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Co-Founder & Art Director
Silver Spring, MD
Mar 2015 - Present (9 years 1 month)
Soul & Ink: A Live Screen Printing Experience is the premier live screen printing business in the DC area.
• Provide creative direction, project management, web & print design, marketing, writing, social media, hiring, budgeting, workflow process, trend forecasting, video direction, booking and negotiations for a unique experiential art & marketing based business with focus on live screen printing at events.
• Collaborate on multi-sensory events with a wide range of artists and organizations including The National Portrait Gallery, The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Georgetown University, Discovery, Access Youth, Global Citizens Earth Day, and National Education Association.
• Lead a team of printmakers and designers, serve as live screen printer and brand ambassador at experiential marketing events, engaging personably with large crowds.
• Provide and create accessible, intergenerational hands-on art education through community building, creative placemaking and cultural events.
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Creative Services Manager
Washington, DC
Oct 2014 - Oct 2016 (2 years)
NTEU is the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees, representing 150,000 workers in 33 departments and agencies.
• Manage and develop the in-house Creative Services team within Public Relations, in a rapid response environment based on current national and union based news.
• Lead designer responsible for design refresh and layout of monthly union-focused print publication, The Bulletin.
• Develop and introduce long-term creative direction for the institutional brand.
• Create branding guidelines, design & deliver promotional materials, publications, provide environmental, lighting & set design, and direct photography for annual events NTEU Legislative Conference and National Convention.
• Manage, hire and supervise freelancers, photographers, and vendors for events.
• Develop a workflow system that increases organization, volume and production.
• Establish operating budget, conduct annual reviews and upgrade technology.
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Production Coordinator to Graphic Design Manager
Washington, DC
Nov 2010 - Oct 2014 (3 years 11 months)
UNIDOSUS is the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.
• Manage the Graphics and Publications team, freelancers and interns within the Integrated Media and Events component, working across an organization of over 200 employees nationwide.
• Develop & provide direction for compelling marketing materials and publications to support four national, widely publicized annual events including the Annual Conference, Capital Awards, ALMA Awards Live, and National Latino Family EXPO.
• Cross collaborate on projects with all components: resource development, office of research and legislation, education, marketing, health, housing and community development to ensure all publications meet institutional branding guidelines.
• Review and assess project requirements through graphic request forms upon client submittal. Integrate new projects into and manage existing project queue, coordinate creative briefs and designer assignment. Provide budget tracking, quarterly reports and presentations.
• Manage creative & execution of high profile national collateral such as annual reports, photoshoots, annual conference materials, award show materials for print, TV, web. Review art and copy materials, press checks & printer proofs.
• Perform as design team liaison providing open communication for ongoing projects, defining and improving processes and orientations. Provide reliable, solutions based service to address client issues and foster collaboration.
• Establish and nurture relationships with printers and other external vendors to provide cost savings and streamline production processes. Recruit and manage freelancers and interns.
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Senior Graphic Designer
Silver Spring, MD
Feb 2009 - Nov 2010 (1 year 9 months)
TMN is a woman & minority-owned communications firm specializing in social marketing, research, and outreach to the general market and Hispanic populations.
• Conceptualize, develop and execute design solutions for Communications for a wide range of products focusing on health communication materials targeted and tailored toward specific, and often Hispanic, demographics.
• Manage, direct and design a variety of national health communication materials development projects for several government agencies including OPA, SAMHSA, NHTSA, & CMS, hire and manage freelance artists.
• Introduce and implement new creative processes and standards for project management, quality control, and archival methods; initiate technology upgrades.
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Graphic Designer II
Bethesda, MD
Oct 2005 - Jan 2009 (3 years 3 months)
ESI was a federal contractor providing management consulting services in the Washington, DC metro area.
• Serve as a key member of the Communications and Outreach Services Team, plans and develops original design solutions for multimedia communications campaigns and a wide range of products, including brochures, booklets, newsletters, reports, Web sites, presentations, newsletters, exhibits and marketing and collateral.
• Lead designer on ESI’s contract to plan and execute the National HIV Testing Mobilization Campaign, a multimillion-dollar outreach campaign for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS Policy.
• Lead designer on ESI’s contract with the Office of Head Start, an $8 billion Federal program that provides services to nearly 1 million children and their families.
• Lead designer for Center for Disease Control campaign, in partnership with Smithsonian National Museum of the Native American, designing promotional pieces for a nationwide traveling art exhibit based on the artwork from The Eagle Books.
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Mid-Level Graphic Designer
Gaithersburg, MD
Jun 2004 - Oct 2005 (1 year 4 months)
SCG is a small, woman-owned company that specializes in communicating scientific information to improve the quality of our lives and the environment in which we live.
• Design print materials and publications for scientists & clients including the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Adapting complex scientific content and distilling it into visually compelling, accurate and informative design.
• Work with a team of four designers to brainstorm and develop concepts for materials; manage multiple projects simultaneously, adhering to strict deadlines and guidelines to ensure quality control.
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Production Artist and Graphic Designer
Derwood, MD
Jan 2003 - Aug 2003 (7 months)
The Merchandiser Newspapers is an independently-owned weekly publications in the U.S.
• Production artist and graphic designer for a Washington/Baltimore/Philadelphia
metropolitan distributor.
• Design and edit layouts for advertisements and section pages, as part of a
five-designer team.
• Work under strict daily deadlines to transfer files to Web templates and
PostScript to prepare online versions of the weekly newspaper for viewing
and archival purposes.
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Art Educator & Homeroom Teacher
Philadelphia, PA
Sep 2001 - Jun 2002 (9 months)
Quaker Friends Select School is a diverse college-preparatory program committed to achieve a balance between the needs of individuals and the community.
• Served as an after school program teacher and team leader, contributing collaboratively with fellow teachers and program director during daily staff meetings.
• Developed and executed lesson plans for various age groups ranging from Pre-K to 5th grade. Utilized age appropriate materials and mediums, with focus on multi-disciplinary techniques and subjects relating to self expression or global awareness.
• Homeroom teacher to 2nd grade class before and after program activities begin.
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Visual Arts Teacher
Philadelphia, PA
Sep 2000 - Jun 2001 (9 months)
Saint Francis de Sales School is a Catholic elementary school delivering an exemplary education to students of all faiths and backgrounds. They have an outstanding reputation for serving minority and immigrant communities.
• Art teacher for the Saturday Arts Program for select young artists who chose to be there on Saturdays.
• Manage classroom and teaching assistant, working within budget and often out of pocket to provide for supplies.
• Serve as the catalyst for students to reach their fullest potential through creative expression, inspired & educated children ranging from 2nd-6th grade developing seasonal, cultural, and character strengthening curriculum.
• Produce an end-of-year unique multi-sensory, multi-media art show featuring student works, incorporating poetry, live music, student fashion design, face painting, special effects and videography.
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Cultural Arts Teacher
Philadelphia, PA
Sep 1999 - Jun 2000 (9 months)
Taller Puertoriqueño is a cultural enrichment center that has served as the regional leader in Latino arts and cultural expression for more than 30 years.
• Mentor and teacher to inner-city youth, successfully achieving student participation by connecting art experiences with everyday life lessons. Often times courses became art therapy, as young artists realize self expression.
• Develop lesson plans focusing mainly on painting, drawing, graphic design, and ceramic courses.
• Reinforce art technique lessons with a focus on community upliftment, language awareness, and the history of Puerto Rican culture.