Amanda VanConant (Northrop) is the Digital Marketing Manager at LVGEA, where she leads creative direction and content development, aligning digital initiatives with brand strategy and organizational goals.

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI, Amanda’s family frequently visited the Great Lakes, nurturing her early connection to nature. She earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Grand Valley State University (GVSU), where her love of color theory, hand lettering, printmaking, and infographics flourished. Throughout her education, she grew eager to use new skills in ways that connected her to community and the environment.

Amanda began her career in 2012 as a design intern with the award-winning climate journalists at Circle of Blue in Traverse City, MI. Her data visualizations on the global water crisis were showcased at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. After graduation, she freelanced for clients in education and entertainment before joining Vox.com in Washington, DC. She spent eight years at Vox as Associate Design Editor and Social Graphics Designer, where she set editorial standards, produced award-winning multimedia interactives, and art directed editorial partnerships including The Highlight on Apple News. Projects like “Weather 2050“, “Supertrees“, and “25 Episodes that Changed Television” were among her favorites, as they required the most cross-team collaboration and distinctive creative expression.

Amanda’s freelance career spans over a decade, serving clients such as Grand Valley State University, Reveal News, Inman, and Argo Tea. She has received a 2023 Peabody Award nomination and a 2020 Scripps Howard Award for her collaborative work at Vox.

Inspired by musician and travel writer Neil Peart’s mantra: “What is the most excellent thing I can do today?”, Amanda embraces opportunity with enthusiasm. Now based in Las Vegas, she enjoys exploring the city and nearby National Parks with her husband, playing drums, rollerblading, and gardening alongside her renowned horticulturist assistant, Vino the cat.