What started as winning an entrepreneurship grant, has turned into a profitable and self-sustaining small business with customers across the US and around the world. BINGO is also developing a growing number of wholesale dealers with brick and mortar bike shops in the US and recently adding the newest dealer in Tokyo, Japan. BINGO continues to be a one-person operation, but with success of my first product, the B1 Headset Spacer, production has grown 700%. I have achieved this while maintaining the integrity of the product and brand, improving quality control, lowering production costs and streamlining the bill of materials.
More information on local dealers and how to purchase the B1 Headset Spacer can be found at BINGOcomponents.com
2020 - Present
BINGO Components
OWNER / DESIGNER / MARKETING / SALES
Portland, OR
2019 - 2020
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
NIKE COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND TEAM LEADER
Portland, OR
Through a collaboration with Nike Community Impact, and Girls Inc, and the University of Oregon, I organized and lead monthly learning sessions to encourage underserved youth in the Portland metro area to follow their interest in STEM topics and healthy active lifestyles.
2017 - 2018
TOKYOBIKE
MECHANIC / TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISOR / QUALITY CONTROL
Los Angeles, CA
As the in-house mechanic at the North American headquarters I assembled and maintained bicycles sold locally in the LA area, including bicycles for the showroom and extending to at-home service for select clients. I also oversaw quality control for incoming bikes from the Taiwanese manufacturer. This included spotting potential issues, and implementing service solutions for the Brand Manager to communicate to the dealers around the North and South American territories.
2015 - 2017
SHIMANO AMERICAN CORPORATION
TECHNICAL SERVICE /
INSIDE SALES REP
Irvine, CA
Responsibilities included providing excellent communication and customer service to bicycle retailers and consumers using our hard good and soft good products. Clients included small independent bike shops to large multi-location outdoor lifestyle retailers. Ensured that the retailers sales needs were met, that techs and mechanics had a strong understanding of product knowledge, and were equipped to navigate the technical database that housed exploded diagrams, tech documents, and MSDS in collaboration with the B2B ordering and inventory software.
Recycle-A-Bicycle (RAB) is a non-profit 501(c)3 that uses bicycles as a means of teaching inner city youth work skills, environmental awareness, community involvement, and general healthy living. Initially hired as the Service Manager at the East Village location, I trained and supervised staff mechanics, maintained strict quality control of our retail repairs, and overhauls of used bikes for resale including custom builds and vintage restorations.
I was promoted to Store Manager of the East Village store where I maintained inventory, placed orders, managed a limited budget, maintained shop records, scheduled staff, facilitated youth education, supervised the new Lead Mechanic, ensured a positive experience for customers, while maintaining brand and mission.
In addition, I was also the resident graphic designer creating flyers for events, sales, or for acquiring donations and developed logos for youth ride clubs to make the activity feel extra special.
2010 - 2015
RECYCLE-A-BICYCLE
STORE MANAGER / SERVICE MANAGER
New York, NY
2010 - 2015
YOUTH BIKE SUMMIT
EVENT COORDINATOR/
GRAPHIC DESIGN
New York, NY/ Seattle, WA
My responsibilities included coordinating organizers, presenters and volunteers, maintaining schedules and the general order of the annual three-day national conference initially developed by Recycle-A-Bicycle. I also designed and oversaw printing of the event program, signage and other printed materials and updated and maintained event website. I also led a workshop focusing on in-store merchandising for non-traditional bike shops, and participated in a panel discussion on outside revenue building.
2008 - 2009
FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGN
Minneapolis, MN
Worked under contract for KNOCK INC. and Carmichael Lynch Thorburn on projects for clients such as Target and Disney as well as RFPs for new business acquisitions.
AWARDS
2020
University of Oregon Spark Grant for the development of the BINGO Components Handlebar Mounted Bag Support.
2019
Presenter at winter Outdoor Retailer to discuss unconventional bag design.
2019
Koehn/ AAsfp Design Entrepreneurship Award for the creation and development of BINGO Components.
EDUCATION
2018 - 2020
University of Oregon, Portland Oregon
Masters of Science in Sports Product Design
2004 - 2007
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN
BFA in Graphic Design