Jen Minarik, M.S., FCXP (CX-I)

Jen Minarik, M.S., FCXP (CX-I) has a diverse work experience in various industries. Jen started their career as an Event Marketing Coordinator at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, where they planned and managed multiple marketing events and developed relationships with stakeholders and vendors. Jen also played a crucial role in creating the school's first-ever Crisis Response Plan.

After that, Jen worked as an Admissions & Engagement Manager at the same school. Jen provided guidance to prospective students during the application process and implemented outreach strategies through social media, virtual/live events, and other channels.

Moving forward, Jen joined the Follett Corporation as a Business Development Account Manager, where they wore multiple hats and connected educational institutions with integrated solutions to address their needs. Jen leveraged print and digital course materials to engage and retain students.

Jen then started their own consulting practice, Jennifer Minarik Consulting, where they focused on qualitative research, UX, marketing strategy, and innovation. Some of their notable projects involved optimizing a woman-owned organic farm startup's website and conducting interviews with business leaders.

Following that, Jen joined Compass(x) Strategy as a Research Manager/Strategist. Jen conducted stakeholder research, developed messaging strategies, and defined brand value propositions. Jen'swork revolved around understanding the perspectives and behaviors of the target audience.

Later, they worked at Zebra Technologies as a Senior Design Researcher, where they led user research and facilitated service design. Jen'sresponsibilities included incorporating user and client perspectives into conversations and extracting valuable insights from data. Jen also played a key role in enhancing the user experience of the company's website.

Currently, Jen is serving as a Senior UX Researcher at the American Society of Anesthesiologists®. Jen built and oversees a User Experience Research (UXR) practice for the association, using principles from UX and CX to serve the needs of over 50,000 members throughout their careers. Jen'swork has contributed to the development of new products and even a new department within the organization.

Jen Minarik, M.S., FCXP (CX-I) has a diverse education background. In 2002, they attended Lake Forest College and obtained a B.A. degree in Latin American Studies in 2004. Jen then pursued further education at Northwestern University from 2012 to 2013, where they earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Communication (MSC). In 2008 and 2009, Jen attended Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, focusing on Business Administration and Management, although they did not obtain a degree from there. Additionally, they participated in the Tin House Summer Writing Workshop at Reed College in 2014.

Jen has also acquired several certifications to enhance their professional skills. In July 2016, they completed a UX Design certification program from Springboard. Jen then obtained a BrightEdge Certified Professional certification from BrightEdge in November 2017. Most recently, in May 2019, Jen became a Forrester CX Pro (CX-I) after receiving the certification from Forrester.

It should be noted that there is no available information regarding the start and end years for the RailsBridge Chicago and Springboard educational experiences, suggesting they may be shorter programs or workshops rather than full formal education endeavors.