I have always loved working with a team.
My background as an Art Director taught me the value of collaborating with talented writers and photographers. I respect other professionals and let them excel in what they do best.
I have also been a one-man show.
I can take a creative brief or research and make my designs resonate with an audience. I've been my own writer, photographer, content creator, web guru, illustrator, 3D artist, and more.
However, I will always prefer working with a team. Why?
Because I am at my best when I can focus on just one thing... Design.
My background as an Art Director taught me the value of collaborating with talented writers and photographers. I respect other professionals and let them excel in what they do best.
I have also been a one-man show.
I can take a creative brief or research and make my designs resonate with an audience. I've been my own writer, photographer, content creator, web guru, illustrator, 3D artist, and more.
However, I will always prefer working with a team. Why?
Because I am at my best when I can focus on just one thing... Design.
Art Director & Graphic Designer - Studio F
Feb 2004 - Present - Wichita, Kansas
Designed and launched the brand Cocoa Dolce Chocolates, L.L.C., which quickly became a local sensation. By the fifth year, the L.L.C. was valued at $2.3 million and subsequently opened a new store in Kansas City. Green Acres Organic Market, a small regional chain, to art direct all internal and external communications. Redesigning of their monthly sales flyer immediately improved traffic and sales redemption, resulting in the transformation of a 4-page flyer into an 12-page magazine.
During my tenure, the company expanded from two stores in Wichita, KS, to seven stores across three states.
Feb 2004 - Present - Wichita, Kansas
Designed and launched the brand Cocoa Dolce Chocolates, L.L.C., which quickly became a local sensation. By the fifth year, the L.L.C. was valued at $2.3 million and subsequently opened a new store in Kansas City. Green Acres Organic Market, a small regional chain, to art direct all internal and external communications. Redesigning of their monthly sales flyer immediately improved traffic and sales redemption, resulting in the transformation of a 4-page flyer into an 12-page magazine.
During my tenure, the company expanded from two stores in Wichita, KS, to seven stores across three states.
Entrepreneur - The Dog Treatery
2010 - Present - Wichita, Kansas
My experience overseeing other brands and my love of dogs inspired me to create The Dog Treatery. Managing a brand on the micro level has been a valuable learning experience. We can control our income and workload with just a few minor changes to Google Ads and/or Facebook. We can quickly adapt our advertising to suit any situation. For example, during COVID-19, we swiftly pivoted our ads (and services) to reflect health concerns, resulting in a more than 300% improvement in local business.
2010 - Present - Wichita, Kansas
My experience overseeing other brands and my love of dogs inspired me to create The Dog Treatery. Managing a brand on the micro level has been a valuable learning experience. We can control our income and workload with just a few minor changes to Google Ads and/or Facebook. We can quickly adapt our advertising to suit any situation. For example, during COVID-19, we swiftly pivoted our ads (and services) to reflect health concerns, resulting in a more than 300% improvement in local business.
Senior Art Director - Creative Alliance
2001 - 2004 - Louisville, Kentucky
Lead creative for Long John Silver’s national restaurants, focusing on advancing the brand's visual standards, including logo evolution, photography, and updating their graphic styles. Continuously worked on seasonal promotions and new product testing. Supervising a Jr. Art Director and two dedicated Production Artists allowed me to expand my creativity to YUM!'s co-branding projects with Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, and A&W restaurants. Cited by the client multiple times for exemplary performance.
2001 - 2004 - Louisville, Kentucky
Lead creative for Long John Silver’s national restaurants, focusing on advancing the brand's visual standards, including logo evolution, photography, and updating their graphic styles. Continuously worked on seasonal promotions and new product testing. Supervising a Jr. Art Director and two dedicated Production Artists allowed me to expand my creativity to YUM!'s co-branding projects with Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, and A&W restaurants. Cited by the client multiple times for exemplary performance.
Senior Art Director - Jordan Associates
1994 - 2000 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Directly responsible for designing, compiling, and outputting the slide presentation, deck, and leave-behind materials that netted the agency the Kraft Food Services business. After acquisition, we were tasked with creating multiple concept restaurants based on their existing brands, such as DiGiorno Trattoria and Claussen Deli. After successful testing, these were placed in airports, malls, and food courts across the nation. The west coast brand Carl’s Jr. bought Hardee’s Restaurants and launched an inappropriate campaign in the Midwest market. Our agency's Midwest sensibility was a perfect fit. We facilitated the brand's evolution while simultaneously using a consumer feedback campaign as damage control. All stores saw an immediate return to earlier (pre-buyout) levels or higher. Successfully worked with clients such as the American Dental Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Deaconess Hospital, as well as in the retail, construction, industrial, entertainment, and real estate sectors.
1994 - 2000 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Directly responsible for designing, compiling, and outputting the slide presentation, deck, and leave-behind materials that netted the agency the Kraft Food Services business. After acquisition, we were tasked with creating multiple concept restaurants based on their existing brands, such as DiGiorno Trattoria and Claussen Deli. After successful testing, these were placed in airports, malls, and food courts across the nation. The west coast brand Carl’s Jr. bought Hardee’s Restaurants and launched an inappropriate campaign in the Midwest market. Our agency's Midwest sensibility was a perfect fit. We facilitated the brand's evolution while simultaneously using a consumer feedback campaign as damage control. All stores saw an immediate return to earlier (pre-buyout) levels or higher. Successfully worked with clients such as the American Dental Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Deaconess Hospital, as well as in the retail, construction, industrial, entertainment, and real estate sectors.
Graphic Artist - Trader Publishing Co.
1993 - 1994 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Supervisor of in-house design, paste-up and production department responsible for five weekly magazines. My duties included simple layout, scanning, design of the front covers, all color pages and ads. As lead creative I was responsible every week for negative output and final press proofing of all five magazines.
1993 - 1994 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Supervisor of in-house design, paste-up and production department responsible for five weekly magazines. My duties included simple layout, scanning, design of the front covers, all color pages and ads. As lead creative I was responsible every week for negative output and final press proofing of all five magazines.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
1993 - Oklahoma City University
1993 - Oklahoma City University