PAST & PRESENT WORK

July 2012 – July 2021

Directorate of Public Affairs & Medical Education Training Campus (Ft Sam Houston, TX 78234) Outreach & Graphics Specialist

• Design publications, videos, brochures, cover design, online publications, posters, magazines, social media graphics, newsletters, briefings, illustrations, and logos.

• Prepare original creative products to enhance organization's communications from rough sketches, ideas, and concepts in support of current Army Surgeon General.

• Plan and design visual information material including printed publications, multimedia, photography, exhibits, signs, and certificates.

• Develop concepts, layouts and designs through frequent coordination with customer to create visual products in support of the U.S. Army Medical Department.

• Monitor production schedules for completing editing, layout and design, proofing, technical review, and delivery of materials.

• Take live action shots for projects that need up-to-date photos.  Proficient with both Canon and Nikon format cameras.

• Evaluate support for exhibit space, design and layouts proposed for conferences.

• Manipulate digital images for printed materials and internet pages. Utilize desktop publishing systems (Macintosh or PC systems) and software applications e.g. InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, etc. Use of photo editing (such as Photoshop or Lightroom) software with digital file formats (tif, gif, eps, pdf, jpg) and a comprehensive knowledge of graphic design principles and production methods.

• Utilize video equipment to create MEDCOM-6, Health Minute, and commemoration videos for website and social media by utilizing Canon for photo stills and video and editing in Premiere Pro. Direct and assist with script writing online videos and voice-overs.

• Serving as Social Media Manager to create monthly media plans for all Public Affairs Officers by writing new material for observances/commemorations, cutlines, and articles with prepared graphics, photography and videos for social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Prepare analytics.

September 2006 - Present
Westfall Designs (Computer Graphics & Photography)
Owner, Graphic Designer & Photographer:

• Sole proprietorship that offers local businesses & individual clients all graphic essentials including website design, photography & any print design for digital & hard copy media.

• Work with clients in developing marketing concepts & tag-lines for the business promotions.

• Designs and completes artwork for charts, posters, signage, and social media for education and training purposes.

• Provide input based on demographic research, designed products, various advertising pieces for newspapers, magazines, business and personal product brochures, business cards, magnets vehicle design, posters & mailers.

• Design logos and marketing for upstart businesses.

• Perform all photography to include marketing for new and/or established businesses to include real estate, portraiture & events.

• Photography work has also included on individual basis such as engagements, sports and special events.

• Produce video media for Mac’s to include mpegs for website or monitor viewing.

• Website design to include set up hosting.

• Creating online podcasts.

*Macintosh platform utilized. Software: Adobe Creative Suite products to include PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign CC, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Captivate.  Microsoft Office.  Adobe Acrobat Reader. Photography equipment to include Nikon cameras D7000, D750 & SB 900 Flash-head, Canon Mark D

November 2007 – February 2010
A’GACI, LLC (12460 Network Blvd #106, San Antonio, TX  78249)
Graphic Designer:

• Created original artistic illustrations and prepared electronic graphic media outputs in support of the 51 stores across the U.S.

• Designed and prepared print media dissemination to store managers.

• Prepared photographs to be released with all signage.

• Primary duties included designing posters, signage, leaflets, flyers & advertisements for sales, events & marketing campaigns.

• Also printed all signage in large volumes on high capacity printers in preparation for delivery on a weekly basis.

• Adept at a variety of artistic techniques to include but not limited to freehand illustration, photography, topography and computer graphics.

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August 2006 – September 2007
Target Printing (12403 Nacogdoches Rd #94 San Antonio, TX 78217)
Graphic Designer/ Print Production

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• I created original artistic illustrations and prepared electronic graphic media output for local businesses in need of advertisements

• Designed and developed newsletters, created templates for business cards, restaurant menus, brochures, billboard media, and wedding invitations.

• Trained on a Heidelberg printing press for 4-color print media in large mass volumes.

• Obtained knowledge of communication principles, methods, and techniques in applying them toward clients for design expertise and paper quality and size.

• Worked well under pressure of deadlines for clients needing next day print jobs.

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January 2001 – January 2015
Interim Nursing Agency (6800 Park Ten Suite 270 West, San Antonio, TX  78213)
Nurse, Home Health, Hospital

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• Performed laboratory specialties such as blood draws and specimen collections.  Visited home health and hospice patients to perform vital signs, obtain biographical data, urinary catherizations, and medication administration.

• Currently still hold nursing licensure and current CPR certification.

February 1989 – January 2001
U.S. Army (Active Duty)
Manager, Nurse, CIS, Army Marketing Committee

-Trained new personnel for military duties and/or nursing positions.

• Reviewed all incoming projects to determine best output development as well as managed.

• During tenure at Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft Sam Houston, served in CIS (Clinical Informatics) with duties servicing computer technical issues and hardware problems.

• Army Marketing Committee:  I designed promotional posters,  flyers and marketing for special events that raised awareness.

• Army Nurse:  Surgical Intensive Unit, Labor and Delivery, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, IV Therapy, laboratory specialties such as blood draws and specimen collections.

• Nurse Manager at Eisenhower Medical Center Multi-Specialty clinic, I was able to develop courses geared toward new personnel who needed additional training, such as intravenous therapy and blood, CPR Training, emergency services, triage and specimen collections. 

• Can easily apply understanding of medical & scientific terminology, computer operations, various medical specialties and graphical representation of statistics in preparing illustrations & graphs.

• As a manager (NCOIC), able to maintain appropriate level of supplies for staff, key control, staff scheduling, training

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EDUCATION:

OPSEC Level II Course: Certificate JBSA (2018); Social Media Managers Course: DINFOS Certificate (2017); Unit Public Affairs Representative Course: Army Learning Management System ALMS (2016); Civilian Education System Foundation Course: Civilian Human Resources Training Application System (2016); University of the Incarnate Word: San Antonio, TX, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Graphics & Photography minor (2006); Georgia Military College: Augusta, GA, Associates Degree in Applied Science (1994); Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course (Manager training): Ft. Sam Houston, TX (1995); Academy of Health Sciences: San Antonio, TX, Licensed Practical Nurse certification & licensure (1991); Primary Leadership Development Course: Ft Benning, GA, (1993);

Internship with MEDCOM graphics at Ft Sam Houston, TX (2004) that included logo & poster design for distribution to military & civilian personnel; Member of SIGGRAPH since 2002; Member of the Greater San Antonio Camera Club since 2010; Presently volunteer as the HOA (Homeowners’ Association) secretary for Gardens of Oak Hollow, duties include note-taking, editing, distribution, newsletter verbiage & design, handling all sign art work & managed website, proficient in WordPress.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Keith L. Ware Award for Best Individual Short Video, 2017, Best Infographic 2018.

• Received Civilian Service Achievement Medal 2013

• Winner of The University of the Incarnate Word Poster contest, in which chosen product would be distributed to each high school in America promoting the digital arts program, 2004.

• Nursing Excellence Award 1997 and 1998

• Meritorious Service Award 1998

• Army Commendation Medal

• Photography contest for Digital Magazine

• Volunteer Service Medal