, as the two brands were consolidating into one business. There were many variations in policy between the three stores (2 KuKuRuZa stores, 1 Popcorn Pavilion), and so I worked to consolidate policies, centralize information, and simplify the management structure. To help track the progress of our stores and to ensure that our employees were meeting the expectations set up by our new FAQ manual, I created employee review forms and a review structure to be implemented immediately. Since the implementation of these structures, managers report that work quality has been more consistent, and training is easier to complete, as well as easier to delegate.
You can learn more about Popcorn Pavilion at: www.PopcornPavilion.com and about KuKuRuZa at: www.KuKuRuZa.com
You can learn more about Popcorn Pavilion at: www.PopcornPavilion.com and about KuKuRuZa at: www.KuKuRuZa.com
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Internships
Community Alliance for Global Justice
I interned at the Community Alliance for Global Justice (CAGJ) Spring Quarter of 2012. They had me work on their annual fundraiser, the Strengthening Local Economies, Everywhere Dinner (SLEE), outreaching to nonprofit organizations and to large donors from past dinners, as well as on one of their educational adventures, the Urban Hike A Thon. I worked with the Director of the organization, Heather Day, and developed skills in outreach, information cataloging, volunteer management, and more.
The dinner focused on creating and maintaining opportunities for local food production in a culturally appropriate manner. The Keynote Speakers were Valerie Segrest and Elise Krohn from the Northwest Indian College Traditional Plants and Foods Program, who are working with tribes around the state on reintroducing traditional foods and food production systems.
The Urban Hike A Thon connected participants with urban farm projects around the city. Taking students from the International District to Madison Valley, the Hike A Thon took participants to urban farms such as the Danny Woo Community Garden (see photo to left), GroundUp Organics, and restaurants that use only locally sourced ingredients.
The CAGJ's mission is to educate people about the importance of local food systems and local economies as a way to improve the quality of life for all members of society. They work to connect people through teach outs and other educational programs, to create positive change by producing research and writings about important international food issues, and to improve the food justice movement by publishing literature, such as their book "Our Food, Our Right", and connecting other non-profits to strengthen their mission.
You can learn more about the CAGJ by looking at their website: http://www.SeattleGlobalJustice.org/
The dinner focused on creating and maintaining opportunities for local food production in a culturally appropriate manner. The Keynote Speakers were Valerie Segrest and Elise Krohn from the Northwest Indian College Traditional Plants and Foods Program, who are working with tribes around the state on reintroducing traditional foods and food production systems.
The Urban Hike A Thon connected participants with urban farm projects around the city. Taking students from the International District to Madison Valley, the Hike A Thon took participants to urban farms such as the Danny Woo Community Garden (see photo to left), GroundUp Organics, and restaurants that use only locally sourced ingredients.
The CAGJ's mission is to educate people about the importance of local food systems and local economies as a way to improve the quality of life for all members of society. They work to connect people through teach outs and other educational programs, to create positive change by producing research and writings about important international food issues, and to improve the food justice movement by publishing literature, such as their book "Our Food, Our Right", and connecting other non-profits to strengthen their mission.
You can learn more about the CAGJ by looking at their website: http://www.SeattleGlobalJustice.org/
UW FarmI worked on the UW Farm helping to prepare for the Winter. This included building cloches to protect the plants from harsh weather, insulating plants with leaves and other organic material, and seeding cover crops to ensure that the soil stays healthy from season to season.
People tend to think that gardening and farming is a two season activity: Spring and Summer, so it was interesting to see all of the work that happens in the background to prepare for the productive seasons. I was surprised that we also ended up planting crops for the winter growing season, which is unique to being in such a temperate climate. We planted garlic, kale, lettuce, and other cold bearing crops, which are ready to harvest usually in mid January, allowing time for the soil to stand before being planted again in March or April. You can learn more about the UW Farm at their website: http://students.washington.edu/uwfarm/ |