Design & Marketing Resumé | Debra Cortese - Nature's Energy Art & Design

Graphic Design, Advertising, Marketing Resumé – Debra C. Cortese

phone: 845-887-3156

postal mail to:

Debra Cortese
Rock Ave, Callicoon, NY 12723

OBJECTIVE

To work for/collaborate with progressive businesses, organizations and individuals on goals and objectives where my extensive marketing, pr, networking, design, and artistic skills not only contribute to achieving specific goals, but will also create enduring and positive results.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

• Goal-focused professional with design/production/marketing experience in corporate, retail, manufacturing, banking, healthcare, art, entertainment and nonprofit fields

• Team player who listens, thrives on collaborating with talented associates and clients and integrates divergent thoughts, opinions and perspectives into meaningful advertising, marketing, pr and networking tools

• Energetic, noncompetitive achiever who can inspire and motivate team members, successfully manage multiple priorities, and perform under pressure in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments

• Social media marketing/networking innovator

• Exceptional skills in computer enhanced photography, illustration, design

• Highly proficient in web graphics, design, seo, social networking, blogs, newsletters, and website maintenance.

• Highly computer literate: hardware, software, cross-platform Mac/PC, systems and networking

• Artist, Photographer, Illustrator, Graphic, Web and Handbag Designer

• Host and exhibitor of art shows and studio tours in VT, NY, FL (plus, gallery owner – Vermont ‘87-’90)

• Featured poster artist January ‘05, and exhibitor in Pinecrest Fine Art Shows

• Created, produced, hosted exhibitions and tours for “The Gnomes”, an art project that benefited Neighbors 4 Neighbors hurricane victims charity – http://www.plant-spirits.com/gnomearticle.html

• Co-created, ‘Art for the Animals From the Children” an educational art/community project co-sponsored by the Humane Society of Greater Miami, AJ Japour Gallery, Miami Dade Cultural Affairs & Miami Dade County Public Schools.

• Board Member/Editor of ASK Newsletters ‘99-’02 (Art Society of Kingston, NY)

• Facilitated “Miami Art Marketing Salon” with 20 artist participants at Windisch-Hunt gallery in Coconut Grove. This 8 week course (April-May09) with materials provided by Alyson Stanfield, Art Biz Coach, is designed to move artists forward in marketing, positioning and selling their work.

• Co-produced “Summer Salon”, a multi-media exhibition of art, poetry, music and fashion show, presented as the culmination event and celebration of the Miami Art Marketing Salon.

• Co-curated “Common Roots”, art exhibition presented by Arts At St Johns of Miami Beach, featuring the works of 27 artists

• Designer of Cortese Designs, a line of handbags that feature Nature’s Energy signature designs: featured as a Florida Fashion Industry Emerging Designer to watch in 2009, on the runway at: Positive Magazine Fashion Show, in Fashion Expo White Party at Mansion South Beach, in MODE Lifestyle Magazine model shoot at the Havana Club, in LEVEL magazine

• Create & Faciliate The Business of Art Workshops for artists

STATEMENT

I pride myself in having solid, and continually expanding, skills in advertising, marketing and design. In 1980, I started my first graphic design business which focused heavily on print media (brochures, logos, annual reports, newspaper and magazine publications). That business grew to a full service advertising agency by the mid 80’s with the addition of media planning and placement, creating and producing radio and tv commercials, product and onsite photography, employees and consultants, and maintaining a roster of clients that included: 3 banks, a regional hospital, the VT Dept of Agriculture, Tender Corporation, a car dealership, travel agency, Founders Hall Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, Vermont Tap and Die, EHV Weidman Industries, Fairbanks Scales, Newport Plastics, and numerous restaurants, B&B’s, hotels, and small businesses. I sold this business in 1998 when I moved from Vermont to NY and have continued to freelance as a designer/marketing consultant.

My personal interests focus on art, nature and photography and my goals are to incorporate these interests with projects that benefit the environment, animals and children. I have created and maintain websites, blogs, and shops; research, evaluate and implement appropriate seo, web and social marketing techniques. I enjoy following trends and news across many topics and I network extensively with Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, blogging, posting, subscriber emails, newsletters, meetups and community involvement.

Work History

Debra Cortese Designs – contract and freelance graphics/design/marketing – 1998 to present
Arts at St Johns & Miami Beach the Musical – social media marketing/design/production/consulting – 2009 to 2010
South Florida Newsweek – editor, production manager, January 2008 – April 2008
The Garden Project/Safespace – program assistant May 2008 – December 2008
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – Education dept. Fairchild Challenge program assistant 2003-2004
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – Gift Shop Manager, February 2003 – October 2003
Graphic Artist Associates – Advertising agency owner/creative director, 1980 – 1998
Illuminati – Gallery owner/artist – fine arts, handcrafts and antiques, 1987 – 1989
Fairbanks Scales – Art director for in-house agency, 1977 – 1980
Troll Press – Mechanical artist/typographer, 1976 – 1977
Better Advertising Design – Agency account rep, 1974 – 1976
Times Herald Record – Display advertising sales rep, 1972-1974

Skills

TRADITIONAL: Graphic design, production, illustration, drawing, painting, technical illustration, line art, photo-realistic airbrush illustration, photography and photo retouching, copywriting, editing, story boards, radio/tv scripts

DIGITAL: Expert photoshop retouching, photo restoration, color correction, image enhancement, manipulation and custom effects. Typography, illustration, web design, wordpress, responsive design, html, cms, css, flash, quicktime, slides, video,animated gifs, music, forms, blogs, ezines, electronic newsletters, banner ads…

Products/Services

logos, books (covers and text production and design), posters, catalogs, brochures, business cards, calendars, product sheets, labels, forms, package design, radio/tv commercials, slideshows, quicktime movies, flash, banners, animated gifs, web design, websites, blogs, newsletters, ezines, ads, e-ads, email marketing, custom shops, cds, dvds, html, training videos, youtube videos, twitter, tweets, linkedin, facebook, myspace, paypal, ebay, etsy, squidoo, wikipedia, craigslist, customized advertising specialty items, marketing, emarketing, advertising, media planning and placement, copywriting/editing, product and location photography, storyboards, coaching, mentoring, collaborating, networking, tweetups, social media, and… more to come as I continue to learn and share!

ASSOCIATIONS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT – past and present

Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Narrowsburg, NY
Riverfest, Narrowsburg, NY
Silver Heights Farm, Cochecton Center, NY
Sullivan Renaissance, Liberty, NY
Wildflower Music Festival, Hawley, PA
Bethel Woods Arts, Bethel, NY
Arts at St Johns, Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach the Musical, Miami Beach, FL
Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, Fl
Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Miami Beach, FL
South Florida Writers Association, Miami, FL
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Miami Museum of Science, Miami, FL
The Villagers, Coral Gables, FL
The Garden Project/SafeSpace, Miami, FL
Arts at St. Johns, Miami Beach, FL
Mac User Group Member: FL, NY, VT
Art for The Animals, Miami, FL
Arts Society of Kingston-Board Member, and
Editor of quarterly newsletter, NY
Graphic Artists Guild, VT Chapter
Uptown Kingston Business/Environmental Group, NY
Greeting Card Association
Theosophical Society
The Woodstock Arts Guild, NY
Woodstock Center for Photography, NY
VT Chambers of Commerce
(St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, Newport)
Burke Business Association Member, Newsletter Editor
American Cancer Society Board Member, St. Johnsbury, VT
Business & Professional Women’s Club, St. Johnsbury, VT
Lyndon Children’s Center Board Member, VT
St. Johnsbury Rotary Club Guest Speaker/Presenter
St. Johnsbury Academy Career Day Guest Speaker
PTA member: FL, NY, VT