Curriculum Vitae
View and download my resume in PDF format at the bottom of this page.
A Little About Myself…
As a seasoned Senior Art Director and Website Designer with over two decades of professional experience, and degrees from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Rochester Institute of Technology, I bring a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to the table. Throughout my career, I have excelled in developing and executing compelling creative visions for branding, advertising campaigns, and multimedia projects. I have honed my skills ensuring the highest standards of quality aligning creative output with overall project objectives.
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With a proven track record in both Graphic Design and Website Development, I specialize in translating conceptual ideas into visually stunning designs and crafting user-friendly websites. Proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite, my skills extend to creating a diverse range of digital and traditional print materials, including but not limited to brochures, business cards, posters, logos, digital ads, and engaging social media posts.
In the realm of Website Development, I am well-versed in the intricacies of WordPress design and development. My expertise extends beyond the technical aspects, encompassing a deep understanding of user experience and interface design. This ensures that the websites I craft meet the functional requirements and resonate with the goals and preferences of my clients, and perform well on desktop and mobile screens. I am dedicated to delivering seamless online experiences that leave a lasting impression on users.
My expertise extends to Illustration, where I’ve demonstrated a discerning eye for detail across a spectrum of styles and mediums, including acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor, and mixed media. Proficient in digital illustration, I can produce precise artwork with clean lines in both raster and vector formats using the Adobe Creative Suite. My expertise allows me to guide the selection of the most suitable style and format tailored to your specific needs. I am dedicated to delivering illustrations that meet the highest standards of quality and aesthetics.
Throughout my career, I have successfully collaborated with clients and internal teams, effectively communicating creative strategies and executing projects from conception to finished designs. I showcase versatility and adaptability in various creative endeavors spanning my 20+ year career.
As a creative professional, I pride myself on delivering high-quality results within specified timelines, with a passion for innovation and a dedication to transforming creative visions into impactful visual realities. Furthermore, my commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and adopting the latest tools and technologies allows me to bring a fresh and contemporary perspective to each project. Whether it’s designing eye-catching logos, producing impactful digital ads, or developing intuitive websites, I consistently strive for artistic excellence and client satisfaction.
Work Experience
May 2016 – Present
J. Fitzgerald Group
December 2017 – Present
Senior Art Director & Web Designer
May 2016 – December 2017
Art Director
Lockport, NY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute the creative vision for branding, ad campaigns, websites, multimedia projects, and social media strategies
- Supervise and guide design staff to ensure high-quality output that aligns with project goals
- Review and approve creative work, providing feedback and maintaining consistency across channels
- Collaborate with clients and internal teams to shape messaging and develop cohesive visuals
- Manage project timelines and budgets, delivering on time and within scope
- Prepare and present pitch decks and campaign strategies to clients
- Design print and digital marketing materials, including ads, social media, and websites using WordPress, HTML, and CSS
- SEO setup and integration with Google Analytics, Google Search Console and enhancing user experience, tracking conversion rates, and increasing content relevance to boost search engine rankings
- Optimize websites for search engine visibility and performance post-build by implementing on-page SEO strategies, optimizing meta tags, creating XML sitemaps, and ensuring mobile-friendly and fast-loading designs.
- Develop static and animated digital ads across various formats
- Assist with art direction for photo and video shoots, ensuring alignment with creative vision
- Present and revise designs based on client feedback
- Hiring, art direction and oversight of junior designers
- Produce original photography and illustrations for projects
- Collaborate using project management software
April 2007 – May 2016
In-Room Plus, Inc.
December 2011 – April 2016
Senior Art Director
April 2007 – December 2011
Art Director
Buffalo, NY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Hiring, art direction and oversight of junior designers
- Complete redesign of company self-identity; including logo, stationary, website and all associated collateral
- Website updating, modification and upkeep
- Conceptual packaging designs for prospective clients
- Photography of complete product inventory and packaging; retouching and color correction in Adobe Photoshop
- Color matching and printing of labels with custom logos for application in production
- Copywriting and typesetting
- Layout and design of company newsletter using Constant Contact
- Design and layout of marketing materials, ads, trade show booths, pricing catalogs, sample mailers, product catalogs, sell sheets, postcards, calendars, menus, newsletters and shipping packaging
- Customized logo designs on corkscrews, cocktail shakers, candy wrappers, playing cards and other novelty items
- Working with international clients and translators to produce multi-lingual packaging and labeling in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic
- Organization and cataloging of client artwork and digital files
- Hardware and software upkeep, printer maintenance and troubleshooting computer/scanner/printer/network diagnostics and repair
September 2006 – April 2007
Custom Laser Inc.
Graphic Artist & Laser Operator
Lockport, NY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Redrawing raster artwork into a vector format
- Conceptualizing and creating artwork for new products and assisting with software and file complications
- Laser-marking and engraving products with client logos and personalizations
April 2006 – September 2006
Ivoclar Vivadent Inc.
Associate Graphic Designer
Amherst, NY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Layout and design of advertisements
- Revision and alteration of existing artwork
- Logo design
- Photograph re-touching
May 2003 – February 2006
Think Communications Inc.
February 2005 – February 2006
Art Director
May 2003 – February 2005
Associate Art Director
Pittsburgh, PA
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and layout of various projects from conceptualization through production to press
- Art direction on photo shoots, stock photography selection, image manipulation and retouching in Photoshop
- Oversight and management of intern projects
- Organization of reference materials
- Self-promotional conceptualizing
- Revision and alteration of existing artwork
- Organization and archival of completed jobs
- Hardware and software upkeep
April 2003 – May 2003
Art Voice Magazine
Graphic Designer
Buffalo, NY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Layout and design of advertisements to be placed in magazines
- Revision and updating of previous ads
1997 – Present
Freelance Work
Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography & Website Design
Lockport, NY
Buffalo, NY
Pittsburgh, PA
Rochester, NY
VARIOUS PROJECTS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
- Logo design
- Illustration
- Flier & poster design
- Event tickets
- Ad layouts
- Menus
- Door hangers
- Business cards
- Mailer cards
- Brochures
- Website design
- Vehicle wrap graphics
- Mural painting
- Photo retouching
- Volunteer work
Education
Graduation Date – December 2018
Leadership Niagara
Niagara County, NY
Certificate of Completion
12 Month Leadership Development Program
Graduation Date – May 2002
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY
Bachelor Of Fine Arts Degree (BFA)
Major: Graphic Design
Minor: Philosophy
Dean’s List—GPA: 3.4
Graduation Date – March 1999
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Associates Degree in Specialized Technology
Major: Visual Communications
Minor: Illustration
Deans list—GPA: 3.8
Software Proficiencies
mac OS
Operating System
Adobe:
- InDesign
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Acrobat
- Lightroom
WordPress:
- HTML
- CSS
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
Google
- Docs
- Sheets
- Slides
- Forms
- Pages
- Numbers
- Keynote
- iMovie
Experience with:
Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Dreamweaver and Figma
