Professional Experience

SEPT ‘17 - CURRENT
Owner, VStar Design Group LLC – Ypsilanti, MI

• Providing design solutions in print and web from ideation to delivery
• Consulting clients on marketing tactics and execution
• Designing, developing, and maintaining customized WordPress websites
• Administering domains, web hosting, and email

SEPT ‘21 - JAN ‘22
Marketing Operations Manager – SkySpecs Inc, Ann Arbor, MI

• Managed sponsorship at largest industry trade show; managed exhibit production, promotion, and sales collateral, while incorporating product relaunch with new brand strategy, facilitating 12 customer meetings and 54 SQLs
• Onboarded and integrated new marketing automation software Pardot by Salesforce
• Developed new project management processes, file structures, and organized department documentation in Notion software for more efficient team management
• Developed event management process to effectively unify team across 3 continents
• Supported company rebrand with 3rd party, including creative ownership transition
• Supported graphic design projects with video and graphic production

JAN ‘21 - SEPT ‘21
Marketing Manager – Wimsatt Building Materials, Wayne, MI

• Responsible for all recurring and new campaigns for all 8 locations, with a vetted customer database of +10,000 contacts
• Launched new WordPress website with enhanced SEO methods which transformed ≈400 new users per month to ≈1700 new users per month
• Developed custom e-commerce platform with 3rd party developers
• Executed first-ever company virtual trade show, with +20 vendors and +1,000 customers
• Maintained and integrated new software for product catalog, customer database, reputation management, and online listings
• Managed and trained new associates in marketing and created Content Creator role
• Organized and supported social responsibility committee

SEPT ‘19 - JAN ‘21
Marketing Specialist – Wimsatt Building Materials, Wayne, MI

• Created new brand identity across all media including a new brand standards guide
• Organized company-ran trade show including brand identity, promotion, venue relations, logistics, and on-site photography
• Built, promoted, and presented marketing education seminars at 8 locations drawing +50 customers to each location
• Created content and designs for monthly sales campaign: email marketing, landing pages, direct mail, social media, and blog posts, and promotion reports to team
• Planned virtual trade show including user flowcharts and personas

OCT ‘11 - SEPT ‘17
Senior Graphic Designer & Project Manager – C3 Ventures, Flint, MI

• Developed presentation and website overnight for startup review with MEDC, winning grant for 5.7M to bring 500 jobs to the City of Flint, MI
• Maintained all marketing projects and relationships with +80 B2B / B2C clients in diverse industries, including presenting marketing plans with tactic recommendations and designs in brand strategy, web, digital marketing, print, and video
• Managed and provided direction to internal team and 3rd party developers & designers
• Developed project and task workflow, tracked project stages, and delegated tasks to ensure timely delivery and on-budget execution

DEC '10 - SEPT '17
Contract Graphic Designer – Southeastern Michigan

• Created brand identities for politicians and small businesses
• Designed & installed WordPress websites, including mockups, wireframes, CSS
• Designed and orchestrated production for various promotional materials
• Managed public figure and corporate Facebook pages, email, and domains

DEC ‘06 - SEPT ‘08
Junior Graphic Designer in Label Sales – Medline, Howell, MI

• Designed custom label catalogs for sales representative presentations
• Produced label designs including pre-flight & press ready artwork for offset printing
• Performed data entry and filing tasks as well as general sales representative assistance

JUN ‘05 - AUG ‘06
Junior Graphic Designer in Art Department – Medline, Howell, MI

• Designed product literature for internal sales team
• Medical instrument photography and retouching
• Produced label designs including pre-flight & press ready artwork for offset printing
• Maintained Xerox multifunction printers

Teaching Experience

JAN ‘19 - AUG ‘19
Art & Design Educator (Rating 2019: Effective) – Arbor Preparatory High School, Ypsilanti, MI

• Provided Art & Design Education to diverse student population grades 9-12
• Created coursework for Foundational Art, 2D-Design, 3D-Design, AP Portfolio, and Digital Media
• Brought organization to learning environment, inventory, and supplies
• Set studio standards for students and staff to follow to maintain order
• Revised internal art & design standards based on NAEA standards
• Accommodated diverse student body including cognitive differences
• Maintained digital archive of student work

JUN ‘18 - AUG ‘18
Art Director & Counselor – Sherman Lake YMCA, Augusta, MI

• Managed learning environment, supplies, and inventory, with youth ages 7-15
• Aided in curriculum development, directing art activities for overnight camp
• Oversaw cabins, provided counseling, and youth character development
• On-going support for new incoming staff to manage the Arts Center

Student Teaching

FALL 2018
Skyline High School, Ann Arbor, MI
Grades 9th-12th with Meredith Giltner

FALL 2018
Forsythe Middle School, Ann Arbor, MI
Grades 6th-8th with Susan Bartman