Presentation & Graphic Designer — with a passion for visual communication graphics, along with a keen sense of design aesthetics. Creating distinctive, streamlined yet compelling presentations that propel them to stand out above the competition. Whether creating a presentation from scratch (utilizing customized, ‘best practices’ template masters), repurposing well-honed content into a makeover, creating an adaptable presentation system or constructing a product presentation that demonstrates value, benefits and best features, my talent is focused on generating persuasive presentations that are strategically aimed to translate client goals into creative content and articulate project vision. 

Offering added-value, with over a decade of experience, I create, develop and 'bring slide content to life' for corporate as well as agency level clients. I also possess very strong organizational, problem-solving and lively interpersonal skills, including managing client expectations. Successful projects can be attributed to a practice of aligning relevant and engaging visuals to the targeted informative message while also maintaining brand integrity.

I've had the privilege to work in the areas of manufacturing, health care, finance, commercial real estate, food, branding and racing to name a few. Also specializing in the design of brochures, annual reports, direct mail pieces, signage, POS and POP, trade show displays, ads, catalogs, html emails, ibook development and even a drag racing car paint scheme.

Specialties: ? ADVANCED-LEVEL DESIGN & TECHNICAL SKILLS: Savvy presentation professional | 'power-user' utilizing PowerPoint & Keynote to create engaging brand content. Adobe Proficiencies: Photoshop, Acrobat Pro, InDesign; Illustrator, Ibook Author.

Highly motivated and talented graphic designer with an attention to detail and a comprehensive understanding of composition, typography and communication. Extensive experience in designing for finance, medical, advertising/POS, real estate, manufacturing and packaging clientele. Proven ability to successfully manage multiple tasks under strict deadlines while producing compelling and accurate work that exceeds client expectations. Creative experience in the following:

SOFTWARE
• Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint & Excel) Mac & PC
• Adobe Creative Suite CS6 (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver)
• Adobe Acrobat Professional
• Keynote
• iBook Author

PRINT
• Catalogs, brochures, advertisements, e-flyers
• Audit reports, annuals, white papers, case studies

PRODUCTION & DESIGN
• Comprehensive typography and layout skills
• Savvy presentation professional - 'power-user' utilizing PowerPoint & Keynote
• Digital and social media design
• VideoScribe animation

Professional Experience

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Chicago, IL 
August 2013 – Current
Sr. Consultant/Designer/Presentation Specialist

Responsible for creating and art directing executive presentations, collateral and digital projects. Collaborating with client teams to build national campaigns for 37 plans within the Blue Cross companies.
Key Achievements:
• Created a digital ebook series that defined issues in the healthcare system that  consumers must solve. Working closely with the consumer brand team to make functional presentation and workshop series products.
• Designed and creative directed c-suite level presentations and visual aides.
• Produced, designed and directed the companies first white board animation for consumer brand.

VSA Partners, Chicago, IL 
November 2011- current
Lead production designer/Presentation specialist

Designed easy to maintain presentations for clients and internal departments. Presentations require extensive info graphics, complex tables and charts and balanced type. Working in mac and pc platforms to allow the most versatility for clients.  
Key Achievements:
• Created 62 uniform imperative decks for client in 2 phases spanning a 4 month period. Maintained consistency across the board and met all deadlines.
• Maintain the standards and brand guidelines for clients as well the agency on all produced decks.
• Design the info graphics, implement the design and produce the final deck.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Chicago, IL
June 2010 - November 2011
Senior Graphic Designer/Consultant

Designed promotional materials, PowerPoint presentations, Word forms and templates, html email campaigns and conference materials. Working directly with internal clients and independent Plans to meet their design and production needs.
Key Achievements:
• Provide lead support at the 2010 Blue Summit Conference; editing clients PowerPoint decks on the spot and loading them to the assigned rooms.
• Responsible as lead designer on the Good Health Club campaign; consisting of 9 collateral pieces that were customized for 29 Plans. The materials promoted healthy eating and exercise habits to prevent obesity.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Chicago, IL
October 2007 – July 2009
Senior Graphic Designer

Successfully translated subject matter into concrete designs for sales collateral, PowerPoint presentations, html emails, audit reports and proposals. Managed numerous projects daily under tight deadlines while continuously providing exceptional design concepts. Worked closely with project managers to ensure deliverables were on schedule and within budget.
Key Achievements:
• Collaborated with traffic managers to ensure all clients had personal designer collaboration on each project
• Provided proposal layout and design for multi-million dollar clients and pursuit clients

ProLogis, Denver, CO
February 2007 – July 2007
Graphic/Production Designer

Produced brochures, advertisements, direct mail campaigns, posters and PowerPoint presentations for global commercial real estate firm. Successfully developed internal email campaigns for new products and services. Created new concepts for project sheets, proposals, PowerPoint presentations for conferences and trade shows.
Key Achievements:
• Managed new business clients for the South, Midwest and Mexico regions
• Responsible for the organization and upkeep of internal photography library 

Monigle Associates, Denver, CO
October 2006 – January 2007
Contract Consultant – Production Design

Responsible for the schedule of production, print, assembly and distribution of ads and informational collateral for branding and advertising firm.
Key Achievements:
• Collaborated with Art Director and developed concepts for new campaigns and collateral for main client
• Established trusting relationships between design team and branding team

GreenHouse Communications, Chicago, IL
October 2005 – December 2006
Graphic Designer/Production Design

Provided exceptional graphic design for successful advertising campaigns that developed brand awareness while effectively engaging target audience. Assisted in color correction and examined color proofs before press production.
Key Achievements:
• Worked directly with clientele from: Rich Products, Neat-Oh!, Delnor Community Hospital, American Dental Association and Rust-Oleum 
• Worked along Art Directors to assist in developing innovative concepts for new campaigns to present to the client

Janus Capital Group, Denver, CO - 
September 1999 – May 2005
Senior Production Designer 

Successfully produced designs for direct mail, national advertising and internal campaigns and created PowerPoint presentations for quarterly conferences. Worked closely with channel managers and directors to design specific marketing material for conferences and presentations.
Key Achievements:
• Responsible for designing a standard and procedures guide for the Denver office marketing department 
• Responsible for coordinating and designing the annual and semiannual reports: including the schedule for production, print, assembly and distribution
• Created and translated collateral for the International teams, working with associates in the U.K., and China

Multum Information Technology, Denver, CO
September 1998 – August 1999
Contract Consultant – Art Director/Graphic Designer

Responsible for designing packaging concepts for multi-usage healthcare industry software. Generated conceptual designs for box stuffers, investment brochures, educational investment packages and posters. 

Key Achievements:
• Designed tradeshow booth for a 30,000 participant conference, identifying a web-based pharmaceutical software
• Solely coordinated the presentation and design of the new tradeshow booth

JCIT International, Inc., Englewood, CO - 
April 1994 – August 1998
Art Director - Senior Graphic Designer

Designed marketing collateral for sales and education of the Demand Flow Manufacturing process software products. Delivered eye-catching designs for marketing collateral, software handbooks, tradeshow booths and software packaging. Supported the web development team with graphics for the corporate website as well as creating the active screen designs (icons, data flows, active layering).

Key Achievements:
• Supported the overseas offices in Nice and Frankfurt with current marketing campaigns, collateral and the translation 
of marketing and educational training materials
• Supervised all purchasing of printing, film, advertising and photography

Education
Associates in Graphic Design, Phoenix Institute of Technology | Phoenix, AZ, 1987
Major: Graphic Design/Production Art

Arizona State University West/Glendale City College | Glendale, AZ
Courses in Business/Marketing Communications

Certified in Computer Design and CAD Glendale College | Glendale, AZ, 1992

LinkedIn | - http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprillmckamey