Hello! I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Graphic Communication and a subspecialty in Design Technology. This degree provided me with a solid understanding of industrial printing, enabling me to design accurately for press and ensuring that my projects meet industry standards. I dove into various printing techniques, mastering bindery processes, offset lithography, flexography, gravure, packaging design, typography, and web design. On top of that, I explored traditional management styles within a professional environment, as well as studying Lean Six Sigma. My minor in Art History has also given me a rich perspective on aesthetics, which I incorporate into my work.
For a few years I stepped into the role of a pre-press technician at an industrial print company. There, I provided graphic design to customers, corrected and optimized incoming art files for press, preflighted, and created custom die-lines for specialty packaging solutions, particularly for the wine industry. I developed various materials, including wine bottle neckers, point-of-sale displays, and promotional items for wine club members. Additionally, I collaborated on mock-ups for new marketing materials and managed press checks with industry experts.
My career then took me to a boutique publishing company, where I spent almost a decade growing my expertise in print and publishing design. I started as an in-house designer, crafting marketing materials and editing websites for clients and performing compositing, typesetting, and editing as a subcontractor for major textbook publishing houses. I later transitioned to become the company’s in-house print specialist. In this role, I redesigned several major math textbooks, focusing on improving legibility and aesthetics while effectively reducing page counts by 18-20% and print costs significantly, and managed several junior designers. I also became well-versed in FSC certifications, ADA compliance, and rigorous quality control checks. I managed all our design needs and files, liaised with major print partners, and oversaw the creation of hundreds of custom book files for universities across the United States. These books were used both in print and formatted to be used with our learning management system as e-publications.
Two years ago I took a break from publishing to focus on full-time caregiving for an elderly relative and afterwards to handle estate administration and property management. During this time, I gained valuable experience in project management, overseeing three major renovation and construction projects. This experience reinforced my ability to manage an array of subcontractors, timelines, budgets, and communications effectively while meeting legal and regulatory specifications. As a property manager, I developed a diverse skill set that includes financial literacy, negotiation, tenant relations, legal compliance, and adaptability in finding quick solutions when a problem arises.
Currently, I am heavily involved in non-profit charity work, organizing fundraisers for my children’s school, and am pursuing a Wine Marketing degree at Santa Rosa Junior College. I am excited about the blend of skills I’ve developed over the years—ranging from graphic design and print production to project management and strategic marketing—and I’m eager to bring this experience to my next professional adventure.