Graphic Design is more than just conveying information. It is about visual solutions, grabbing the viewer and pulling them in. Giving them something to remember. My goal as a Graphic Designer and/or Graphic Design Manager is to create, or take what you already have and enhance it, change it, and make it POP. If the position I hold is as a Manager, I strive to help my team achieve those self same goals. [[ WELCOME, Come on in and see more! ]]
Additionally, my strengths are in the arts which give me an edge which visually enhance the graphic design of various documents and products such as RFP's, RFQ's, and so forth.
Over the years I have become exceptionally proficient with Photoshop, Illustrator, Word and Power Point. I have found a nice union using the Adobe CS software to enhance nearly all products I create when working with the Microsoft Office software.
2014 – Present
Graphic Design / Table Top Game Design / Document Creation / Project Coordination
As a Graphic Designer and Visual Solutions specialist, it is my job to seek out ways to get your product or project to POP and grab the viewer. To give them something that will stand out beyond the rest.
• Graphic Design for Independent YouTube Video Designer Dextor Plays Games
• Graphic Design for Etsy site Comfort and Joy Pillows
• (Not yet Public) Design for games to go on Kickstarter.com (In Development)
• Design and Document Creation for Resource Collection Board Game (In Development)
• Document creation for Core Rule Book for Fantasy Role Playing Game (In Development)
• Graphic Design and Visual Solutions for : Illuminations, CostPlus World Market, Natural Wonders, Alphabet Academy, Kids Konnection.
2006 – 2014
San Francisco California
Graphic Design and Visual Solutions specialist, designing creative solutions that enhance client centric products for Presidents, Vice Presidents, Directors, and 30+ person sales force. Graphic Design for products such as proposals (RFP's RFQ's), presentations, mailers, etc.
• Technical and Graphic Design of intricate PDF Forms which increased company profits and reduced loss due to user error.
• Graphic Design and Creative Visual Solutions of products with focused customized design for presentations and proposals.
• Researched companies to design an empowered visual solution to a client centric product.
• Office of the year for 2013 through innovative graphic design and visual solutions which contributed to increased growth.
• Prioritized project load which consistently fulfilled exceptionally tight deadlines for RFP’s and RFQ’s thus contributing to growth.
• Recognized for graphic and technical skills using Microsoft Office and Adobe software through the creation of a specialized client form. Final project saved 10’s of $1,000 of dollars and 100’s of work hours.
2001 – 2005
Martinez California
As the Graphic Designer/Tutor and Visual Solutions specialist, I worked with the Director/Proposal Designer for Dean F. Unger, Ms. Olga Duval (Now deceased). Along with training Ms. Duval in Document Creation, we worked on developing, designing the proposals for Dean F. Unger (also now deceased). This position offered me the challenge of developing creative visual solutions for client facing documents using Adobe Design Software and Microsoft Office software. In addition to Graphic Design and Tutoring, I also fulfilled the Martinez office site as Information Technology and System Administration.
• Every document I participated with the graphic design of made the short list.
• 90% of the clients became repeat clients.
• Creatively reshaped tracking process for projects, increasing efficiency by more than 300%.
• Increased efficiency of the physical process of assembly of RFP's by 100% allowing for more time to work on visual solutions and graphic design.
• Increased over all efficiency more than 400% through training and tutoring (Produce 4 times the amount of documents they were producing before I started).
1995 – 2005
Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Concord, as well as covering other locations
Worked for Kinko's Copy & Office Centers (before and after it became FedEx Office) off and on over a 10 year period. Various roles ranging from Assistant Manager over a team of 5 exceptional team members wqhere we achieved becoming the Number 1 Office on the West Coast. Growth increased such that the store expanded to open a separate Production Center for overflow projects from the other stores within the West Cast Region. I managed the Walnut Creek Production Center (a High Volume copy print production environment) with Project management, Scheduling, as well as Supervising the Computer Services department and System Administration.
Nextron Inc.
Assistant Manager of Graphics Department
Supervised Graphic Design team (10 Designers), Project Management of website design and Graphic Design which integrated Cost Estimation for projects. Designed web sites for Partner corporations for the small business environment using HTML and WYSIWYG Software, and trained new employees. I also worked in Quality Assurance, and Software Testing (bug hunter).
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Graphic Design Assistant/Word Processor
Word Processing Technical Assistant, Trained new department employees, Created and Developed Proposals and presentations using Microsoft Office. Rebuilt Proposals done in PageMaker to be in Microsoft Word for Partners to input new content and/or update old information.
Public School Teacher
1991 – 1995
Southern California (Fontana and the Palm Springs Valley)
• Art Teacher for Southridge Middle School in Fontana California
• Substitute Teacher for Grades k-12 for the Palm Springs Unified School District.
Credentials Held
• Single Subject Credential - Art (Not Currently Active)
• Multiple Subjects Credential (Not Currently Active)
Associates of Applied Science (AAS) in Systems Administration - Masters Institute, San Jose
Course work in - Computer and Video Imaging - Cogswell Polytechnical College
Achievements / Memberships / Awards
Cogswell Polytechnical College – President’s List for High GPA (3.8)
Masters Institute – Deans List
Second Place Art Award Winner – Danville, Village Sopping center art competition, 1979
Second Place Art Award Winner – DundraCon Fantasy Convention Miniature Art competition.
Past Member of:
California Arts Education Association (CAEA)
Campus Crusade for Christ, Supervisor of Books and Materials check out
International Institute for Education Through the Arts (IIETA) – Chico State, Treasurer
Music Through the Arts – Chico State, Treasurer
California State University Chico Art Club
Diablo Valley College War Games Club
San Ramon Valley High School Art Club
San Ramon Valley High School War Games Club – Founding Member
National Geographic Society – 1990
Additional Skills