Strategically Creative, Creatively Strategic

Vanessa’s knowledge of psychographic and demographic trends, culture and popular attitudes is unrivaled. As Blue Daring’s Ideation Lead, she puts it to work daily to inform strategies and brands, develop unique names and concept creative and culturally-contextual ideas and tactics that engage.

Her intuition with people doesn’t stop there. As BD’s longest tenured team member and first hire, she also anchors our team culture keeping us—individually and collectively—inspired, connected and growing.

Vanessa attended Harold Washington College in Chicago.

Is there something she doesn’t know? Vanessa’s cultural connection and curiosity make our go-to for everything from the best restaurants and trending cities to the latest social media phenomenon and binge-worthy TV (especially reality TV which she shamelessly loves).

She spends her spare time exploring new recipes in the kitchen and checking out what’s new on the ever-evolving beverage scene.

Veronica’s ability to get things done is a remarkable combination of being able to anticipate needs and genuinely wanting to help others. She applies it daily to help both clients—like Toyota and the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Transportation—and our team meet deadlines and achieve strategic objectives. Prior to joining Blue Daring, Veronica also honed her community outreach and coordination skills as part of the team that helped the Chicago Transit Authority launch Ventra.

Veronica attended DePaul University where she majored in PR, Advertising and Applied Communications.

When she’s not at work, Veronica relaxes (and indulges her sweet tooth) by finding delicious new recipes and baking treats for her family and friends. Seems perfectly fitting, since the qualities it takes to be a good baker—organization and exactitude—are the ones that make her such a great project leader.

Chris believes that great design isn’t just visually stunning, it’s rooted in clear thinking and deep understanding. As a member of the creative team, Chris combines this strategic lens with an impeccable eye for detail to visualize ideas across media—from print to web. Chris has spent a lifetime immersing himself in all things artistic, and moved to Chicago to attend Harrington School of Design.

Chris doesn’t just stretch his creative muscles—he’s also an avid runner, usually clocking between 8 to 16 miles per week. He has completed several charity races in Chicago, and says it’s his favorite way to destress, stay in shape and think of his next creative undertaking.

Like many of our team members, Kyle is an avid cyclist and an enthusiastic city explorer, and often in the company of friends. Closer to home, he hangs out with Samson, his 10-year-old chihuahua, and nurtures his talents by working on illustration projects and operating his online store, which features an evolving collection of vintage and antique goods he refurbishes and upcycles — always with his own style and flare.

Shijing spends time writing “nonsense poetry,” recording life moments that she shares on her social media platforms, and making artist books in interactive physical forms. A fan of board games, she’s created and self-published two online digital games and currently is developing another. When she’s not thinking about her next poems, visual recordings or games, she is traveling, spending time with friends and taking her dogs Taco and Luna out for fresh adventures and new discoveries. (The Shedd Aquarium is a favorite spot.)

Michelle is driven to collaborate with nonprofit changemakers, bringing her skills in deep listening and writing to help them translate the complexities of their work into powerful stories. A writer and strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience, her love for storytelling extends to amplifying the work of corporate sector clients. Michelle spent nine years at The Chicago Community Trust, where she drove organization-wide strategic planning efforts, and has taught writing at the City Colleges of Chicago. Projects for Blue Daring include telling the story of Chicago Community Loan Fund’s decades-long work, developing Toyota’s D+I Annual Reports and helping our partner promote their high-quality masks at the height of the pandemic.