Valerie E. Cox
owiella@comcast.net

Experience

American Student Assistance, Boston, Massachusetts Creative Specialist, February 2003 to Present

Manage marketing projects as well as conceptualize, create, and deliver marketing collateral for brochures, advertisements, direct mail, conference materials, exhibition materials, annual reports, corporate identification and branding, Web design, email campaigns, and illustrations on time and on budget. Responsibilities also include performing a wide-range of photography services, actively work with print brokers, art stock houses, maintaining vendor relations, and maintain inhouse media library.

Viewpoint Designs, Wakefield, Massachusetts Creative Director, July 1997 to Present

In a entrepreneur capacity, I have conceptualized, developed, managed projects and designed materials for web sites, branding packages, book layouts, conference exhibits, brochures, illustrations, logos, mailers, newsletters, pamphlets, posters, and other various creative projects. I've also built strong relationships with clients and vendors.

Arthur Andersen, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts Graphic Designer, November 1996 to June 2002

Concept, design and creation of brochures, ads, posters, banners, proposals, presentations, and various other materials. Project manager on multimedia projects that include marketing campaigns, proposals, presentations, seminars, training programs, and community events. Ensure firm compliance with the company's branding and co-branding strategies and guidelines. Produce original illustration and photography for use in various proposal, presentation and marketing materials. Maintain vendor relations with companies that included photographers, photo stock outlets, offset printers, service bureaus, print brokers, and various computer and peripheral maintenance providers. Provide in-house training on use of software, hardware and peripherals. Provide troubleshooting expertise on company software, hardware and peripherals. Research need and make recommendations regarding the purchase of software, hardware, systems and peripherals. Both the Windows and Mac environments are utilized.

Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC, Jackson, Mississippi Graphic Specialist, June 1994 to August 1996

Designed and produced all graphic and art materials, multimedia presentations, charts, and confidential materials. Met time-sensitive deadlines, worked well under pressure, provided proofreading, and produced general transcription, general correspondence, and generated documents ranging from client letters to court documents that follow strict protocols. Assisted Word Processing department with in-house and outgoing documentation for approximately 150 attorneys. Assisted in the training of new and existing employees at all levels of different software programs. Provided troubleshooting of printers, desktop systems, and computer network. Member of the firm's Technology Committee.

Standish, Ayer & Wood, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts Desktop Publisher, June 1992 to December 1993

A team participant of an eight-member Desktop Publishing department responsible for all in-house and outgoing materials for an approximately 180-employee investment advisory firm. Utilized both the Mac and PC platforms. Met time-sensitive deadlines. Developing and implementing time-saving techniques. Designed presentation materials, video presentations, graphics, and assisted with layout, design and production of in-house and client newsletters. Provided proofreading and general transcriptions and correspondence services.

Software

PC: Adobe products include Acrobat, Illustrator, ImageReady, PageMaker, Photoshop, and Premiere; Corel products include Bryce; Draw, and WordPerfect; Lotus products include Notes and Lotus 1-2-3; Macromedia products include Director with Lingo, Extreme 3D, Flash, Shockwave, and xRes; Quark Express; Microsoft Office 97 and 2000 suites; Sound Forge XP; NoteTab and HTML. Mac: Adobe products include Illustrator, PageMaker, and Photoshop; Lotus 1-2-3; Macromedia products include Director with Lingo, Flash, Shockwave; Microsoft Office 97 suite; Persuasion and Quark Express.

Education

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts

Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, 2002 Associate of Science in Information Systems, 2001 Computer Science Certificate, 1998 Multimedia Certificate, 2001 Graphic Design and Digital Imaging Certificate, 2001

University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts

English Major 1985 to 1987

Education Honors

Graduated summa cum laude Member of Alpha Sigma Lambda/National Honor Society since 2000 Dean’s List for Academic Excellence Who’s Who Among American College Students DECA—Awarded First Place in state competition (NH) for Advertising

Clubs, Hobbies and Interest

Merrimack Valley Camera Club (MVCC), member since 2001 and Editor of MVCC’s monthly newsletter, Focal Points Massachusetts Special Olympics volunteer Habitat for Humanity Volunteer photographer for Goodwill’s “Dress for Success” program Hiker, bicyclist, photographer, softball, golfer