2021 to Present
SENIOR VISUAL DESIGN SPECIALIST
CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN
Currently, I am working in the Creative department at Children's Wisconsin. Our team provides design strategy and implementation to all clinical departments throughout our Milwaukee and Northeast campuses, as well as our 20+ other locations. We also work alongside the marketing, communication, and experience teams to provide both print and digital visuals that impact both children and families, and employees.
While in this role, I have collaborated on an expanse of projects from rebranding and launching a health insurance brand to illustrating a children's book for a clinic opening and an ambulance wrap for the transport team. As I am getting further in my career, I have focused on brand work as well as custom lettering and illustration. I work both independently - directly with the client and our preferred vendors - as well as with the larger marketing team for company-wide initiatives.
I have even had the chance to experiment with motion graphics to expand the footprint of what I can design.
SENIOR DESIGNER & ART DIRECTOR
KEEFE REAL ESTATE
While working in the real estate industry, I was a part of the marketing department for a real estate company in Lake Geneva, WI. I adapted the marketing skills I had learned in the hospitality industry to the platforms and target audience of this new industry. I was able to work on a variety of both digital and print projects, from postcards and flyers to email marketing and social media. I was also given the opportunity to illustrate a 16x20 foldable map and cover design of the Summer 2020 Lake & Country magazine that was also produced by the company.
A few months into working at Keefe, I also took on the role of Art Director for Lake & Country, a 150-page magazine that gets printed three times a year. I worked directly with the designer, the feature businesses, photographers, and writers to coordinate the completion of the publication by the print and mailing deadlines. I learned how to manage a group of people and gained many leadership skills in this position.
2020 to 2021
2018 to 2020
MARKETING MANAGER
PALOMA RESORT PROPERTIES
I worked in the marketing department of a hospitality company and managed the marketing campaigns of a variety of locations in the Lake Geneva area including a golf resort, a hotel and multiple restaurants. I explored the importance of branding while working with various resort clients' unique and individual projects. Each property had a different feel and target audience and I learned how to adapt my designs to fit each. My time management and organizational skills also come into play greatly when meeting the needs of many projects at once.
Working in marketing expanded my digital design palette greatly. I increased my knowledge in email marketing and website design - even making changes to this site in response. I was also able to work on social media marketing and the coordination and planning of photo shoots for our products.
2016 to 2018
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS
I started working as a graphic designer at the newspaper after I graduated college. I worked closely with sales representatives and other members of the team to ensure clients received well-designed advertisements. The deadlines ranged from a few weeks to immediate so I learned how to manage my time efficiently and utilize the Adobe Creative Suite to my advantage. Laying out pages gave me more organization within my designs and taught me how to use a grid system as a foundation for my work. Editing the newspapers' photos has given me a better understanding of Photoshop. I saw all my designs through to print production, so attention to detail was a must.
I was also given the opportunity to direct the entire layout of a local magazine. It gave me a sense of leadership within the creative department.
2014 to 2015
GRAPHIC ARTIST
UW-WHITEWATER CAREER & LEADERSHIP
As a graphic artist for a university, I learned to balance the life of a student with the real life experience of designing for the first time. I worked with both print and digital event advertisements. It was a time-based project experience so I learned how to efficiently manage my time and meet tight deadlines. I created logos, t-shirts, posters, infographics and social media graphics.
2011 to 2016
STORE MANAGER
POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS
I worked my way up at Potbelly for five years from an Associate to a Shift Lead. As an Associate I gained a great deal of customer service experience, organizational skills and how to handle a fast paced environment. Eventually working as a Shift Lead taught me how to manage a team and problem solve independently. Since then I have turned this experience into a freelance position creating hand-drawn signage for store promotions.