I am an experienced digital manager, web designer, graphic designer, and photographer with a demonstrated history of working in event planning, promotion, and execution. My university experience gave me the tools and opportunity to design and manage branded social media and print marketing materials for the largest student organization on campus and work in a professional event management environment for some of the biggest artists of our time. Creating appropriate, branded content for these events and our organization while maintaining an industry level of professionalism is something I’ve brought with me into my career. Working with organizations and companies to turn their goals into a visual brand, and implementing plans to establish that through their online presence is something I look forward to every day.

Work Experience
2015 - 2017: The Student Activity Committee at IUP (Media Chair, Graphics Chair)
2015 - 2018: Big City Thoughts Magazine (Writer, Photographer)
2015 - 2018: Amplify Church (Media Team Leader, Intern, Volunteer)
2018 - 2019: The Artist’s Hand (Barista, Social Media, Graphic Design)
2018 - 2019: Responsival (Freelance Designer)
2019 - Renda Broadcasting (Marketing Specialist)
2014 - Present: Karen Plate Photography (Owner, Photographer)
2018 - Present: Noble Stein Brewing Co. (Bartender, Manager, Photographer)
2019 - Present: Reflex Brands (Creative Director, Designer)

Schooling
Central Bucks High School East
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Communications Media, Production; Certification in Photography and Digital Imaging)

Certifications & Awards
Certification in Photography and Digital Imaging (Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2018)
Merle G. Klinginsmith Award for Excellence (Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2018)

I began my career fresh out of business school, doing data management for a large utility company. I left the workforce in 1985 to start a family and was a stay-at-home mom to my four sons until 2003 when I began volunteering at Amplify Church - a large multi-site church in Pittsburgh, PA. My volunteer role quickly led to an ever-evolving full-time position where I gained new skills as needs arose and poured myself into learning, growing, and expanding my skill set.

Finding ways to make things in digital and physical spaces look, sound, flow, and feel better, is my passion. Being called upon to create content, and to enhance existing content, is a specialty that I've been proficient in throughout my 18-year career as a Communications Director; first at Amplify, and now for Reflex Brands and FlexScreen.

My responsibilities have ranged from website and graphic design, blogging, creating and managing social content, handling e-mail blasts, and overseeing all written communications to designing and furnishing extensive ministry and corporate spaces for maximum style and function.

Ensuring that every project is maximized to its fullest potential and "making it better" is what I love to do, and I'm fortunate to have a job where I can use these skills to benefit others.

Work Experience:
1981 - 1982: Buchanan, Ingersoll Law Firm - Business Intern
1982 - 1985: Duquesne Light Company - Data Management
2003 - 2019: Amplify Church - Communications Director
2019 - Present: Reflex Brands & FlexScreen - Communications Director

Schooling:
Grove City High School
Bradford Business School - Cooperative Honors Program

After graduating from Penn-Trafford High School in 2017, I attended Penn State University and obtained my Bachelor's degree in Corporate Communications, continuing to a master's program in Communication Technology at Point Park University. Through my educational endeavors, I worked my way up to a management position at my secondary place of employment. That experience provided many opportunities to interact with and serve my community, which has been crucial to my career development. Helping people grow their businesses through digital marketing is what I enjoy doing the most.

Work Experience
2018 - Present: Eat’n Park- Server, Trainer, Supervisor, Caring For Kids Chairperson
2020 - Present: Reflex Brands- Marketing Specialist

Schooling
Penn-Trafford High School
Penn State University B.A. Corporate Communications
Present: Point Park University M.A. Communication Technology

Accomplishments/Awards
2019 Create A Smile Award

I am a Gateway School District graduate and a student at Community College of Allegheny County. Videography was a hobby of mine that I later turned into a career. I’ve taken on many projects from national conventions to simple advertising. These challenges have allowed me to continue improving my craft and to collaborate with many inspiring individuals.

Work Experience
2017 - Present: Chick-Fil-A - Kitchen Team Member
2017 - Present: Freelance Videographer & Editor
2018 - 2019: Reclamation Church Monroeville - Volunteer Video Editor
2019 - Present: Reflex Brands - Videographer

Schooling
Gateway School District
Community College Of Allegheny County - General Studies

I am a graduate of Burrell High School in Lower Burrell, PA, and a current student at Community College of Allegheny County. I plan to continue and complete my education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. I began working with video, audio, and photography as a young teen while volunteering at my church and found that video was my passion. I consider my job to be so much more than technical, as I work hard to make sure that our client's ideas come to life, making each project an accurate representation of their business and the heart behind it.

Work Experience
2019 - Present: FlexScreen and Reflex Brands
2015 - Present: Volunteer Lighting Designer at Amplify Church

Schooling
Burrell School District
Community College of Allegheny County - General Studies
Point Park University - Multimedia

Certifications
Digital Video using Premiere® Pro CC
Adobe Certified Associate in Visual Design Using Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Certified Associate in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator

Accomplishments/Awards
Eagle Scout