About CK’s Experience

Education

I began my pursuit of a career as a creative professional in 2002. By 2004, I achieved my AAS degree, and in 2005 obtained additional web design and software training from Highline Community College. During my college education, I also dedicated time as an leader in the Graphic Arts Club on campus. We created fundraising for our club by utilizing our artwork, silkscreening the designs on tshirts for various local organizations. I also organized several field trips for the GAC, including a group visit to the Experience Music Project (EMP) (Now, known as the Museum of Pop Culture) in Seattle. With the previous work experience gained before college, and my design education, I was ready to get to work as a graphic designer.

Industry & work experience

From 2006 through 2015, I was the principle designer at the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. My responsibilities included designing membership materials, publications, newsletters, event collateral, branding, direct mail, merchandising, signage, promotions, community outreach, graphic support to TPCC’s website/social media platforms, enewsletters and apps, and a proud founder/member of the Fun Cart Crew for annual Chamber Golf Classic. 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.

In the restaurant industry, I served as a supervisor for two years at a local franchise location. My management 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.