Skills

  • Web development programming and markup languages including php, html, css, js, jsp on *nix systems, and their attendant programs, such as SlickEdit, Eclipse, Dreamweaver, svn, cvs (both more via Tortoise than command line) etc.
  • Extensive print pre-press skills including troubleshooting digital impositions and manual separation of plate-ready 2- 3- and 4-color layers in both digital and paper versions
  • Graphic design from initial thumbnail sketch with pen and paper through digital mockup stages to final press-ready print or web-based digital application. Includes various versions of Adobe CS, Gimp, Multi-Ad, Quark Xpress, etc
  • Both technical and flavor text writing
  • Editing, both fiction and journalistic (AP Standard)
  • Fine art and illustrations, primarily in ink and watercolor, or photography-based
  • Cross-browser compatibility
  • Web accessibility and usability
  • Search engine optimization
  • Marketing concepting, logo creation, brand identity as concerns web and print
  • Project management skills including cross-team communication, project tracking, sticking to a budget, and making sure everyone plays nice with each other
  • Basic office skills including typing at 120+wpm, Microsoft-office/Google Docs/Lotus Notes -style programs, time management, etc

Work History

User Interface Designer/System Developer
Myers Internet/MGIC
October 2007 - Present. User Interface work and/or design input on all our web-based applications -- mostly improving existing interfaces. Project planning and brainstorming, troubleshooting application issues, and generally being a voice for the client during the planning phase. Includes work on AgentCenter, OriginatorNetwork, Defender, eMagic, MtgLoanApp.com and internal administration sites.
Web Development Specialist
OnYourMark, LLC
November 2004 - October 2007. Responsible for creation of websites, including graphic design, programming, customer service and technical support, desktop publishing, search engine optimization and registration, all general webmastering, and documentation.
Freelance
Self-employed
October 2003 - November 2004. Took a year to do freelance projects and transition into web development from print design. I'd been doing some web design before this, but I spent this year really learning what I was doing and expanding my skills to include web programming, not just design.
Production Coordinator
The Milwaukee Employment Guide/Trader Publishing
May 2002 - October 2003. Responsible for anything production related in the office, which included layout of our products, The Employment Guide, Today's Careers and Today's Nurse, of the media kit, in-house use forms, etc, in a timely and accurate fashion. Supervised one graphic designer.
Design Specialist
The Plymouth Review
January 1999 - April 2002. Created display ads for the paper and designed print projects, created logos for customers, made corrections and did layout projects for print customers, assisted in troubleshooting pagination process, created graphics as necessary, handled email duties for the Advertising department (including sending and receiving of ads and figuring out ways around format incompatibilities), computer maintenance and troubleshooting, hand collated sections of the paper twice a week, trained new people in our design process, often answered computer problems in other departments, occasionally responsible for outputting paginated pages to film for the press.

Education

Double Bachelor's in Classical Philology and Studio Art from Beloit College, 1997

Other Experience

  • National Association of Photoshop Professionals - Member since Spring 2010
  • Freelance Design - Since 1997, including but not limited to CD covers/Cassette J Cards, flyers, business cards, newsletters, gaming supplements, guild websites for various MMOs, LARP websites, fan websites (mostly pen and paper RPG), personal/resume sites.
  • Guild Leader - I am currently Guild Leader of my World of Warcraft guild, Seelund Trading Co. Before I was guild leader, I was an officer in the Keepers of Stromgarde for about two years. My officers and I plan events for other players, from a few people to a few hundred. We coordinate with other guilds, and maintain the fictional story that our players share and build their personal stories from. We also maintain the website and handle recruitment. In addition, I run an open "tavern" event once a week that usually runs an average of five hours and draws anywhere from fifteen to upwards of sixty other players.
  • Class Agent for Beloit Alumni Class of '97 (from Spring '98 to Fall '99) for the Beloit College Development Office. Participated in fundraising and helping keep members of our class in contact with each other.

Awards

  • Second Place Advertising Design (Use of Local Photography), Wisconsin Newspaper Association (2002)
  • First Place Marketing and Advertising, Baker College Business Olympics (1993)
  • MIPA First Place Class C/D Feature Page Spread(1992)
  • JEA/NSPA Honorable Mention LitMag Illustration (1992)
  • MIPA Second Place Class C/D Illustration (1991)