Creative/Art Director

Qualifications Profile

Innovative, performance-focused professional, offering broad-based experience in leading the development of unique and high-impact marketing materials, SEO, brand identities, and print designs. Highly effective art director and graphic designer; armed with keen attention to detail and well-defined communication, analytical, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. Commended as a talented creative leader with an impressive portfolio and business growth record for major clients.

Core Competencies

Large-Scale Project Management

Strategic Planning and Implementation

Marketing and Brand Management

Client Relations and Negotiation

Photo Art Direction

Organizational Leadership and Team Building

Professional Experience

Van Arsdall Design (JAB–JAVA) Lakeland, FL

Owner and Freelance Creative Director 2012–Present

Expertly provide a wide range of services and specialties, including the following:

Advertising and promotional conceptualization, including newsletters, posters, and collateral materials;

Magazine design and layout;

Website development and email graphics design;

Dummy and map development;

Brochures, catalogs, and logo design; and

Photo art direction, identity development, and client services oversight.

Oversee numerous tasks, such as project management, print production, advertising, graphic design, as well as staff supervision and training.

Mid America Motorworks Effingham, IL

Creative Director 2013–2015

Initiated the implementation of the new editorial feel, as well as the reprocessing of the technology for a more story and information feel.

Worked collaboratively with a creative team in performing technical duties, including package design; product development; advertising design; promotional and event materials creation; and creative development for catalogs.

Highlight:

Successfully developed an editorial calendar as well as the new weekly newsletter program, consequently increasing email rates for Corvette from 6% to approximately 35% to 40% weekly, and for VW from 3% to 6% to between 12% and 21%.

Patterson Publishing Lakeland, FL

Creative/Art Director 2011–2012

Leveraged outstanding technical aptitude in providing art direction for multiple print magazines, which included creating layouts and designs; building and placing advertisements; and coordinating production initiatives.

AutoTrader Classics Clearwater, FL

Art Director, National Titles/Milestones 2007–2011

Strategically led and trained a highly talented design team of three members in producing layouts, cover designs, and editorial images for seven national titles and a one-shot series, which included solely administering four additional monthly titles.

Leveraged expert technical aptitude in accomplishing the following tasks:

Creative development of Milestones, an 11-issue glossy magazine series with 124 pages per issue; and

Creation of powerful sales collateral, website graphics, and online banner advertisements.

Partnered with industry photographers and editors in a wide range of duties, which included taking photographs and writing stories; laying out the entire magazine; and editing all photos.

Highlights:

Built and grew the Art and Editorial Department from startup to successful operations companywide.

Expertly rendered art direction to five books for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), as well as e-books, price guides, and monthly books.

Received the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award in 2008.

Creative Publishing Solutions Lakeland, FL

Creative/Art Director 2000–2006

Developed and updated impactful layouts and designs for two online magazines, while providing comprehensive art direction for print magazines and websites.

Assumed full accountability in supervising the Marketing Team, as well as placing advertisements, overseeing special promotions, and transferring files to the printer.

Highlights:

Redesigned and successfully launched the Mustang Times, a 64-page monthly magazine; achieving positive commendation at the Mustang's 40th Anniversary Celebration.

Played a vital role in leading the creative development of Vintage Motorsports.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Digital Art and Technology

International Academy of Design and Technology Clearwater, FL

Associate of Applied Science in Commercial Art

Tampa Technical Institute Tampa, FL

Professional Development

Photoshop User Training – CS2, CS3, CS4, and CS5

Photoshop World Convention & Expo 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2011

Seven Habits of Highly Successful People

Affiliation

National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP)

Technical Acumen

Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, Flash, Dreamweaver, and After Effects)

Adobe Director Adobe ImageReady Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

QuarkXPress Microsoft Entourage PitStop Fetch Roland VersaWorks

Operating Systems (Windows and Mac) Internet Applications

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