Skills

Creative direction. Graphic design. Visual storytelling. Digital and print publishing. Project manager. UX design. Graphics/Data. Illustration. HTML/CSS/JS. Photo/Video. Presentations. Newsroom training and support. Content ideation and editing. Audience focus. Analytics. Headline writing. SEO. Adobe Creative Suite. CMS versatile.

Experience 

Contract graphic designer, Present

  • Current client: National Press Club Journalism Institute

    • Branding and design for slides, signage, menu and a digital program for annual awards gala.

    • Social media graphics and email promos for donating calls to action.

    • 2023 Annual report

    • Brand refresh for all external visuals

Features Designer, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 2022-Apr. 2023 (Contract)

  • Designer for the Life & Culture section. The Inquirer recently launched a new redesign and CMS.

Graphics Editor, American Chemical Society, Oct. 2021-Aug. 2022 (Contract)

  • Managed the visual and art program of In Focus digital book series. 

  • This included editing/procuring/building graphics, editing video, designing covers, gaining permissions and improving workflow processes and producing guidelines for authors. 

Interactives Editor/Digital Storyteller, McClatchy, Sept. 2021-Apr. 22 (Contract)

  • Guided visual solutions for the larger newsrooms’ enterprise storytelling. 

  • This included creative direction for a story’s visual concepts, building digital graphics, charts and maps and creating illustrations for digital and print. 

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (20m avg. mo. pvs, 2018) 2002-Nov. 2019

Managing Editor/Audience 2017-Nov. 2019

  • Supervised the visuals team, the platform editors, the audience growth editors and oversaw the Star-Telegram’s digital products.

  • Duties included the management and hands-on production of visual storytelling, design, graphics, video, photo, digital publishing, audience growth/engagement, social media, SEO, analytics, newsletters and training/support.

  • Managed and produced visual storytelling concepts for design, illustrations, videos, photos, graphics, data visualizations, databases and other mediums.

  • Editor for the sports, local arts/entertainment and business beats. Directed coverage by assigning/editing stories, approving pitches and managing a team of reporters. This included everything from the Dallas Cowboys to local business news to food coverage.

  • Built the Star-Telegram’s audience and brand by being thoughtful on the stories we pursue and utilizing analytics, social media, podcasts and newsletters.

  • As ME/Audience, the Star-Telegram’s page views grew 5% (with less content) and video views grew 60% (with more content). 

  • The Star-Telegram was awarded the 2018 Online Newspaper of the Year by Texas Associated Press Media Editors beating out larger newsrooms.

  • Worked with videographers and reporters on conception/direction and helped guide their video and story with editing/feedback and then through production by fine tuning headlines and SEO and publishing to digital platforms. 

  • Won a Lone Star Emmy for producer on Titletown, TX documentary video series which was featured on Facebook Watch.

  • As a ‘super user,’ led training/development and support on tools such as content management systems and analytics, video and graphics platforms. 

  • Introduced tools for storytelling in the newsroom such as new content management systems and analytic, video and graphic platforms. 

  • Led newsroom training on SEO, headline writing and CMS best practices.

  • Deep knowledge of the user-centered design thinking process as a project leader.

  • Developed, designed and delivered slideshow presentations for staff and
    executive needs such as training on best practices or pitching a new product.

  • Interviewed, hired and on boarded staff such as videographers and reporters.

Assistant Managing Editor/Design and User Experience 2013-2017

  • Managed the design for the website, apps and newspaper. 

  • Built out/designed pages using HTML/CSS for special projects and new products.

  • Worked with the national McClatchy UX team on designing phone and tablet apps.

  • Launched two tablet apps: DFW OT, the area’s only digital sports magazine, which had an engagement time of over 19 minutes, and Star-Telegram Extra, an interactive version of the news which won a McClatchy President’s Award.

  • Oversaw 15 designers working with them through collaboration and problem solving.

Design Director 2007-2013

  • Coordinated and managed quality control of the design of the print edition.

  • Led a reader-focused redesign of the newspaper and created an online style guide.

  • Launched an entertainment weekly creating the sections, storyforms and design.

Assistant Sports Editor and Sports Design Editor 2002-2007

  • Directed the concepts and design of the Sports section which won the Associated Press Sports Editors’ Triple Crown (Top 10 daily, Sunday and special sections) twice.

References

  • Sara Teeney, Publisher, American Chemical Society, s_teeney@acs.org

  • Steve Coffman, President and Editor, Star-Telegram, scoffman@star-telegram.com

  • Kathy Vetter, Senior VP, News and Audience, McClatchy, kvetter@mcclatchy.com

  • Lauren Gustus, Executive Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, lgustus@sltrib.com

  • Tom Johanningmeier, Managing Editor for News and Enterprise, Star-Telegram,
    tjohanningmeier@star-telegram.com

Awards

  • 2017 Lone Star Emmy Producer on Titletown, TX 2: Hail Mary

  • Associated Press Texas Star Designer of the Year in 2004, 2005

  • Society for News Design Over 20 awards during the 2000s including overall portfolio

  • McClatchy Presidents Award Star-Telegram Tonight tablet app

  • Star-Telegram Publisher Awards Digital Storytelling All-Star

Education

  • University of Texas-Arlington, B.A. in mass communication with an art minor, 2001