:: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Graphic Designer, January 2021–March 2023, The Lukens Company, Arlington, VA (full-service marketing agency)
Brought decades of fundraising direct mail design expertise to the award-winning TLC creative team. Shared technical insights while working with newly-trained as well as seasoned strategists and production managers to execute non-profit advocacy and political materials for nationwide clients. Designed results-oriented direct response mailings, logos, grassroots door hangers, and action-inspiring social media ads. Worked supportively with fellow TLC PEDAL committee members to use our individual industry SME (or curiosity-inspired!) research to create inspirational, educational content for weekly distribution company-wide:
Design & Marketing Consultant, mid 2019–early 2020, Valued Acts/WorkFields Incorporated, Washington, D.C. (technology start-up)
As consultant for this start-up company, worked with the Team Lead and Customer Experience & Marketing team to develop color palette, provide digital assets, and advise on identity and brand development goals. Valued Acts provided a powerful, easy to use App to help organizations align on important activities and gain insights to enhance productivity through peer-to-peer accountability and prioritization — “Supercharging the way we work together.”
Graphic Arts Director, 1999–2019, Warfield & Walsh, Inc., Alexandria, VA (targeted fundraising agency)
As an integral part of the team, refined concepts for national non-profit organizations’ fundraising campaigns into message-driven, cost-conscious, precisely designed components. Produced premium-driven member-retention mailings, action-provoking acquisition packages, annual invitations, informative newsletters, as well as bilingual forms, marketing materials, and supportive social media. Ensured thoughtful brand development and advised on technical procedures. Clients included presidential centers, historical foundations, political organizations, Olympics-bound teams, church eGiving, and other benevolent causes.
Graphic Designer, 1999, Boyce Creative Services, Alexandria, VA (direct mail fundraising agency)
As the inaugural Graphic Designer, worked with staff to execute solutions for fundraising goals for each of our national non-profit clients. Created mailings to boost donor base — myriad materials from member cards to commemorative coins to personalized surveys to embroidered ballcaps. Broadened knowledge of direct marketing print production techniques. Established system of organization for design files. Boyce Creative Services evolved into Warfield & Walsh.
Graphic Designer, 1995, 1996–1998, Patricia Hord.Graphik Design, Alexandria, VA
Worked with principal and independently to develop ideas. Produced marketing materials, annual reports, and corporate identities. Illustrated in various media. Expanded press check, software, and Macintosh skills. Gained familiarity with informational and wayfinding signage.
:: PRO BONO
Graphic Designer, 2017–2018, Cassiopeia Foundation, Inc., Charlottesville, VA (grantmaking-investor collaboration entity)
Identity designed to implement sunset strategy with new name and vision for foundation’s role in social change. Provided economical printed materials and versatile digital art.
:: SKILLS
Direct mail fundraising/marketing strategy, partnering with project managers to deliver on multi-project deadlines, non-profits, visual and copy proofing;
Color theory and Pantone, forms/surveys, identity, illustration, preflight, retouching, typography;
Macintosh, Quark XPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office;
Basic Spanish with continual language skill-building;
One-on-one First Grade lesson support; retail associate at Restoration Hardware; ice cream scooper, clam shack line cook, and waitress on Cape Cod;
Curiosity
:: EDUCATION
B.A., 1996, Interdisciplinary Studies - Design, Communication & Marketing, American University, Washington, D.C. — Presidential Scholarship awardee
Pratt Institute PreCollege Summer Program - Fine Arts, 1990, Brooklyn, NY
:: AFFILIATION
AIGA - the professional association for design, 1996–present, Washington, D.C. Chapter