Design Experience

Creative Manager,

Marketing and Communications, Houston Grand Opera, Houston,TX: 2020-Present

• Manages and assigns all incoming creative requests from internal and external stakeholders.
• Leads, delegates and supervises design executions across multiple platforms, including print, direct mail, signage, social media, web, email marketing, advertising, and publications.
• Coordinates with agency partners, Director of Marketing, CMXO and the CEO on creative direction and executions for main stage productions.
• Develops and maintains brand standards and communicates any changes company wide.
• Facilitates purchase and organization of images for all marketing materials.
• Partners with Associate Director of Communications on Opera Cues program publication and leads design direction for each issue.
• Collaborates with Marketing Manager on email communication branding and partners with Digital Content Manager on social media and website creative needs.
• Assists videographer with storyboarding, creative direction, day of shoot needs, and motion graphics for video content.
• Collaborates with various HGO departments to discuss campaign specific initiatives and develop creative project timelines that meet target goals and deadlines.
• Researches, hires, and partners with contract photographers for various photo needs, including dress rehearsals, community events, donor galas, and stock imagery.
• Manages and mentors full-time graphic designer.

Assistant Director of Creative Services, 

Marketing and Communications, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston,TX: 2018–2020 

• Develops, directs and manages the artistic direction of creative materials and branding with a team of three designers
• Directs advertising initiatives that align strategically with the university's long-term goals.
• Schedules and posts digital advertising assets on behalf of the university. Channels include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, Google Ads, Spotify, and LinkedIn.
• Maintains the university brand by leading efforts to conceptualize and update necessary brand standards using knowledge of typography, iconography, color theory and photography across multimedia platforms such as video, web and print.
• Serves as the creative lead on various high profile and long-term projects, including wall graphic installations, multi-page print and web publications, event marketing packages, and university logo design.
• Plans, coordinates and assists in various photo and video shoots and leads art direction efforts. 
• Informs clients on best practices within design and print production processes, including offset vs. digital printing, spot color vs. CMYK, matte cover stock vs. satin text stock, etc.
• Coordinates and communicates with various vendors regarding production schedules, quoting, press-checks, installations, and troubleshoots any issues with final products.
• Partners with the web, social media and editorial teams to present and articulate cohesive internal and external campaigns, focusing on enrollment initiatives and retention strategies.
• Leads the university signage and wayfinding committee and works directly with vendors to design and produce a modern exterior signage system.
• Fills in as needed as a secondary photographer during university events, including commencement, admissions events, etc.

Coordinator of Graphic Communications, 

University Communications, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston,TX: 2017–2018 

Graphic Designer II, 

C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, Houston,TX: 2013–2017 

• Graphic design lead within the Office of Communications team.
• Responsible for the design, organization, and art direction of an award-winning biannual magazine, Inside Bauer. Led the magazine redesign effort by establishing consistency throughout department spreads and implementing detailed, specific style sheets and templates. 
• Art directed majority of Inside Bauer photo shoots from brainstorming stage to final photo editing. Provided photographer with outline detailing the story and vision of the shoot in addition to accompanying photographer to photo session location.
• Responsible for design and art direction of multiple external college-level advertising campaigns. Researched content for monthly ad placements and assisted team with copy writing. Integrated concepts through web and print channels with placements in Houstonia, Texas Monthly, Houston Business Journal, USA Today, and Southwest.
• Corresponded with college stakeholders (faculty, staff, administration) to complete various project requests while adhering to strict brand guidelines set at the university level. Projects include booklets, brochures, promotional items, fliers, banners, and event materials.

Graphic Designer, 

Innovative Designs & Publishing, Palmer, PA: 2012–2013

• Responsible for the design, organization and client correspondence of all advertising space in Lehigh Valley Style magazine. 
•  Maintained portions of Style website and utilized email marketing software to promote monthly events. 
•  Assisted with all marketing materials, including multi-media campaigns, as well as various design projects for the in-house sign and graphics shop.

Graphic Design Intern, 

VF Outlet, Wyomissing, PA: 2011

• Assisted in design/ format of print and transit signage, web content and monthly store visual presentations for nation-wide apparel chain. 
• Projects included Father’s Day Promotion, Facebook Dressing Room Sign, Vanity Fair Product Introduction Boxes, Joplin Relief Fund Gift Cards, Labor Day Clearance Promotion, and Pro Team Tent Sales.

Skills

Fluent: Mac OSX • Adobe CC (Illustrator, InDesign, InCopy, Photoshop) • Asana 
Basic: PC • Adobe After Effects + Dreamweaver • HTML • CMS • MailChimp • Microsoft Office 365 • Apple iWork • Photography 
Specialties: Editorial design • identity design • integrated marketing campaigns • advertising • paper goods/invitations • event/promotional collateral • wayfinding • print production • project management • social media marketing • creative strategy • brand management