During my time as a graphic designer with the Illinois State Geological Survey, I was responsible for creating informative press packets, educational booklets, websites, developing Constant Contact newsletters, flyers, large format technical posters, educational give-a-ways, conference branded PowerPoint presentations and printed materials, and photo documentation of many scientific experiments being conducted with geological sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2). This was a highly technical atmosphere working interdepartmentally with reservoir petroleum geologists, environmental geochemists, and reservoir engineers. Many projects I was responsible for creating design materials was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

I started my professional career as graphic designer for Cim-Tek® Filtration in 2004 and three years later was promoted to Marketing Communications Manager. My job responsibilities included designing flyers, brochures, sales sheets and product catalogs, package design, website design and management, social media management, logo identity and trademark filing, photography and editing, product videos and editing, copywriting, advertisements for petroleum and hydraulic trade magazines, creating industrial-based silkscreens for cylindrical printing, managing/designing trade show booths—both foreign and domestic. In addition, I was responsible for managing budgets for the advertising and trade show exhibition schedules for the year for multiple markets. When needed, I would travel to trade shows to make sure the marketing collateral was set up correctly and worked them in a sales and marketing role.

While attending college at the University of Southern Indiana, I gained valuable expertise working as a freelance graphic artist for Fairfield Printing and Graphics Inc. My responsibilities included creating flyers, brochures, and silkscreen artwork setup for t-shirt printing.

After graduating from college, I had a wonderful opportunity working as a peer group leader at a summer camp for gifted and talented high school students from the state of Michigan. This camp was funded by the state of Michigan where selected students could learn more about what area of the Arts they were most interested. I was responsible for supervising 12 students, teaching small group with art related projects, and mentoring when students were not in their core curriculum activities.

As a Disney College Program participant, I gained valuable, on-the-job experience working for the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park. I participated in college coursework, attended mandatory business seminars, and had the opportunity to meet and live with people from all over the country and from around the world in company-sponsored housing. This was a unique 4-month program that allowed me to network with leaders, take part in personal and career development classes, and build transferable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, guest service and effective communication.