I’m a team leader
I’m a creative thinker that solves communication problems using innovative design + branding. For the past 22 years, I’ve created hundreds of designs for print, web, packaging, and more.
I’ve worked for both design agencies and corporations as well as owned my own design firm.
Industries I've done work for include:
- Publishing
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Music & Entertainment
- Food Service & Restaurant
- Real Estate
- Technology
- Printing
- Non-For-Profit
- Automotive
- B2B & B2C
- Retail
22
years of experience
200
websites launched
280
businesses helped
310
happy clients
Career Highlights
Over the past 23 years, I've worked at small creative agencies, in-house creative departments in large and mid-sized corporations, and even owned my own design firm. Below is a sampling of my experience.
Art Director
Cygnet Midwest – A B2B and B2C boutique marketing and advertising firm.
Art directing, managing design (print, web, UI/UX) and front-end development, leading design and developer teams, managing workflows, and mentoring in agile environments for web and app development. Liaise with client teams daily to ensure success and satisfaction.
- Improved client satisfaction by 40% and heightened communication by deploying a customized projects portal.
- Increased sales leads by 35% with our company website redesign, maximizing SEO, responsive functionality, and speed.
- Identified and developed client web hosting revenue stream, overseeing dozens of client sites, DNS settings, databases, and web application installations.
- Boosted team performance by 25% by deploying a project management solution.
Art Director
Stevens & Tate – A B2C and B2B mid-sized marketing and advertising firm.
- Created product identity for new line of consumer appliances.
- Managed vendors and off-site freelance team through time-sensitive project life cycles and budgets, aligning with account executives, copywriters, and web developers.
- Recoded website with HTML5.
- Developed UX flow for new web app.
Lead Web Designer
Chicago Sun-Times Media
The success of my UI/UX and website redesign work resulted in a lead web designer promotion.
- Managed web department’s UI design, front-end coding, project workflow and Jira system.
- Redesigned, redeveloped, and/or debugged sites for Monster co-branded pages, Homes/Real Estate, and RogerEbert.com
Lead Marketing Creative
Chicago Sun-Times Media
Project managed creative workflow for marketing department and graphic design team, providing creative direction for graphic design, copywriting, and web design.
- Launched Sun-Times Media’s daily deal product, WantsaDeal with logo, marketing, ad campaigns, website design, email blasts, etc
- Optimized UI/UX for online classified ads wizard, enabling customers to more easily purchase print and online classified ads.
- Maximized department efficiency by 35% by reorganizing workflow protocols, which also reduced errors by 30%.
- Performed identity refresh for ToDrive.com with integrated campaign of print and web redesigns.
My skills
In the past 23 years, I’ve picked up an extensive skillset.
Ideation
Creating unique concepts is one of the cornerstones of good marketing and advertising. I not only excel at this, but also brainstorming with co-workers to make our concepts shine.
Design
From corporate to unconventional design, my design aesthetic has been called chameleon-like. I can design for any medium and any audience. I'm experienced with print, web, digital, trade shows, packaging, and motion.
Web Development
While building and launching over 200 websites, I've mastered HTML and CSS, as well as worked in many other front-end languages. I also have experience with many content management systems and back-end systems.
Management & Direction
Managing designers and projects is second nature to me, as I've done it for almost 15 years. I am also well-versed with art direction, providing valuable guidance on designs and campaigns.
Digital Marketing
Planning, creating, and managing digital marketing campaigns across multiple social platforms and other channels is one of my many fortes. Using all the tools available – automation, drip campaigns, PPC, emails, and many others – allows for a robust data-set to grow. Analyzing this data and then tweaking the campaign, ensures success.
Print Production
I am proficient with taking a design and preparing it to go to print. I have developed special print production processes for clients to get their intricate pieces printed successfully for the best price.