Qualification Summary
Strong graphics software background, as well as extensive design layout, presentation and marketing skills. Proficient in PhotoShop CS5, InDesign CS5, Illustrator CS5, Quark XPress 6.5 (have not used for a number of years), Adobe Acrobat Pro, PDF work flows, Pre-Press, Four Color Process Printing and digital photography. Experience with small site web design, social media deployment and site maintenance as well as strong written communication skills refined through developing marketing and advertising material for a variety of entities. Along with this comes exceptional creative, organizational and problem solving abilities.Twelve years of program management and supervisory experience. Excellent networking and team building skills. Ability to interface effectively with all levels of an organization.
- Well versed in the Mac platform through OSX Lion and related applications; I can also do Windows when necessary;
- Proficient with graphic design apps and page layout, including PhotoShop CS5, Illustrator CS5, Adobe Acrobat and InDesign CS5;
- Years of experience with PDF work flows and four color process print production both in-house and with service bureaus;
- Experience includes writing the ad copy for the material being designed;
- Extensive experience with page layout designing everything from full color magazine ads, newspaper ads, post cards, direct mail flyers, newsletters and graphics for the web;
- Creation and placement of advertising with media vendors in a variety of vertical markets;
- Twelve years of administrative/program management experience and great customer service skills;
Education
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts
- University of Pennsylvania
- Military Service USN - Honorably Discharged - 1972-1977
Expertise
I have been working as a graphic designer since 1997. Prior to that I spent an entire career as an administrator in a county government agency in suburban Washington, DC. You can see all the particulars below in the just the facts section. My graphic design work has been either doing graphic design freelance jobs or working as the contract in house designer for small businesses. The latter being what I have become the most proficient at doing.I am the consummate team player with the ability to help a forward thinking small business take their operation to the next level in terms of advertising and marketing the business through print, internet and direct mail media. All of my work is done using the Adobe Creative Suite 5 group of design applications which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks and In Design.
What I Can Do For You
- Plan, design and implement advertising campaigns that fit your business model & budget.
- Design full color brochures, catalogs, flyers, mailers, post cards, newsletters and more.
- Design and maintain client databases from which to run your print and email advertising.
- Design and/or maintain your small business website and social media pages.
- Web Advertising – E-mail advertising - Magazine Layouts – Newspaper Ads - Digital Photography
- Create custom presentations for your in-house and external marketing.
Relevant Work & Supervisory Experience
- Owner, gmsdesigns - graphic design studio (September 2005 - Present)
- I have been doing freelance design work since 1997 on a part time basis. In 2005 I made a concerted effort to attract more business and grow my client list.
- In-House Graphic Designer, Foss-AVI (June 2006 - October 2009)
- Foss-AVI is a high-end Audio/Video/Home Automation & Security company in Sioux Falls, SD. Their web site is www.foss-avi.com. In my position there I was responsible for the creation of all print advertising. Which included direct mail campaigns, post card campaigns, a full color monthly ad in Home Ideas Magazine as well as the design and management of the web site. I did most of the print work in-house on a high-end color printer, the exception being large runs that were sent to a commercial press.
- In-House Graphic Designer, Midwest Tire & Muffler (July 2004 - August 2005)
- I was responsible for the graphic design, page layout and print production of all advertising material for three wholesale warehouses, ten retail stores and hundreds of independent tire & muffler dealers who buy from Midwest Tire. The work included: full color 11x17, double-sided tabloids; full color brochures; color sales inserts for mass mailings; logo and signage design for dealers; pricing catalogs; newsprint and magazine advertising and one annual trade show, spanning three cities in three days.
- Advertising/Marketing Manager , Dixie Services - Jupiter, Florida (December 2002 - May 2004)
- Dixie Services was a mid-size A/C and Plumbing Service Company in Palm Beach County, Florida. I was solely responsible for the development of their marketing and advertising, which included direct mail and the graphic design of all web and print media. I was also responsible for negotiating advertising contracts with local vendors, including print, radio and billboard.
- Director of Marketing , AutoDocs, LLC(December 1997 - July 2002)
- As the Director of Marketing I was responsible for the creation of all print and web-based advertising. I had complete editorial and budgetary control over the operation. I was additionally responsible for a direct mail and software demo campaign aimed at client acquisition. The latter involved the management of an extensive contact database comprised of every IP law firm in the United States and UK. I wrote and published company press releases and a quarterly newsletter, both to print media and the web. I also coordinated and managed four yearly trade shows sponsored by the American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association.
- Forensic Program Supervisor , Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (December 1985 - October 1997)
- As the Program Supervisor at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center,I was responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operation of a mental health service delivery program within a 2500 bed suburban county jail. I had direct supervision of a multidisciplinary staff of mental health and allied professionals. I was responsible for all program development and the design and implementation of policy and procedures. I also assisted in the production of the yearly program budget, which involved the writing of grant proposals. Additionally, I was responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and training of program staff.