Katie D.

About Katie D.

I don’t care what your team says they do. I care what they actually do.Most workplace assessments rely on self-reporting—the curated version of ourselves we want the world to see. I’ve spent my career moving past the \"corporate mask\" to build high-engagement experiences where leadership, communication, and decision-making become visible under pressure.With degrees in History and Earth Science, my approach is rooted in the disciplines of deep inquiry and systematic observation. I view a team not as a collection of survey results, but as a living ecosystem that reveals its true patterns only when the clock is ticking.I am the founder of a scalable, capital-light experiential brand that blends behavioral science, storytelling, and structured challenge design. Since launching in 2020, we’ve delivered 700% growth in year one and 100% in year two. That momentum carried directly into our retail expansion: The Puzzle Shop shattered expectations by generating in its first 12 months—reaching full operational velocity in just 10 months—all within a footprint of less than 500 square feet.Puzzle Praxis: Our workplace assessment division. We move beyond personality tests to evaluate execution rhythm, friction points, and leadership behavior through facilitated simulations. We deliver a Team Dynamics Blueprint (or Snapshot) that provides leaders a data-driven map for performance and health.Puzzle Rides & Relay: Guided 75–90 minute adventures and corporate relays designed to surface measurable performance signals in a high-stakes,\"un-fakeable\" environment.The Puzzle Shop: A curated retail concept and community hub in Prescott, AZ, serving as the physical heart of our brand.In 2025, my work was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a CO—100 Honoree (Disruptors category). This reflects my commitment to building systems that connect people while producing record-breaking results.My background spans executive sales leadership (training reps), museum curation, and nonprofit leadership. Across every role, I’ve been a \"Curator of Behavior,\" helping people identify patterns and gain clarity.Alongside my business operations, I am a Keynote Speaker. My signature talk, Your Life Time Machine™, provides leaders with a practical framework to identify patterns, gain momentum, and make stronger decisions.I value clarity, kindness, and measurable outcomes. I’m at my best partnering with leaders who want both human connection and high-performance data.Let’s find the signal in the noise. Phoenix & Prescott, AZ

Experience

1. Founder

   Puzzle Rides

   Jun 2016 — Present

   In 2020, I transformed a golf cart shuttle service into Puzzle Rides—an escape-room-style adventure on wheels. Bootstrapped during the pandemic, the business achieved 700% revenue growth in its first full year and expanded from Prescott to Scottsdale.Today, the company has grown into a multi-brand entertainment and team-building platform: • Puzzle Rides — scalable, guided adventure experiences for families, friends, and teams • The Puzzle Shop — a retail and community hub featuring thousands of puzzlesIn 2025, Puzzle Rides was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a CO—100 Honoree in the Disruptors category. With a capital-light, scalable model, the brand is positioned to disrupt the $30B+ team-building and entertainment market by blending community-based experiences with corporate-ready programming.

Education

• The University of Toledo

  Candidate for Master of Arts, American History

  1993 — 1993

• Adrian College

  BA, History, Earth Science & English

  1989 — 1993