Melissa Noakes
Owner, Freebyrd Creative LLC
Freelance Graphic Designer
August 2000 – Present
Assist numerous clients with all creative needs to further their marketing for future company success. Advertising, logos, banner ads, photo retouching, business collateral, marketing, editorial, trade show displays, etc.
RECENT CLIENTELE
• Hennen Publishing - hennenpublishing.com (Graphic Designer)
• Stacy J Dancing - stacyjdancing.com (Marketing Director & Assistant)
• Competition Plus - competitionplus.com (Transcriptionist & Graphic Designer)
• Tempe Tourism Office - tempetourism.com (Graphic Designer)
• Chapo Racing - chaporacing.com (Apparel & Graphic Designer)
• Jackson Wayne - jacksonwayne.com (Graphic Designer)
• Bigfork Design - bigforkdesign.com (Logo Design)
• AZ Kiddos Magazine (Creative Director)
Creative Director
September 2011 – December 2012
Scottsdale Business + Life | Scottsdale, AZ
Created all aspects of an online magazine including ads, editorial, pre-production and sales. Maintained web site updates as well as created banner ads for e-newsletter. Designed all collateral for the company.
Art Director
March 2000 – August 2010
Scottsdale Airpark News | Scottsdale, AZ
Established solid production/pre-press skills with a thorough grasp of design and printing principles. Extensive experience with design layout for editorial, print and web. Ability to work independently and simultaneously on multiple projects as well as collaborating with a team. Accustomed to consistently meeting tight deadlines. Experienced in communicating with clientele and printers on a professional and personal level. Also maintained monthly updates of articles, photos, forums and directories using HTML coding.
Newspaper Graphic Designer
March 2007 – August 2010
CoinOp Trader | Glendale, AZ
(affiliate of Scottsdale Airpark News)
Communicated with advertising sales representative to design ads and layout the newspaper that was nationally mailed.
Production Director
January 2005 - January 2008
New Mexico Business Journal | Albuquerque, NM
(affiliate of Scottsdale Airpark News)
Maintained the overall design, layout and production of the magazine. Communicated with the printing company on a monthly basis while sending files to the FTP site as well as their online proofing system. Excellent communication with clients in New Mexico to design ads to match their specific needs.
ABOUT MELISSA
Melissa was born in Blue Island, Illinois (south-side of Chicago) but has lived in the valley for over 25 years. She attended the Art Institute of Phoenix and holds an Associate Degree in Graphic Design. She began her career as a graphic designer for a Scottsdale magazine and eventually became the art director. During this time she also started to do freelance design work for clients around the valley. After 10 years at the company it was sold and she began her full time work of being a stay-at-home-mom while continuing her freelance design work. Now, with her daughter in school, Melissa has made design her full time job while still remaining dedicated to her family.
Melissa's passion is making a difference in children's lives. She has been volunteering her time to assist with children for over 30 years. She worked at the YMCA after school care program, she served on the board for Scottsdale School of Ballet, and she also donates her talent to organizations such as Sunshine Acres, Marc Dunworth Foundation for the Performing Arts, The Cloud Factory Theater Company, Love, Elsa and Stacy J Dancing. She strives to be the best role model for children and believe that any type of creative art can change a child's life.
Also a proficient crochet-addict, she enjoys her down time relaxing with hook in one hand and coffee in the other.
PROFICIENT IN:
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InDesign
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Photoshop
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Illustrator
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Microsoft Office
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Adobe Acrobat
VOLUNTEER WORK:
I love volunteering my time and talents to give back to the community, especially to children.
Marc Dunworth Foundation for the Performing Arts
• Logo design
• Poster design
Local K-6 School PTO
Graphic Design
Stacy J Dancing
www.stacyjdancing.com
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Web site design
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Graphic design
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Photography
Love, Elsa
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Photography
Scottsdale Ballet Foundation
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Board secretary (4/11-3/15)
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Graphic designer
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Marketing coordinator
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Social media editor