About CK’s Experience

I am a veteran designer with over 20 years’ experience in the creative
industry. I hold an AAS in Production Illustration/Visual Communications and a year of additional education in web design.

I spent 9 years as the lead designer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and additional time performing work in community relations, where I gained leadership and creative industry training. In those roles
I performed project management and design of brand work and collateral, event collateral, conducted media buys (transit agencies, billboard vendors, and local media), digital consulting, and design/production of all membership publications. Additionally,
I managed the annual budget and RFP program.

After moonlighting for years, I launched CK Graphic Design LLC in
late 2015. I continue to work with local businesses and non-profit organizations such as Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters, Whidbey Life Magazine, Courtyard Marriott, Winfield Designs, Seniors Insurance Services, Vintage Drift Magazine, Skyline Properties, Inc., Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community, Mustard Seed Project, Tunista Construction LLC., and GTM Transformations LLC.,  to assist them with their marketing goals and growth objectives

Recent work: Local media/Whidbey Media with Whidbey Life Magazine
Brand marketing for coffee roastery/café, construction, non-profit retirementcommunities, local art businesses, community organizations, insurance industry media buys/campaigns. I continue to work with local businesses and government agencies with their brands’ strategic marketing campaigns to connect their message with their
target audiences.

Images: Horizons Event with Gabriel Brown/Spaceworks and Linda Troeh/Targa Sound Terminal with Christina Kitchens. Image from Rusty George’s creative event, with our host, Rusty George.

Started in the print shop

My first job was with The Robbins Company–a local tunnel-boring-machine company. It taught me crucial office management skills including how to interface with multiple departments and coordinate their needs. I worked in their engineering print shop for three years. My responsibilities included working with machine drawings, operating several styles of copiers, microfilming, date entry, stocking marketing materials and relief reception front desk work.

Gained experience in the International Trade Industry

I entered into the world of the Customs House Brokerage industry. It gave me a firm footing in project management and helped me to see the value of building business relationships. This included building relationships with the U.S. Customs Service, steamship lines, airlines, freight forwarders, cargo warehouses, transportation companies, our clients and other staff at various locations inside of the United States. 

Images: Chamber Golf Classic featuring the Fun Cart Crew and a fun picture from the event.

Tupperware Sales & Restaurant Management Experience

In order to keep working while I focused on the early years of my new role as mom, I became a Tupperware consultant. This job taught me personal motivation, managing my own business and how to be successful at one-on-one sales. In just three years, I raised myself to seventh top seller of over 500 consultants.

I spent 2 years in restaurant management. My role included addressing customer experience, employee concerns/morale, ordering, payroll/inventory, community charities liaison, and making sure everything ran smoothly. I also learned the value of team dynamics and how to train and mentor employees with this objective in mind.

Images: College days with Rhonda and college class project called Postcards from the Edge where students made art with an Exacto knife and black electrical tape.

Personal Profile

My creativity began at a very young age. My “playing school” days were always filled with some aspect of design. I remember designing magazine layouts including deciding on the written and graphic content in grade school with my friends. Those were the days and thankfully I have saved them for all historical prosperity.