Sarah in Virginia 

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting the online portfolio of Eight Pound Gorilla, aka Christopher High. Below you will find my resume and profile. Please contact me anytime regarding your job request or (please please please) a Midwest career opportunity at chrishigh@msn.com.

Visit the Eight Pound Gorilla sample Portfolio.

Christopher S High
256 McCaslin Blvd, Apt 208
Louisville, CO 80027

303 . 249 . 6156

chrishigh@msn.com

Professional Experience

Greatly decreased annual cost and process time of packaging, labeling, marketing and advertising materials by personally bringing in and managing all graphic design production in-house. Have since expanded skill set to include video and online training production, further adding value to the internal position.

Through several stages of incorporation, I managed division efforts to integrate new branding guidelines into all levels of marketing and corporate communication.Implemented a thorough online library of sales materials for printed and electronic redistribution by national sales force. Resulted in printed collateral cost savings of 65% over previous year.

Won 2003 international (corporate) award for excellence in advertising, citing memorable content and creative interpretation of corporate advertising guidelines.

Employment History

Creative Director - Thermo Electron Corporation
Louisville, CO, 1998 to Present

More than 5 years experience creating quality print and digital collateral including brochures, advertising, packaging, direct mail, tradeshow graphics and kiosk presentations, illustrated instructional materials, scientific posters and illustration, and video.

Operations Supervisor - BioStar, Inc.
Boulder, CO, 1996 to 1998

Supervised various areas and personnel of a medical manufacturing floor, and other duties included inventory management, scheduling, training, and conflict resolution.I have proven myself within this organization as an effective and trustworthy communicator, able to interpret a difficult situation from varying views to quickly and satisfactorily reach a conclusion.

Profile

As a self-taught graphic designer, I have played a substantial role in my current employer’s growth from a two-product startup to the third largest provider of point-of-care rapid diagnostics in the industry. Nearly 6 years ago, during my time as a manufacturing clean-room supervisor, my lesser-known abilities as a dabbling graphic designer were tapped during a “design emergency” as a new product underwent federal approval. 6 months and many projects later, a position as graphics specialist was created for me, and all product design, labeling and advertising was brought in-house and entrusted to my care. This simultaneously saved thousands of dollars annually, while enabling much faster and more flexible creation of new content.

Anything and everything I’ve acquired in 5+ years of design has been under the pressure of real-world timelines and cost constraints. I have years of experience handling numerous projects simultaneously, for multiple internal departments and contacts, as well as press houses and distributors. I have used these opportunities to take our marketing and consumer image beyond the expectations of this niche, while providing consistent solutions that have earned me a respected place in many circles of the organization.

I also nurture a small but loyal set of clients on the side, with focus on branding, print, and web design. This client list continues to grow by word of mouth, as I come highly recommended as a designer, teacher, and confidant.

Despite my considerable job security, my fiancé and I have long planned to relocate to the Midwest to be by our growing families. In the event one of us can find a promising job fast, we plan on relocating to the Cleveland or Chicago areas in October.

I have a diverse background in marketing and design that can be used to meet your company's immediate and long-term needs. With the unique experience of a creative director, I am a versatile and analytical thinker with strong interpersonal skills. I also have extensive experience in working successfully with large-scale corporate branding and marketing management - experience that highlights my abilities as an established designer and illustrator.

I appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing my application. Please contact me by phone or eMail at your convenience with any questions, and to get a sample print and digital portfolio.

Skills

As a MarCom manager
Brand Loyalty and Corporate Image, Brand Management, Competitive Analysis, Direct Mail Campaigns, Trade Show and Event Planning

As a Designer
Proficient in Windows and Mac operating systems, with expertise in

• Adobe InDesign
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Director & After Effects
• Macromedia Dreamweaver & Fireworks
• Microsoft Office Suite