A Chicago-based curator, creative and School of the Art Institute of Chicago alum (BFA 2013), Steph is the mind behind Good Things Vending, a project that turns ordinary snack vending machines into unexpected micro shops filled with local art and oddity for $20 or less.

At SAIC, Steph worked in photography, documenting artists at their craft—it planted the seed for making creative communities more visible. Today, Good Things Vending hosts hundreds of artists across Chicago, rotating handcrafted cards, puppets, prints, grab bags, and a constantly evolving list of new treasures. 

Her work gained momentum as a “love letter to Chicago,” featured on Block Club Chicago, The Kelly Clarkson Show, PBS, ABC, Chicago Today and Axios. In 2025, Good Things Vending was awarded a Webby for its website, created in collaboration with Secco Studio.

Beyond vending, Steph partners with nonprofits and community organizations to surface emerging artists and ensure accessibility in creativity across the city.