I earned my degree in Graphic Design from Towson University. While in school I got a part-time job with a small print shop in Hamden. That is where I got my first experience working for a small company with small business clients. I got to see first hand how that husband and wife team struggled to fulfill their dream.

Shortly after graduation a classmate recruited me for a start-up web company. The business model offered free custom website design as a benefit with their monthly hosting plan. During my time there I became proficient at designing websites and programming HTML. While there, I worked with many small business owners and I was driven by the need to help new companies find their voice. Unfortunately, the company did not survive the economic slowdown after September 11th.

Luckily, through the experience and knowledge I gained, I was able to easily find a new job working as a Web Designer for Millennium Marketing Solutions. During the 5 years I spent at Millennium, I gained responsibility and was eventually named their Creative Director of Print and Web. Not only was I designing logos, stationery packages, brochures, tradeshow booths, promotional products, websites and Flash/multimedia, but I was managing a team of designers.

Another benefit of working for Millennium was having an in-house print shop. I asked the pressmen a lot of questions and was able to gain a deep understanding of both digital and offset printing. I was also responsible for meeting with clients, doing business development, and drafting quotes. In addition to enjoying the creative part of the job, I found that I loved working directly with my clients. The experience and responsibility gave me a great foundation and pool of knowledge very early in my career. It also sparked an idea – I could do this on my own! But I knew I had more to learn.

Again, a colleague recruited me for my new opportunity. This time it was a job with a large Advertising Agency in Georgetown, RTCRM. There my clients were much larger: Microsoft and Time Warner Cable, among other well-known brands. I worked with an amazingly talented and diverse team - copywriters, production specialists, strategy & insights groups, project managers and sales teams. Much of the work focused on ad layouts and quarterly mailings, but I was also worked on national television ads. TV is fun stuff and I feel lucky to have gotten a taste!

After three years at RTC the marketing industry began contracting. I was concerned about my job and my financial security. I decided to make a move to a more secure environment - so secure that I now hold a security clearance! I currently work for the Army Research Laboratory as a contractor in their graphics department. My work focuses on large interior displays and in-house print materials. But my experience has added to their ability to keep work in-house.

Throughout my career I have developed and maintained relationships, personal and professional, through my freelance design work. Though I have done extensive work for small businesses over the years, what has been most rewarding for me are the relationships – friendships – I’ve developed with the owners. I get a huge personal reward from helping people develop their marketing materials and watching their businesses grow. It is my goal to continue this work throughout my career.