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CURRICULUM VITAE

Professional Profile

Marketing and media creative professional—with diverse experience creating content, meeting deadlines, setting priorities and managing projects—seeks to expand career using experience with marketing, media, management and customer service. Thrives as a dedicated, team player who will contribute specialized transferable skills and abilities that will enhance your organization, such as:

  • Implementing projects: Collaborated with software vendors and staff to manage The Detroit News’ complete conversion to CCI Newsgate software as an Expert User.

  • Training, managing staff: Trained staff on new software and assisted with troubleshooting during conversion (The Detroit News). On-boarded new employees via regular training sessions, bootcamps, and original materials. (YMCA)

  • Increasing sales: Established networks which resulted in an increase in on-site catering events; also created new off-site business events for company (Au Bon Pain, Ford Center for Performing Arts)

  • Store leader: in commission sales and customer service recognition (Torrid)

  • Solving problems: Worked with other stores in the Detroit franchise to improve their processes, inventory control, and solve their prep issues. (Au Bon Pain, Ford Center for Performing Arts)

  • Meeting deadlines: Consistently meets deadlines for multiple daily publications and/or clients (The Detroit News, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Gannett Design Studio)

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Adobe Creative Cloud: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InCopy, Spark, Audition, Premier, Bridge, Lightroom
Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Sharepoint, Exchange, Teams
G Suite: Gmail, Drive, Sheets, Docs, Sites, Slides, Currents, Forms, Hangouts, Keep, JamBoard
PC and Mac applications; LexisNexus and other searchable databases
Publishing: Lucidpress, CCI News Desk, CCI NewsGate v3, News Edit Pro, Doris 32, QuarkExpress
Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Myspace, Blogger, Wordpress, Blogspot, Tumblr

Work Experience

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Detroit, Michigan

Nov. 2019 - Aug. 2022

  • Conceptualized and managed a wide variety of marketing material and collateral for the association, as well as its: 7 branches, 5 community initiatives, 2 overnight camps, 8 day camps, special events, fundraising projects, advertising, and promotional material.

  • Wrote, designed, and edited content for adverting, social media, and press releases

  • Created original art, concepts, and campaigns that follow project goals and Y-USA’s brand guidelines

  • Pandemic pivots included: generating new, frequently updated signage to encourage employees, and members to follow the latest CDC, MDHHS, and local guidelines; and additional impact reports with greater frequency 

DIGITAL SPECIALIST / Customer Service
Well Done Goods, Detroit, Michigan

July 2019 - March 2020

  • Generated digital content for distinguished artisan’s Shopify-based website and social media accounts, while shopkeeping busy, physical store, interacting with customers and assisting managing online store sales, website and other necessities
    Produced webpages, ads, SEO copy, and regularly used social media to generate traffic & sales 
    Created, daily-content for websites and multiple social platforms: photos, videos, copy-writing, intuitive hashtags, and more. Highly-specialized in Shopify POS System. 

FRONT PAGE DESIGNER
The Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan

Dec. 2012 - June 2019

  • Designed the current news for the publication’s front page and feature section each day in a format that organized the information and enticed people to read and understand 
    Created templates and design tools which significantly increased productivity for the design staff
    Assisted staff during software upgrade by training all employees, troubleshooting
    Write, design and edit content for adverting, social media, press releases

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Gannett Design Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

March 2011 – Dec. 2012

  • Designed Metro, Business, Feature and 1A sections for five southeast daily newspapers

  • Interacted as designated liaison between newsrooms and studio

  • Launched successfully five new daily publications using NewsGate v.3

  • Trained new hires and was designated as expert user of NewsGate v.3

INTERNSHIPS

Sept. 2008 – Dec. 2010

Design Intern

Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan
July 2010 – Dec. 2010

  • Designed advance and deadline pages as well as section fronts and illustrated photos for feature pages

Multimedia Reporter Intern

The Flint Journal, Flint, Michigan
Aug. 2009 – June 2010

  • Wrote breaking news stories and advance stories; covered multiple beats, including police, local government, schools, business and features

  •  Shot and edited videos and photos; posted and formatted comprehensive web packages including photos, videos, maps, aggregated content and SEO

Design Intern

Reading Eagle, Reading, Pennsylvania             
Sept. 2008 – March 2009

  • Converted raw data into wire graphics

  • Designed advance and deadline pages as well as section fronts

  • Contributed to the publication’s SND award-winning design.

MANAGER OF OPERATIONS
Au Bon Pain, Ford Center for Performing Arts, Dearborn, Michigan

Jan. 2007 – Sept. 2008

  • Managed Center’s catering services; increased events and expanded services to offsite events

  •  Advised other operations on how to improve their performance and solve their operational issues

  • Ordered stock, managed inventory, and scheduled employees

  •  Participated in preparing Center communication pieces

  •  Became accredited and certified by ServSafe

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR; GRAPHICS EDITOR/ Lead Designer
The South End, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

 Oct. 2005 – Feb. 2007

  • Redesigned layout, increased diversity and inclusivity in design, improved review formats and 
    popping spreads

  • Improved coverage of local arts and events, recruited and managed volunteer contributors 
    and columnists

ASSISTANT MANAGER
Torrid, Auburn Hills, Michigan

April 2003 – Aug. 2004

  • Managed opening and closing of store

  • Accounted for all cash handling and bank deposits

  • Education

  • BACHELOR OF ARTS – Journalism

  • Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

  • ASSOCIATE, Liberal Arts

  • Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills, Michigan

  • Awards & Recognition

  • 2nd place, Full Page Design, awarded by Michigan Associated Press Media Editors (2017)

  • 2nd place, Feature Page Design, awarded by Society of Professional Journalists (2017)

  • 1st place, Magazine Spread Design, awarded by Society of Professional Journalists (2016)

  • 2nd place, Page One Design, awarded by Society of Professional Journalists (2016 & 2015)

  • 3rd place, Inside News Design, awarded by Society of Professional Journalists (2014)

  • District Employee of Month (2004); Employee of Month (July 2003, Nov. 2003, Jan. 2004), Torrid

  • Publishing Credits

  • Columnist: Real Detroit Weekly, The South End 

  • Newspaper Design: The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, The Tennessean, Pensacola News Journal, Fort Myers Today, Tallahassee Democrat, Montgomery Advertiser, The Reading Eagle 

  • Web Production/ Multimedia: MLive/The Flint Journal, WWJ NewsRadio 950, The South End 

  • Photography: Mlive/ Flint Journal, The Detroit News, Saginaw News, Grand Blanc News, Fenton Press, Metro Mix, Real Detroit Weekly, Bassline 

  • Reporting: The Flint Journal, MLive, MetroMix, The South End

  • Textbook: Newspaper Designer’s Handbook 7th Ed.

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