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About
An accomplished creative digital designer with a strong background in visual design, marketing communications, social media, video production, branding, and product launches. A proven track record of creating visual appealing designs with little lead time or direction. Able to take
direction from others, work as a team or independently, and always enjoys a creative challenge.
Areas of Expertise
Video Production | Website Design | Digital Marketing | Journalism & Advertorial Content | VFX
Techniques | 3D Modeling | 2D Animation | Motion Graphics | Print Design
Design Software Expertise
Foundry Modo | Newtek Lightwave | Pixologic Zbrush | Adobe After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop,
Illustrator, Indesign, Animate CC, Lightroom | Corel Painter |Apple Final Cut and Motion
Additional Online Marketing Qualifications:
* Training and professional experience using Google Adwords, Google Analytics, Google's Double Click For Advertisers (DFA) & Publisher (DFP)
* Professional experience with ExactTarget building custom dynamic HTML emails using exported CSV customer data provided by an analytics team.
* Experience managing and updating email database lists and groups. -
Education
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B.F.A Digital MediaFerris State University/KCAD2002 - 2007Graduated Cum Laude. GPA 3.6
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Experience
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Operating Manger/Lead DesignerGowen, MIJan 2010 - Present (16 years 5 months)Operate an adventurous digital media production company focusing on telling entertaining, informational and educational stories through digital and social media. Provide a broad scope of professional services in underwater cinematography, photography, digital marketing solutions, website design, online video production, motion graphics, and graphic design enable the company to handle a wide range of projects.
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Digital Media Adjunct InstructorFerris State UniversityBig Rapids, MIAug 2009 - Dec 2010 (1 year 4 months)Adjunct instructor at the College of Education and Human Services in the Television and Digital Media Department teaching coursework in 3D computer modeling/animation and digital imaging for video. Designed and presented exciting lessons that actively engage learners, while educating on proper digital arts methodologies and various technical aspects. Raised student awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the visual arts through creative web-enhanced instruction. Kept students up-to-date on progress of grade in class and project completion dates. Provided students with opportunities to reach their fullest potential through creative expression, cognitive strategies, and a broad range of aesthetic, critical, and production experiences. Offered extracurricular tutoring to ensure each student is able to understand the materials.
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Digital DesignerGrand Rapids, MIAug 2010 - Dec 2010 (4 months)Constructed custom Rich Media/Flash display ad campaigns, created HTML/CSS landing pages for campaigns, and successfully communicated visual ideas and designs with Account Executives and their clients. Deconstructed and re-purposed Javascript, CSS, HTML, XML, and Actionscript code for various promotional projects. Using a proprietary Content Management System (CMS) created and edited advertorial content. Uploaded various digital media assets to offsite Apache web servers and linked media in CMS.
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Online Content DirectorGrand Rapids, MIMay 2008 - Apr 2010 (1 year 11 months)Managed small web production staff and various creative advertorial or station promotional projects. Developed creative online solutions that exceeded client expectations. Proactively updated various station websites with new advertorial content or graphical elements such as logos, banner promos, and photography. Edited videos for both advertorial content and entertainment news. Worked with internet sales manager, brand manager, and account executives to identify potential online sale opportunities and develop those opportunities into new online products for the Clear Channel Radio of West Michigan. Contributed ideas for online elements for terrestrial programs and worked with station partners to create and maintain a long-term editorial and promotional materials for stations’ sites.
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Web Sales Content ProducerGrand Rapids, MIJul 2007 - May 2008 (10 months)Coordinated multiple projects and developed various targeted, interactive/rich-media campaigns. Delivered creative solutions that achieved a high return of investment for local advertisers. Maintained promotional and "Editorial Related Advertising" content for WOODTV.com branded products.
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Awards
SpartanNash Marketing Department RockStar, 2013
Nominated for Kendall College of Art & Design’s Recent Graduate Achievement Award, 2008
Graduated with Honors from Kendall College of Art & Design, 2007
Kendall College of Art & Design - President Honours List Award, 2007
Creative SmackDown Finalist, 2006
Bronze Web Designer Award, sponsored by Gateway Inc., 2002
BDA International Silver Award, 1996
Certificate of Merit from the Beer Institute Community Assistance Fund, 1995
"Zip, Zero, Zilch for Under 21" PSA Video Challenge Winner, 1995
Certificate of Recognition from the governor of Michigan, 1995
Channel One News (All-Expenses Paid) Internship in Los Angeles, CA, 1995
First Division Winner in the Michigan Student Film & Video Festival, 1995 -
Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@johnnyballen1995, member since 2015
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