:: IBM | 4/97 - present

Currently manage the workload/scheduling for a team of designers and plan strategy/scheduling for all visual design components, from packaging to GUI, for a portfolio of entitled enterprise-level software offerings. Run user test sessions on prototypes, compile test data, and present the visual and functional recommendations and requirements to development and strategic teams. Maintain adherence to all corporate guidelines.

Project manage a suite of 9 enterprise-level database software applications from documentation through GUI to packaging and release.

awards / patents

• IBM Leadership Excellence
• IBM Bravo Award [achievement above and beyond for packaging redesign]
• 2 patents pending [GUI functionality]
• 2 patents pending [database design]

quantitative data

• $5+ million savings: Co-led the initial push to standardize and redesign the software packaging deliverables across all IBM products resulting in a 5+ million dollar savings over the next 3 years while satisfying user requirements and delivery & fulfillment requirements.
  
• 700% reduction: Co-Led the installation initiative to decrease Out-of-Box-Experience starting time (OOBE) by 700%.

• $30,000 savings: Saved $30,000 in vendor costs, shipping, and initial print/cd burning, and future print revisions by convincing client to implement a web-based, worldwide information delivery vehicle.
  
• 50% savings: Created and distributed a notebook of optimal pre-press procedures and checklists, reducing troubleshooting time by 50%.

• Utilize my HCI and usability expertise in design projects
• Enhance the visibility, design quality, and competitive image of IBM through the application of contemporary design practices
• Promote IBM's competitive advantage and the leveraging of technology strengths
• Guide and counsel from within my area to any client or team member to joint ventures and subsidiaries
• Develop and distribute design guidelines
• Review all relevant factors to ensure the successful implementation of and ongoing adherence to guidelines and directives
• Support management teams by thoroughly understanding their objectives and aiding in the continual improvement of the effectiveness of department objectives and goals

• Balance multiple projects from prototype/beta through delivery
• Switch gears abruptly to ensure the best needs of the project, client, and budget are being served
• Work flexible hours to ensure the project meets benchmark dates

• Collaborate with clients/team members to understand the requirements of the project and how to achieve the best deliverable
• Negotiate with clients and team members to choose the right venue for the project, provide the facts and research to support the reasoning, and comply with established design guidelines
• Produce concise, accurate written communication, clearly conveying thoughts and ideas
• Establish and maintain positive work relationships with peers, management and customers, displaying willingness to understand diverse points of view
• learn and apply new equipment and tools within an acceptable timeframe
• assume ownership of assignments, and complete commitments on time

• Gather research that will be used to analyze the cause of design problems and formulate solutions
• Research/beta test new media software and provide an analysis
• Recommend alternative solutions/venus to design projects
• Continually review department procedures, recommending improvements and enhancements
• Work closely with other professionals in the department to develop team solutions
• Advise management of all developments that affect a design program and review recommendations
• Understand the mission and vision of the department and incorporate them into all assignments

• Give direction to less-experienced members of the department in design techniques for products/hardware in order to improve IBM's competitive position and ensure all financial objectives are met
• Develop customer satisfaction plans that identify dissatisfiers and develop plans to address those issues
• Development, implementation and administration of all financial activities related to assigned programs

:: ZEX Media | 1982 - Present

Creator of this full-service freelance design company working in print and new media, cross-platform. Currently have a pool of 4 Designers with diverse skills to meet any design/process challenges for clients.

quantitative data

• 50% savings: Saved a client 50% in vendor costs by creatively adapting their marketing info into an equally aggressive visual identity using 2 PMS colors instead of 4+ color printing.
  
• 90-100% savings: Reduced ZEXmedia turnaround time (by 90%), courier costs (by 100%), and physical supplies (by 90%) by training clients to use online editing and delivery methods.
  
• 50-75% savings: Provide clients 3 initial comps (conservative, intermediate, cutting edge) to determine design direction right from the start, ensuring benchmark dates are met on or before schedule cutting initial design time by 50-75%.

:: Genzyme Diagnostics | 1993 - Present

Ongoing Design Consultant for this bio-tech company handling all aspects of visual communication for a product line.

quantitative data

• Ease of Use: Created a calculating device that was later patented as an industry tool that aggregated a series of test data into easily understandable risk categories using visual queues.

:: TwisterMedia | 4/01 - 4/03

GUI consultant for this content management company handling client web page redesign.

quantitative data

• Click Reduction: Created web site designs that reduced the number of clicks to get to relevant user data.

:: Jones & Bartlett Publishing | 2/01 - 1/03

Consulted on book project management schedules and out-of-house vendors.

quantitative data

• Ease of Use: Created technical diagrams and illustrations that allowed the reader more immediate data absorption upon quick viewing.

:: Creative Office Interiors | 3/97 - 6/97

Site Designer for this office interior company.

quantitative data

• Click Reduction: Created web site designs that reduced the number of clicks to get to relevant user data.

:: Prentice Hall Publishing | 1/96 - 4/97

Illustrator for this educational publishing company. Responsible for grade-specific imagery for ease of use.

quantitative data

• Ease of Use: Created technical diagrams and illustrations that allowed the reader more immediate data absorption upon quick viewing.

:: Houghton-Mifflin Publishing | 11/94 - 1/96

Hired as a Visual Design Lead for specific grade-level book prototyping. Drafted a proposal to keep the technical illustration in-house to use the available Designer resources to illustrate the books. Became the in-house Project Manager for illustration management and scheduling of available Design resources.

quantitative data

• $90,000 savings: Saved $90,000 (300 illustrations, avg of $300 ea market price) by proposing, organizing, and managing in-house talent for illustration creation.

:: Blackstone National Golf | 11/93 - 1/96

Iteratively designed and illustrated the initial business plans for this now flourishing golf estate.

:: Fidelity Investments | 8/94 - 10/94

Produced marketing brochures and materials for funds.

• Designers
• Writers
• Photo researchers
• Marketing
• Vendors

:: Putnam Investments | 3/94 - 6/94

Produced marketing brochures and materials for funds.

:: PageWorks Corp. | 3/924 - 2/94

Responsible for the entire design department: budgeting, cost analysis, hour tracking, design hiring, client quoting, design, production, meeting scheduling, production scheduling, preflight, film output checking, press visits, delivery, and billing.

quantitative data

• 75% cost savings: Saved a client 75% printing costs by designing his corporate ID in one spot color instead of 4c process-also significantly reduced printing cost and time.

:: WearGuard | 1/93 - 6/93

Hired to be a production artist working on catalog layout, electronic paste-up and some image retouching and silhouetting.

Recognizing a distinct business need, teamed up with a fellow production designer and proceeded to completely fix all the font and software issues that would frequently halt production and cause timely and costly printing delays. The fix we implemented was rolled out in 3 stages:

• completely document all software and license keys, combine all errant locally resident fonts
• once documented and compiled in a database, rollout install of consistent software versions and a complete universal font folder to all production machines (approx. 10)
• create a binder for each machine that lists workstation-specific data: all software and license keys for that workstation, a complete font list, a set of step-by step procedures for producing, preflighting, and release procedures with a vendor check-list

quantitative data

• 95% time savings: By standardizing procedures, documenting data, and re-imaging the production machines, reduced the down-time by 95%.

:: WordTech Corp. | 6/91 - 10/92

Responsible for all creative direction for clients. Worked closely with our sister printing company (LithoTech) to design deliverables that optimized in house printing capabilities.

quantitative data

• 25% cost savings: Saved a number of clients 1/4 in printing costs by suggesting modification of cmyk to approximate a varnish look for their printed deliverables.
• 75% cost savings: Saves a number of clients 3/4 printing costs by delivering designs just as compelling in one color as in 4c process.

• Marketing collateral
• Newsletters
• Books
• Magazines

:: American Kennel Club | 3/89 - 11/90

Visual Designer responsible for 4 sub-features in the monthly, elite-subscription, full-color magazine. Worked on 2 annual reports and produced marketing materials.

Volunteered to be the Design representative to attend out-of-state user training in the Zyvision system (UNIX-based). Attended the week long class and was asked by the Zyvision Company to stay another week for the system admin module based on my competence and condensed learning curve. Became the Sys Admin for the AKC and was responsible for training, maintenance, back-up and health monitoring of the newly converted Zyvision/Mac system. Created a complete customized documentation set for the AKC on proper procedures, maintenance and disaster recovery.

:: Conference Board | 8/88 - 3/89

Designed and created financial graphed data and illustrations for print, usingf ruling pens, rapidographs, and format cutting.

:: Rowntree Advertising | 7/87 - 11/87

Worked as the main paste-up artist for this advertising agency, using rapidographs, waxed galleys, format cutting, and registered overlays.

:: (WRNN) WTZA Channel 62 (NBC affiliate) | 12/86 - 7/87

Worked under the Art Director creating on-air still and motion graphics for news broadcasts (Aurora system). Designed weekly print advertising for periodicals. Helped design and construct the new news sets. Created storyboards for local commercials and ran studio camera for some of the shots. Also did hair and make-up for a commercial shoot.

• Designers
• Newscasters
• Vendors
• Actors