Been there,
done that.
My Journey
I began my career in Los Angeles, California working for small ad agencies. A move to Sacramento led me to the role of art director and gave me experience in photo direction, job tracking, budgeting, billing and juggling multiple projects at once.
After ten years in California a move back to my home state in 1993 led me to a position with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. It was there that I provided leadership to a group of five designers, strategic counsel to Blue Cross and it’s 15 affiliates and hired design firms and freelancers. My team also created Blue Crosses first Corporate Identity under my direction.
Skills
Proficient in the following software programs:
• Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Acrobat
• Quark XPress 9.3
• Microsoft Office
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word
I work well with others
Where
I've been
Art director/Owner
Lisa Lehrer Graphic Design
March 2000 - Present
As a one (wo)man shop, I offer freelance design and production. I am proficient in Adobe Creative Suite; InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress and Microsoft Word. I am experienced in large and small projects, including photo direction.
As an art director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSM), I Designed high profile marketing materials.
I also directed the work of five in-house graphic designers. This included assigning projects, reviewing work, presenting designers’ work to clients and solving problems. My other responsibilities included assessing work-load and hiring and directing outside design firms.
Upon returning to Minnesota from ten years in California, I became a senior graphic designer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSM).
There, I designed marketing materials for in-house clients and their affilitates. My responsibilities included computer design and production, client presentation, soliciting bids for photography, illustration, and art directing photographers and illustrators.
After over 20 years in the business, you learn who can walk the walk!
I've worked with many photographers and writers in my day, but these are my favorites.
If you need more than design, we can develop an all encompassing strategy that will get you where you want to go.
Writing/creative strategy
Maureen Nalezny
Helper Monkey Communications
Photography
Shawn Nielsen
Nielsen Photography
How I
got there
Minneapolis Technical Institute
Two-Year Commercial Art Certificate.
Western Maryland College
B. A. Studio Art; Strong Art History emphasis.
Departmental Honors in Art.
A few more feathers
Wyldlife Director
Owatonna Younglife
2013-2021
Substitute Teacher
Owatonna Public Schools
2016-Present