Skills + experience.

Creative and highly skilled graphic artist with two decades of experience designing diverse forms of visual media. Proven ability to develop skills with evolutions in technology. Very adaptable to changing priorities while maintaining a consistently positive attitude and strong work ethic both independently and as a team member.


Work experience

Graphic Artist I

ACT, Inc., Iowa City, IA

  • Created all print materials for test administration and operational communications—including manuals, forms, user guides, and packaging materials. Worked within strict deadlines to ensure that brand and accessibility guidelines were followed for all documents.

  • Assisted in converting administration manuals to content management system by working with developers to create pdf pagination plug-in and developing custom Acrobat preflight profiles to ensure CMS pdf outputs met press specs.

  • Rebranded educator guides, presentation decks, and certificates for all six courses in the ACT Certified Educator program.

  • Worked with instructional designers and SMEs to create training materials for users of all measurement products. This included quick start guides, presentation decks for webinars, and administrative use toolkits.

  • Created custom print documents and presentations for national and local sales support as needed.

Layout Production Specialist

Brownells, Inc., Montezuma/Grinnell, IA

  • Created retail and wholesale print catalogs ranging from 24–600+ pages. Worked with lead designers, writers, and photographers to create and implement design concepts using guidelines and marketing objectives for three unique brand segments.

  • Converted workflow from InCatalog to Stibo STEP information management system. Held Superuser status, responsible for updating STEP data and customizing fields and tables for new products and brands.

  • Created any additional marketing materials as needed—including print pieces, web graphics, presentations, and tradeshow materials for both B2C and B2B brands.

Freelance Sign Making & Graphic Design

HueDesign, Williamsburg, IA

  • Designed logos, print materials, and Web sites, in addition to fabricating vinyl signs.

Graphic Artist

Marengo Publishing Corp., Marengo, IA

  • Collaborated with clients on projects ranging from logos and display advertising to posters, raffle tickets to college course catalogs; Involved in every aspect of production from initial consultation to final prepress.

  • Ensured deadlines were met, re-prioritizing to accommodate frequent deadline changes and late additions or updates. Quickly and accurately routed ad artwork and specifications through content management system.

Prepress Technician

American Color Graphics, Marengo, IA

  • Inspected digital files and film to ensure press and customer specifications; Coordinated with customer service to resolve issues discovered during inspection.

  • Used computer-to-plate and traditional film platemaking equipment and pagination software to create plates for five types of offset web presses.

  • Coordinated with press operators and schedulers to avoid costly production interruptions.

Graphic Artist

Telecom*USA

  • Paginated community information pages for 60+ telephone directories and designed display advertising; Created high quality vector graphics; Output files for pasteup.


Technical Skills

Software

  • InDesign

  • Illustrator

  • Photoshop

  • Acrobat

  • Captivate

  • Powerpoint

  • Word

  • MacOS

  • Windows10

Hardware

  • Digital & film prepress and platemaking

  • Vinyl cutters/plotters


Education

  • Kirkwood Community College, Certificate in Web Design, April 2011.

  • Iowa State University, Graphic Design major, 1991-1993.

Certifications

  • ACT National Career Readiness Certificate
    Level: Platinum

  • Instructional Design Certificate
    Training Magazine Training live+online