When I’m not attached to the computer, I can be found reading, hiking or gardening. I enjoy birding, learning to paint, and brewing beer and mead. My work experience spans a couple of decades, a wide variety of mediums — and a couple different states….
Professional Experience
Art Director for Sweetwater Sound • Fort Wayne, IN
Created national sales campaigns spanning email, social media, digital, and print marketing. Responsible for on-campus branding and marketing for all local events, which included posters, fliers, large banners and comparable signage, event tiles on our website, campus-wide TV screens, and a giant digital billboard displayed outside the building on Highway US30.
Senior Graphic Artist for Stephan Baby • Pierceton, IN
Responsible for at least two yearly catalogs, including writing copy, photography and booking press time with appropriate printers. Also produced multiple brochures/mailers, and advertisements for publication in various trade magazines. Handled press releases and editorial submissions. Responsible for concept and design of all hangtags, labels, packaging for products. Developed toy designs and baby clothing, coordinating with vendors in China. Responsible for upkeep of our e-commerce website.
Visual Artist for The Los Angeles Times • Chatsworth, CA
Responsible for high-end ad concept and design for ads in the Los Angeles Times and all of its specialty magazine/publications. Duties included copy writing, interaction with clients, some photography, 12-hour turnaround of ad material.
Graphic Design Manager for Vertis Advertising Production Services • Van Nuys, CA
Responsible for overseeing the managers of each department of our 70+ employee advertising agency. Duties included: style proofing ads to ensure quality; maintaining acceptable labor-to-revenue percentages companywide; delivering annual reviews of department managers and employees; developing and coordinating rollout of companywide policies and procedures; helping develop the assistant managers as leaders; enforcing all policies and procedures for all staff; troubleshooting and maintaining many system servers and equipment; coordinating all four departments to ensure deadlines met each night.
Editor/Art Director for WHERE Magazine • Indianapolis, IN
Oversaw production of high-end 4-color, 32+ page Indianapolis-geared monthly travel magazine; duties included copy writing, layout of magazine; coordinating small sales staff and a contingent of contracted writers and photographers.
Special Skills
Software: Photoshop; Illustrator; InDesign; XD, Multi-Ad Creator; Quark XPress; PageMaker, Excel, Word; Pre-press experience. I am an avid reader, I enjoy birding, and like to brew beer and mead for fun and for charities.
Education
Butler University, Indianapolis IN Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism (graduated with honors as Melanie McManama) with a minor in Spanish
Special Awards
Most Valuable Staff Member • Butler Collegian, Spring 1994 1st Place Headline Writing Award • Society of Professional Journalists, Spring 1996 Employee of the Year • Stephan Baby, 2012