A Little About Me
I’ve been simplifying stories since the first grade.
One of my earliest creations, The Haunted Manor, told the tale of my younger brother’s fear of a haunted house. I wasn’t trying to make a point; I wrote down what he experienced. The plot was thin. The self-illustrations were worse. But my brother stopped being scared.
I took something complicated and broke it down so it made sense to my audience (in this case, my 4-year-old sibling).
That instinct followed me into journalism, where I learned to ask better questions, find the story in the noise, and explain complicated concepts in everyday language. Now I use those same skills to simplify big ideas and help marketing teams create messaging and content strategies that work.
Over the years, I’ve worked on all kinds of complicated offerings: standby generators, row crop herbicides, medical devices, quality improvement programs, and educational policy changes (to name a few).
No matter the industry, the goal is the same: simplify the message, build trust with your audience, and make sure your content pulls its weight — no spooky jump scares required.
I believe content marketing should be:
Clear, not chaotic.
Thoughtful, not performative.
Backed by insight, not assumptions.
That starts with understanding your audience, aligning your team, and building a plan that’s actually doable. No performative fluff. No one-size-fits-all frameworks. Just clear, practical plans that help your content do its job.
Ben Gist, Farm Journal
“Mary is a quick study who can easily plug into projects with little support. She's a joy to work with and brings a fresh perspective to business needs.”
Ginger Smithwick, Cornett
