TITLE: FOUNDER/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2010-PRESENT

• Collaborates with clients to devise and execute branding and marketing strategies, ensuring teams meet campaign objectives.

• Leads all creative processes with a hands-on approach.

• Defines project scopes, objectives, and deliverables, creating detailed plans, roadmaps, and schedules.

• Crafts and executes successful campaigns across various marketing channels.

• Manages brand development and adherence to brand standards.

• Facilitates effective communication, mentorship, and feedback implementation for team growth.

• Delivers campaigns with outstanding design, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to quality.

• Supervises print processes across multiple mediums, from advertising to book design and large-scale graphics.

• Constructs websites, conducts usability audits, designs digital assets, and optimizes content for enhanced user engagement and SEO performance.

• Conceptualizes and executes email marketing campaigns, analyzing results to optimize content for increased click-through rates and sales.

• Creates and manages events and community engagement initiatives to boost sales and cultivate brand loyalty.

• Oversees contractors, including photographers, illustrators, copywriters, programmers, and media buyers.

• Presents creative ideas and strategic rationale to C-suite executives, balancing visual aesthetics with strategic problem-solving.

TITLE: SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
2006-2010

• Consulted with clients to establish strong relationships, resulting in highly effective concept and campaign development and consistently high levels of client satisfaction.

• Conceptualized and designed multi-channel campaigns for ballot initiatives and advocacy, achieving an impressive 96% campaign win rate.

• Directed the art department, inspiring and guiding a team of designers, illustrators, copywriters, programmers, and other creatives, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Managed project timelines, budgets, and production calendars, facilitating creative sessions and presenting concepts to internal executives and clients. Adapted campaigns to changing circumstances and incorporated constructive feedback for enhanced creative production.

• Produced visually compelling campaigns across diverse mediums including print, digital, social, and video.

• Successfully pitched campaigns to internal teams, clients, and prospective clients, contributing to business growth and responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

• Contributed to crafting research surveys, monitored and analyzed focus group results, and applied research findings to refine campaign messaging and creative execution.

• Stayed abreast of trends in branding, marketing, advertising, color theory, and typography, attending conferences and online seminars to remain current and enhance professional development.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS CENTER INC. AND THE DULLES GREENWAY

• Spearheaded the creation and execution of diverse design elements, encompassing brochures, counter cards, direct mail, brand identity system, logos, advertisements, annual reports, and press kits.

• Orchestrated seamless collaboration across internal and external teams to ensure alignment with stakeholders' expectations. This involved conducting meetings to gather requirements, presenting design concepts, adapting designs based on feedback, and maintaining open communication channels across multiple parties.

• Directed the comprehensive management of creative assets for prestigious black-tie galas, overseeing everything from save-the-dates and invitations to sponsor signage and video production, ensuring each element reflected the event's high standards and brand integrity.

• Contributed to the conceptualization and scripting of a compelling television commercial in collaboration with a prominent news television affiliate, leveraging creative expertise to effectively convey the company's message and values to a broad audience.

• Fostered productive partnerships with external vendors such as photographers, venues, AV teams, stage and event graphic leads, and printers, to ensure seamless execution of projects and events, meeting quality standards and deadlines.

• Demonstrated creativity and versatility by producing original illustrations and photography for various design collateral pieces, adding unique visual elements that resonated with the target audience and reinforced brand identity.

• Best Use of Direct Mail Public Affairs (National), Pollie Awards: 2022

• Visionary Thinking, Arlington Magazine: 2021, arlingtonmagazine.com/visionary-thinking

• Best Direct Mail in Public Affairs Statewide, Pollie Awards: 2021

• Best Fundraising Mail Piece in Public Affairs: Pollie Awards: 2021

• Best Fundraising Mail Piece for Public Affairs/Issue Advocacy Campaign, Reed Awards: 2021

• Board of Directors for American Association of Political Consultants Mid-Atlantic Chapter: 2010-2012

• Campaigns featured in John Harrington’s books, “The Best Business Practices for Photographers” and “Photographs from the Edge of Reality: True Stories About Shooting on Location, Surviving, andLearning Along the Way”

• 40 Under 40, American Association of Political Consultants: 2015

• Rising Star Award, Campaign and Elections: 2010

• Campaign featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: 2009

• Best Use of YouTube, Best Use of Game Technology and Best Use of Search Engine Marketing, Pollie Awards: 2008

• Roll Call Top 3 Award: 2008

• International Summit Award for Best Press Kit: 2007

• PBS special on campaign and its effectiveness: 2007

• Communicator Awards: 2006

• Neenah Design for the Environment Competition: 2005

• Nominated for Woman of the Year by WJLA ABC 7: 2005

• Summit Competition for Technical Communication by the Society of Technical Communications: 2005

• Adobe Creative Suite

• Squarespace

• Project Management: Monday, Slack, Trello

• Basic HTML, CSS

• Email Marketing: Mail Chimp, Constant Contact, Squarespace

• Microsoft: Word, Powerpoint, Excel

• Google: Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms

• Apple: Pages, Numbers, Keynote

• Social: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

• Organization: Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Shared Docs

Creative Strategy Development: Utilize thorough research, demographic analysis, SWOT analysis, and evaluation of current marketing methodologies to formulate custom creative strategies. These strategies not only aim to achieve objectives but also to cultivate enduring connections with the target audience.

Brand Building: Possess a natural talent for crafting visually captivating brands and translating them into impactful designs across various mediums, spanning print, digital, social media, and video. Consistently deliver designs that resonate with audiences and elevate brand visibility.

Relationship Management: Cultivate robust relationships with C-Suite executives, gaining insights into their needs and translating them into creative solutions. Adapt seamlessly to evolving project requirements, feedback, and priorities while upholding high standards of creativity and quality in deliverables.

Team Leadership: Demonstrate strong leadership skills in guiding and inspiring teams of designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals. Foster an environment of innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth, managing teams of 10 or more individuals to deliver projects punctually, within budget constraints, and effectively meeting defined objectives.