Greetings, fellow connoisseurs of creativity!
With over three decades navigating the ever-changing waters of art direction, web and graphic design, UI/UX mastery, and the artful capture of fleeting moments through photography, I've weathered more storms than I can count. Like a seasoned captain, I've honed my skills over time, becoming richer and more nuanced with each passing year. As the helm of creative endeavors in my current role, I've orchestrated branding symphonies and crafted digital marvels that bring pixels to life and print materials to song. In my previous voyage as the Chief Mate, I wielded my magic wand over desktop and mobile banking applications, infusing them with the charm that users crave.
My journey through the boundless expanse of the creative oceans has seen me charting voyages through marketing seas and navigating interactive straits, leaving behind a trail of stardust that inspires awe.
And let us not forget the timeless wisdom of the design explorers: use colors with a discerning eye, limit typefaces to no more than two, embrace the vastness of negative space, align text to the left, and heed the Law of Prägnanz. For when faced with complexity, simplicity reigns supreme. In the immortal words of the ancients: keep it simple, stupid!
In case you're interested in my seafearing voyages...:
a.k.a. Creative Manager | 7/2019 – Present | Dormie Network
Taking the Dormie Network, an exclusive network of private golf clubs across the country, from start-up to well-established and mature brand. A leadership role responsible for creating and implementing branding standards to produce consistent and high-quality results. Overseeing the creation of all art, photo, video and layout design for the company's print and digital publications, social media, and promotional materials. Working with outside vendors on numerous projects and initiatives and leading internal teams on branding projects.
- Reporting to Chief Marketing Officer
- Creating branding standards and working with stakeholders on implementation as well as branding strategies
- Introducing creative briefs, design thinking and creative process to a start-up culture
- Communicating creative ideas and campaigns to the executive team and company employees
- Overseeing all creative projects from start to the end
- Leading website production and upkeep, and providing UX/UI components and prototypes
- Coordinating and executing photo and video shoots and managing the company's photo stock
a.k.a. Senior UI Designer | 10/2013 – 7/2019 | FISERV, Inc.
Working on FISERV’s Bank Solution and Digital Channel applications and collaborating with multidisciplinary product teams of UX designers, business analysts, product managers, project managers, developers and quality assurance specialists.
- Examining existing applications and creating business and functional specifications for UI improvements
- Researching, recommending and implementing the latest technological and design trends into existing and new software applications
- Defining and communicating business requirements, current functionality, use cases and exception scenarios to internal and external stakeholders
- Developing UX concepts and designing usable UI templates while applying appropriate organizational standards
- Participating in strategic planning sessions and technical discussions and translating ideas into prototypes and designs
a.k.a. Interactive Marketing Manager | 12/2007 – 10/2013 | Exmark Mfg.
Designed and managed corporate multi-media business channels working with an in-house marketing team and outside vendors while incorporating rich media and the latest technology to customer-facing websites and internal stakeholder applications. Served as an official product photographer. Managed various multi-channel projects by creating and communicating concepts, developing interactive design solutions, designing user interfaces and working with a collaborative team of designers, developers, project leaders and clients.
- Daily Web and mobile site operations and designing content management solutions for cross-platform and cross-department use
- Mobile device UX and UI design for tablets and phones
- Imaging and photography for all channels and publications
- Online brand development and management
- Social media support and monitoring
- Email and online lead generating systems
- SEO analysis and implementation
- Budgeting and project management
a.k.a. Interactive Marketing Manager | 10/2002 – 11/2007 | MDS Pharma Services
Oversaw numerous interactive and traditional marketing initiatives at both national and international level as a part of the Global Marketing Department.
- UX and UI and day-to-day operations for Website and extranet
- Integration and deployment of new technologies
- Online branding and content development
- Email campaigns and lead generation
- SEO analysis and implementation
- Budgeting and project management
a.k.a. Adjunct Professor | 8/2005 - 6/2007 | College of Art and Art History, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
While working full time at MDS Pharma Services, I was invited by the former Dean of the Art and Art History College to bring a new class into the college offerings. I developed the curriculum and taught the class based on creative concepts, information architecture, HTML W3C standards and usage of Adobe Applications.
- Taught 3-hour class two nights per week and loved working with students
- Introduced two generations of students to Web design and front-end development with emphasis on creative concept and visual hierarchy based on Gestalt Principles
- Students left my classes Web design ready and started working immediately
a.k.a. Director of Interactive Services | 4/2000 - 10/2002 | Bailey Lauerman
Served as a head of the interactive department in one of the "20 agencies to watch in the U.S.," as defined by CREATIVITY Magazine, and appeared in Adweek Magazine’s November 2000 issue as one of the most creative shops in the Midwest.
- Hired and managed creative and technology talent for the department
- Introduced and integrated interactive services to agency structure and culture
- Strategic consulting to agency principals and clients
- UX/UI/Day-to-day operations for agency and clients
