About Jake

Is your book in need of a cover? What about the packaging for your newly developed product? Are you planning an event and don’t know where to start? Perhaps you’re in need of a business card, brochure or poster to give your business the professional appearance it deserves… Whatever your needs may be, I can provide you with clean, creative, and impactful design or event planning solutions.


Employment History

 

Freelance Designer & Event Planner

December 1999 – Present
  • Responsible for layout and design of advertisements, annual reports, banners, books, brochures, calendars, catalogs, CD & album covers, flyers & handouts, invitations
    logos, magazines, mailers & postcards, newsletters, posters, tradeshow & exhibition displays, billboards and other communications media.
  • Responsible for measurable and consistent attendance growth at annual events including events with attendance of more than 10,000.
  • Increased event sponsorship levels for charity galas and fundraisers
  • Organized and managed volunteers & event staff.
  • Coordinated and oversaw community involvement with charity events.
  • Selected, negotiated and managed event marketing media buys.

 

MGM Resorts International

Contract Graphic Designer | April 2010 – Present
  • Responsible for layout and design of property newsletters, posters, signage, employee manual, advertisements and other communications media.

 

A-Z Media Group

Creative Director & Electronic Publisher | Dec 1999 – Aug 2009
  • Interpreted design needs for marketing, publishing, sales, advertising, newsletter design, email marketing and other projects.
  • Designed art and copy layouts for materials to be presented in visual communications media; magazines, newspapers, newsletters, online magazines, and marketing materials.
  • Produced static and animated graphic formats for online media.
  • Designed, developed, and prepared marketing materials, logos, advertisements, newsletters, email marketing, trade show exhibition booths and presentations.
  • Set and adhered to production schedules, deadlines and priorities.
  • Understand the relationships between and uses of different web programming languages and directed technical staff on website visual design accordingly.
  • Worked innovatively to redefine a design to meet the constraints of cost and time.
  • Experienced working in a team, with printers, copywriters, photographers, other designers, account executives, web designers and marketing specialists; and meeting tight deadlines.

 

Toucan’s Bar & Grille

General Manager | Sep 2004 – Oct 2006
  • Attracted patrons through marketing development, advertising, public and community relations programs; evaluating program results; identified and tracked changing demands.
  • Controlled purchases and inventory; reviewed and evaluated usage reports; analyzed variances; made corrective actions.
  • Maintained operations by managing policies and standard operating procedures; implemented production, productivity, quality, and patron-service standards.
  • Accomplished human resources objectives by orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, and coaching, management staff and team members. Communicated job expectations; planned, monitored, and reviewed team member contributions; and enforced policies and procedures.
  • Maintained safe, secure, and healthy facility environment by establishing, following, and enforcing sanitation standards and procedures; and complying with health and legal regulations.

 

Skills

  • Computer skills include proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite CS4, CSS, and HTML programming.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and problem solving skills.

 

Languages

  • English (Primary)
  • Spanish (Conversational – Limited)

 

Professional Memberships / Affiliations


 

Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc.

Organization President | Director of Marketing, Community Involvement & Sponsorship
  • Responsible for measurable and consistent attendance growth including events with attendance of more than 10,000.
  • Increased event sponsorship levels; raising more than $250,000.00 in sponsorship.
  • Organized and managed over 150 volunteers to produce the annual Las Vegas PRIDE Parade and Festival.
  • Coordinated and oversaw community involvement in all Las Vegas PRIDE events creating bridges of understanding and support in otherwise uninvolved community groups.
  • Responsible for all event marketing including creative for mailers, posters, email marketing, newsletters, online media, social networking, website, print media, radio and billboards.
  • Selected, negotiated and managed all event marketing media buys.

 

Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas

Gala Dinner Marketing Chair
  • Director of Marketing for the annual Las Vegas HRC Gala Dinner.
  • Oversaw production of and content for Gala Program.
  • Consulted with creative team for the generation of Gala Dinner collateral including invitations, email marketing, banquet theme design, and mailers and assisted with designs when needed.