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Director Marketing & Communications
Minneapolis, MN
Sep 2016 - Jun 2019 (2 years 9 months)
As the Director of Marketing and Communications for Hiawatha Academies, my work encompassed the development and direction of strategies across five campuses to increase mission outcomes and visibility. Successful highlights:
• Developed organization’s first strategic marketing communications plan to set the standards and objectives related to brand, advertising, direct marketing, social media and other online tools to engage all stakeholders.
• Website management and content development including initiating and managing ADA compliance guidelines and over view of SEO and Google analytics for all campus websites and one primary site.
• Purchased advertising media including, print, online, and metro, resulting in over 13 million impressions since October of 2016.
• Branded new Hiawatha Collegiate High School facility in collaboration with U+B Architecture & Design.
• Designed a comprehensive brand style guide, campus toolkits/templates and the design of an online print ordering platform to increase efficiencies, cut costs and build campus-wide brand alignment.
• Conducted brand/vendor staff training to decentralize tactical marketing, social media, website and print initiatives, enabling schools to amplify their individual diverse cultures while upholding brand consistency.
• Managed ideation, design and execution of annual reports including photo production schedules and on site art direction; created the brand for ten-year anniversary celebration and professional development staff events.
• Built strong loyalty via a favorable public image, supporting staff and student enrollment and retention, family engagement and development; ensured marketing products were available in up three languages.
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Adjunct Faculty Instructor
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2017 - Mar 2019 (2 years 2 months)
Color Marketing and Forecasting is a five week online course offered to all MCAD students every spring. In this course students study color theory, psychology, and terminology; while exploring different approaches to color application and creation. Understanding how color trends are tracked and forecasted is vital in the retail world.
Choosing the right color for a product, website, or brand identity program has a direct impact on consumer choice as color is one of the most powerful selling tools available to the designer and marketing professional.
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Principal & Creative Director
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2006 - Aug 2016 (10 years 7 months)
Specializing in experiential design.
Of Mexican-American descent, I was born in the southwest and reared in southern California, and am bilingual in English and Spanish. My work expresses an awareness and understanding of multicultural points of view, while my bi-cultural influences add versatility and depth to my design solutions.
These cultural insights, along with the explosive changes in U.S. population demographics over the last 30 years will demand innovative approaches to reach multicultural markets.
Casa Valencia has provided design solutions for corporate clients including; The Lawlor Group, BI Worldwide, Eli Lilly, August Jackson Brand Engagement, General Mills, Jack Morton Worldwide and Target. Additional clients include; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (Cornell University), Minneapolis Public Schools, Planned Parenthood of MN SD, and the U of M Community-University Health Care Center.
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Creative Director, Designer
Chicago, IL
Mar 2005 - 2006 (1 year 8 months)
Long-term contract work on various projects for the Jack Morton creative teams in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York and Jack Morton Latino in Los Angeles.
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Creative Director
Minneapolis, MN
Aug 2003 - Mar 2005 (1 year 7 months)
Directly responsible for managing and leading creative group with one universal goal in mind — to make Banks world class retailers through —
Strategic Brand Development as expressed through point-of-purchase print communications, collateral, direct marketing, promotions, events, and dynamic media communications.
Strategic Environmental Development as expressed through customer pathways, human touch points and interactive technology.
Dynamic Media Development of brand, positional, promotional, regional, local and syndicated content.
For clients including American Express, Bank of America, Citizens Bank, Charter One Bank, Chase, RBC Centura, Guaranty Bank, TCF Bank, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank
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Creative Director
Minneapolis, MN
2001 - 2003 (2 years)
Responsible for multilingual creative marketing communications. Co-developed strategy to restructure the company into three areas of expertise; Global, Latino and Translation. As the creative director for Creo International, the focus was to tap into the fast growing Hispanic segment in the U.S and Latin American markets, for clients including U.S. Bank, Cargill, Target Stores, Mervyn’s and Seaworld. *CREO International changed its name to TripleInk in 2004.
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Creative Supervisor
Minneapolis, MN
1993 - 1996 (3 years)
Creative supervisor responsible for leading creative group in the research, development and implementation of retail concepts for Fortune 500 companies. Two cases in point ...
Creative lead and designer of the multi-disciplinary team who launched “Lullaby Club” for Target Stores. This new baby gift registry program included; softline apparel design, product and packaging design, POS communications and in-store promotional displays, brand collateral, merchant style guide and public relations material.
Creative lead and designer of a new retail store concept for the NY market. Co-designed the interior environment with architectural firm, and in collaboration with the client developed the customer philosophy, mission statement, visual identity. I also introduced a new paradigm for holiday and promotional event launches. Merchandise design included children’s apparel and promotional items. Interior environment included the floor design, large scale wall graphics, fixture pathways, children’s interactive area, coffee bar and shoe department. Exterior macro signing and banners.