Kathy Adams

Creative Director/Graphic Designer

Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Work Experience

East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales

Sign Shop Manager/Graphic Designer

Manage three direct reports as well as freelancers and assist with marketing of East Coast Sign & Design for ECTTS. My responsibilities include redeveloping the operation and processes of the sign shop. Self-taught on install of vinyl wraps and also aid in overseeing branding and marketing of ECTTS and it’s various websites and parent companies. Responsible for branding and design as well as print media such as magazines, booklets, signage, posters, trade show displays, brochures, flyers and postcards and much more. In addition, I am also responsible for various social media graphics, website graphics, signage for all departments and general updates to the sign shop website through Wordpress. I created ECTTS’s first company style guide and am working with the Ecommerce Manager to improve overall branding and identity for all departments of the company. I manage the sign shop, sales, customer service, purchasing, payable accounts, organization and filing of all jobs and packaged assets on the company server. I also manage all organization and production of the marketing departments files, requests and social media graphics planned for the year. In addition, I maintain a number of significant pieces of equipment including a large format printer and laminator, office printer, scanner, small laminator as well as products and tools.
June 2018 - Present

J&A Racing

Creative Director/Graphic Designer

Responsible for overall look and branding of the company and its seven individual races/sites. Creates digital and print materials ranging from stand up banners, stage signage, start/finish artwork, posters, brochures, ads, flyers, corporate pieces, t-shirts, hats, finisher items, medal/ribbon designs, city flags/banners, race guides/maps/bibs/headers, website graphics. Responsible for all branding look of social media sites. Responsible for all event campaigns and photography of all events/races. Manages and oversees budget and accounts for all collateral.
February 2017 - June 2018

WHRO Public Media

Creative Services Manager

Responsible for overall branding and campaigns for WHRO Public Media, in in charge of 5 direct reports(freelancers/employees) and style and look of all department materials. Responsible for redesigning WHRO's monthly member guide to bring a more modern up-to-date look and maintaining the guide each month including proofreading, preparing files for print and local press checks at the printer. The guide is distributed to approximately 17,000 local and out-of-state members. Created the first interactive PDF of the member guide for distribution. Responsible for concept, layout and design for print, some web media and television to meet communication and promotional needs of marketing, development, content and online/social media of WHRO. Work closely with the marketing officer and creative director on designing logos, newsletters, push pages, one sheets, visual aids, job fair and trade show exhibits, displays, posters, banners/signage, brochures, annual reports and power point presentations. Use the Adobe Design Suite of programs on a daily basis.
September 2014 - February 2017 Virginia, United States

The Donning Company Publishers

Photo Editor and Graphic Designer

Responsible for photo and document submissions for all publications including converting, resizing, enlarging, extensive photo retouching, image manipulation, color management and web optimization of original and digital images. Responsible for scanning all media (documents, photos, slides, transparencies and various film types) for all Donning books operating a professional document scanner with top of the line software for book publishing. Produced the layout and design of a book for a Texas Museum. Worked heavily with Photoshop and InDesign. Responsible for contacting and corresponding with clients on various issues throughout the publication of each book. Working together with designers and editors on over 150 book projects.
October 2012 - September 2014 Virginia, United States

Freelance Design

Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography

Designing logos and brand identity pieces for local businesses and projects. Photography of products, landscapes and portraits for marketing for websites and social media. Designed social media sites and maintained them as well as designing several websites for 3 local businesses.
August 2011 - Virginia, United States

Vista Graphics

Graphic Design Intern

Used the Adobe Design Suite to construct ads for numerous print publications as well as the systematic approach to organizing a massive amount of art files for a large publisher. The internship focused on hardbound restaurant guides, designing ads, pre-flighting, editing photos and map books for seven hospitality markets. Internship concluded with publishing numerous ads and illustrating and designing 3 area maps for Williamsburg Virginia Tourism for 2012.
August 2011 - December 2011 Virginia, United States

Education

Old Dominion University

Double Major, BFA in both Graphic Design & Painting

May 2008 - May 2011 Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Tidewater Community College

Associates Degree in Interior Design

May 2001 - May 2005 Chesapeake, Virginia, United States

Cameron University

My Major was Architecture and classes focused on Drafting, drawing, design and architecture.
1997 - 1998 Oklahoma, United States

Skills

Illustration, Illustrator, Indesign, Photography, Photoshop,

Skills