Melissa “Kat” O'Connor

Chicago, IL 60625 • (773) 793-9488 • Email

portfolio: www.autumneve.com

Relevant Skills

Software:

  • Dreamweaver 8
  • PhotoShop CS2
  • Adobe InDesign CS2
  • Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2
  • MailChimp
  • Exact Target
  • StrongMail
  • Typepad
  • WordPress
  • MS Office Professional 2007

Web Technologies:

  • XHTML
  • CSS
  • Javascript
  • PHP

Operating Systems:

  • Windows XP
  • Mac OS 10

General:

  • Visually and intellectually creative
  • Excellent design, marketing, branding, strategic skills
  • Excellent user experience and information architecture skills
  • Excellent writing and communication skills
  • Quick to learn, adaptable
  • Multi-tasking in high-volume and time-sensitive environments

Professional Experience

Life Force Arts Center

Marketing Director

  • Collaborate with Executive Director to develop overall strategic marketing plan.
  • Developed and currently manage Transcendent Journeys, a weekly community spiritual arts-oriented ezine conceived as the primary communications vehicle:
    • Designed the email pieces; produce each issue; integrate email pieces with social media channels and website.
    • Cleaned, organized, and currently manage the mailing list; list size 1250.
    • Supervised the writers; established publication calendar; served as interim Managing Editor.

pro bono,
May 2009 – present

Autumn Eve dot com

Freelance Marketing, Design, & Photography

  • Develop strategic marketing plans tailored to client, audience, and communications goals; clients include corporate, small business, and non-profit.
  • Design email marketing, web pages, other direct marketing, advertising, and communications pieces.
  • Furnish photography services for events, portraits, marketing materials, etc.

Mar. 2001 – present

MediaTec Publishing

eMedia Manager

  • Designed, produced and tested all electronic media publications, including nine weekly email newsletters, press releases, event notices, and other materials.
  • Managed subscriber lists for publications, including handling email responses to newsletters and unsubscribe requests, and assisting IT Manager with bounce and blocklist management. List sizes ranged from 20,000 to 50,000.
  • Created custom list queries for special event notices, press releases, etc.
  • Managed newsletter ad traffic: coordinated with Sales and clients to receive and place all ad materials for email media.
  • Set up all electronic mailings on a daily basis using StrongMail broadcast mailing software.
  • Maintained daily deliverability and sender reputation score reports; maintained weekly open-rate and click-through reports for all newsletters and email advertising.

Mar. 2007 – July 2008

BeTuitive Marketing LLC

Senior Designer

  • Designed electronic and print newsletters, email alerts, and related marketing materials for multiple clients. Developed HTML templates and produced each issue on a monthly to quarterly publication schedule.
  • Developed internal systems for greater efficiency in development and implementation of dynamic content newsletters, including rulesets based on list segmentation, using Exact Target email service provider software.
  • Collaborated with the publishing team on the development of each client’s marketing strategy, especially as it pertained to design, targeting varied audiences, and integration with client’s existing marketing and branding.
  • Hired, trained, and managed the creative/production team.
  • Performed technical maintenance and contributed content to company blog (Typepad software).
  • Maintained the BeTuitive company website, including monthly portfolio updates. Integrated web forms with Exact Target and Salesforce.com databases.
  • Designed proposals and other sales collateral.

Jan. 2005 – July 2006

Leo Burnett / Arc Worldwide

Developer / Production Artist

  • Implemented website pages, page templates, style sheets from source files provided by design department.
  • Developed advertising banners utilizing Flash and PointRoll technologies; developed other webpage elements, such as Flash-based imagemaps.
  • Contributed to:
    • US Army Reserve website re-design
    • Energizer viral marketing campaign
    • Cadillac Flash/PointRoll banner ad campaign

contractor,
Oct. 2004 – Nov. 2004

Demi & Cooper Advertising

Production Artist

  • Maintained and updated client websites, including content changes, image optimization/design, coding updates, and adding new sections within existing websites.
  • Implemented website redesigns by transferring content into new page templates and restructuring site architecture.
  • Provided design assistance to lead designer as necessary.

contractor,
Aug. 2004 – Sept. 2004

Education

C2 Graphics Productivity

  • InDesign CS

Aug. 2004

Digital Bootcamp

  • Illustrator CS

July 2004

SkillPath Seminars: The Secrets of Great Graphic Design

  • In-depth design and typography workshop.

July 2003

Drew University

  • BA in Theatre Arts, graduated Summa Cum Laude May 1997.
  • Liberal arts education with emphasis on acting and playwriting, and minors in creative writing and music.

1993 - 1997

Professional Associations

Digital Eve Chicago

  • Member since 2001.

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