Kathryn E. Kroll
Graphic Designer & Software Trainer
Independent Graphic Designer with expert production & software instructional skills.
Vast concept-to-completion experience using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat; Quark XPress; Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & related graphic support applications.
- Owner of KrazyKat Studio, providing graphic design and personal computer training services.
- Produce accurate print-ready files, with organized digital asset management.
- Independent & collaborative worker, with consistent performance on- or off-site.
- Supervisory experience with both creative professionals & instructors.
- Genuine passion for graphic design production work and teaching graphic design software.
As an independent Graphic Designer & Software Training Consultant, my expertise is in marketing graphics, visual communications and classroom instruction.
SOFTWARE TRAINER
Because I love what I do, I teach. Independent, corporate and college teaching experience in beginner to advanced instruction in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat; Quark XPress; Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Also teaching Using Social Media for Business classes. Have previously taught FrameMaker, CorelDraw, FileMaker Pro, Intro to Computers, Intro to Internet, Basic HTML and other legacy software.
Responsible for curriculum development, lesson plans and producing training materials. Mentor and tutor students. Maintained full student enrollments with minimal drops, & consistently receive high scores on student evaluations.
Currently teaching part-time at the University of Texas at Arlington. Previous employment with Tarrant County College, New Horizons and American Trades Institute.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
KrazyKat Studio provides graphic design and print production services to small businesses. Corporate projects range in size from microchips to motor homes. Portfolio includes a wide variety of advertising, billboards, books, brochures, catalogs, lenticular signs, magazines, marketing materials, newsletters, newspapers, retail product packaging, trade show booths, posters, presentations, sales sheets, training manuals, vehicle wraps & more!
Hands-on experience with digital-direct, offset, silkscreen & flexographic printing.
Currently producing Greater Meadowbrook News, a bi-weekly community newspaper. Recently completed package dielines and artwork for a line of private-label products for Texas-based grocery chain.
TECHNICAL WRITER / TRAINER
Contract project to develop a detailed presentation Style Guide and vendor work instructions for a Pilot and Aircraft Mechanic training company. Converted complex criteria into easy to understand instructions. Created templates for classroom educational products, reviewed & documented vendor production errors, maintaining compliance with corporate, federal and ISO 9000 standards. Supervised support staff and taught advanced production techniques in PowerPoint & Quark XPress.
EDUCATION
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Bachelor of Arts, Journalism/Advertising, University of Texas at El Paso
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Authorized Quark Training Consultant
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ATI Master Instructor I
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Continual personal development in operating systems and software upgrades
Employment History
Contract Graphic Design
KrazyKat Studio, Designer & Trainer, 1990 to Present
- Provide on-site computer training on Mac or PCs, Authorized Quark Consultant
- Create logos, business collateral, brochures, books, catalogs, product packaging, advertisements, newsletters, business forms, vehicle wraps, toys, and basic websites
- Produce AV presentations for use in corporate, sales and educational environments
- Produce bi-weekly community newspaper, maintain website
- Work with small businesses and individuals to perform computer maintenance and training
Contract Artist, represented by national staffing agencies. 1995 to Present
Assigned to client companies requiring an experienced Graphic Designer with extensive print production and advanced software skills. Partial client list includes:
- MediaTech Institute – designed and produced school catalog
- Pier 1 imports – corporate office, marketing department, produced retail signage
- FlightSafety International – technical writer, intellectual property asset management (see below)
- Ivie Marketing – created Sam’s Club annual corporate meeting presentation for VP
- Vertis – produced versioned grocery newspaper advertising for Safeway subsidiaries
- Gemmy Industries, Inc. – produced product packaging for toys and decorations
- Aetna Insurance – created client-customized benefits books
- Texas Instruments – trained marketing staff in basic Quark XPress functions
- American Airlines – trained magazine staff in advanced Quark XPress functions
- Marketing Management, Inc. – produced private-label grocery packaging
- Radio Shack/Tech America – trained new staff, created product packaging, catalogs
Flight Safety International, Courseware Support, Product Manager, 2008 to 2009
- Contract project to write new Style Guide for pilot & mechanic training presentations
- Intellectual property asset management and quality control
- Developed new work instructions and templates to reduce production time and cost
- Trained graphic artists in efficient production procedures, verified work for standards compliance
TxF Products, Marketing Graphics Supervisor, 2006 to 2007
- Designed retail product packaging, sales presentations, tradeshow & POP displays
- Implemented cost-saving procedures for packaging design and production
Harcourt School Publishers, Senior Designer, 1999 to 2005
- Designed all marketing & training materials for sales reps in a 12-state region
- Trained junior artists. Won in-house design competition.
National Cutting Horse Association, Art Director, 1996 to 1998
- Produced advertising & editorial for Cutting Horse Chatter monthly magazine
- Designed special event programs, arena posters and signs. Supervised 3 employees.
Software Trainer
University of Texas at Arlington
Continuing Ed since Fall 2010
Communications Dept., 2002 to 2008
- Currently teaching assorted Technology classes.
- Instructor for Communications Graphics (3303), classes of 20+ students
- Worked closely with physically handicapped, foreign nationals and older students
- Consistently received high scores on student evaluations, had minimal drops
Tarrant County College, 1996 to 1999
- Instructor for assorted beginner through advanced classes in multiple departments: Continuing Ed., Communications, Computer Science and College for Kids program
- Taught classes at multiple campuses, maintained high enrollment, high scores on student evaluations
New Horizons, 1994
- Taught beginner to advanced classes, various graphics applications, Microsoft Office
- Taught beginner & intermediate Microsoft Office and FrameMaker on-site at Motorola
American Trades Institute, Graphics Department Supervisor, 1989 to 1994
- Selected, hired, trained and supervised 9 Instructors, mentored students
- Developed new curriculum and daily lessons, taught all subjects in 900-hour program
- Attended training & received TEA certification and ATI Master Instructor certification
Professional & Civic Organizations
CMUG Cowtown Macintosh User Group, since 1990.
Former Newsletter Editor, currently Vice President & Webmaster.
TBW Texas Business Women of Fort Worth (formerly Business & Professional Women), since 2001,
Former Newsletter Editor, currently Secretary.
MAG!C Marketing, Advertising, Graphics, Internet, Communications professional group, since 2009.
BOHN Brentwood-Oak Hills Neighborhood Association, currently Newsletter Editor.
AWARDS
- BPW Texas, “Woman to Watch,” Second Place
- Harcourt, Inc., Indiana Math campaign contest winner
- BPW Texas, First Place, Newsletter, for Meadowbrook Daisy Data
- Information Services Librarian Association, First Place, Best Brochure
- Texas Young Lawyers Association, First Place, Large City Newsletter
- Quark Inc., Authorized Training Consultant Certification
- American Trades Institute, achieved Master Instructor, Level I
- North Texas Frozen Food Association, Outstanding Ad Campaign, Kroger, 3 consecutive years
- Kroger Company, Outstanding Service: Adopt-a School
- Scott Paper Co., Best Ad, Ronald McDonald House
- Advertising Federation of El Paso, Compton Advertising Education Award, Second Place
- Clarksville High School, Most Valuable Yearbook Staffer
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