KELLYE SANFORD

P.O. Box 801182
Houston, Tx 77280-1182

SUMMARY

Creative communications professional with 22 years’ experience at one of the largest newspapers in the United States. Experience also includes four years in Creative Communications and Development at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the largest cancer center in the U.S.; six years in Creative Services at a mid-size Texas newspaper, and 15 years’ freelance book design. Broad experience in editorial, advertising and marketing design and solid knowledge of the printing industry. Strategic thinker and team player able to work with a range of personalities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Demonstrated ability to deliver consistently high-quality, creative work in a timely manner.
Skill set includes:

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Conceived, designed and published the first multimedia iBooks for development and education at MD Anderson. Worked with writers and videographer to produce content, including interactive graphics designed to deliver optimum user experience. Collaborated with faculty to publish first iBook for patient education and cancer prevention.

Responsible for look and feel of launch campaign for MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented initiative targeting eight cancers. The 2012 campaign received an International Association of Business Communicators’ Gold Quill and other awards. Member of team working with external agency on design and launch of campaign microsite.

In last four years designed and produced promotional materials for more than 180 fundraising events and projects throughout the U.S. Designed support materials and major donor proposals for $1.2 billion capital campaign that achieved goal a year ahead of schedule. Provided design support for department with fundraising goal of $186 million per year. Work with communications, development and marketing teams; writer/editors; photographers; printers and other vendors. Part of communications team implementing new institutional branding initiative in 2010 and supporting it today.

Played essential role in 2005 launch and development of Gloss magazine, the Houston Chronicle’s monthly upscale fashion and lifestyle publication that generated more than $6.5 million in advertising in its first three years. Designed product from ground up. Wholly responsible for design and oversight of prepress production for more than five years. Worked with advertising and marketing departments to plan and produce promotional branding, collateral materials for presentations and signage for events. Initial advertising sales exceeded expectations by approximately 40%. Designed and produced 56 issues. Resulted in development of well-received spin-off publications.

Since 1997 completed 70 book design projects for 17 different publishers and organizations, including Texas A&M University Press, SMU Press, DeGolyer Library, The Book Club of Texas, Louisiana Literature, and Baylor College of Medicine. Subjects ranged from literary fiction and poetry to history and medicine. Designed complete books and jackets; created original photography and illustrations in a range of media. Worked with production editors, authors and printers in multiple states and countries. Help non-profits self-publish.

Served as executive board president and artist board president of DiverseWorks, an internationally recognized Houston-based nonprofit art center dedicated to presenting new literary, visual and performing art. Served previously as secretary and vice president. Lead search committee in 2012 hire of executive director.

Served as program chair for 2005 Society for News Design conference in Houston attended by some 650 editors, designers and photographers from around the world. Recruited more than 75 speakers from 10 countries for three full days of activities. Schedule featured two days of programs with five simultaneous tracks per hour, a day of hands-on computer workshops, and nightly special events. Coordinated with vendors. Designed and produced printed program and collateral materials for multimedia promotional campaign.

Received awards from international, national, state and local organizations including Society for News Design, Texas Public Relations Association, National Associated Press Sports Editors Association, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, Hearst Newspapers, Press Clubs of Dallas and Houston, International Newspaper and Marketing Executives, and others. Gloss received North American Gold Ink Award for design, production and printing quality in 2007 and 2008.

Served as a judge for Bayou City Art Festival 2011, inaugural Alchemy Design Awards 2008, and other competitions.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, May 2010-present
Program Manager, Communications — Conceived, designed and published multimedia iBooks for development and education. Responsible for design, production and delivery of promotional, advertising and collateral materials supporting major programs, events, and donor proposals. Work with communications, marketing, development and events teams; writers, editors; printers; photographers; vendors; and advertising outlets. Conceive graphic identity for each event. Traffic each project from concept through publication, printing and delivery. Negotiate cost and delivery with printers. Research and negotiate image usage rights. Part of team implementing new branding initiative in 2010. Hired as Senior Communications Designer, promoted to Program Manager in February 2013.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1988-2010
Senior Designer and Illustrator / Gloss magazine (2005-2010) — Responsible for design and supervision of prepress processes for upscale monthly fashion and lifestyle publication delivered to Chronicle’s wealthiest 100,000 circulation in the Houston area. Worked closely with editors and writers in developing story and presentation ideas. Worked with marketing to develop promotional programs and materials, signage for special events. Worked extensively with photographers, editors and models to facilitate fashion and features photo shoots. Art directed shoots, styled photos, developed props. Created supplementary 8- and 16-page sections that brought in $35,000 - $45,000 sponsorship each. Sponsors included The Galleria, Cadillac and American Society of Interior Designers. Represented the paper at public and social events, and at Gloss fashion shows.

Senior Designer and Illustrator (1988-2005) — Responsibilities included designing and illustrating covers and inside pages of every regularly appearing section in the paper and special sections. Worked closely with a variety of editors and reporters on sections ranging from Zest (Sunday arts and entertainment section) and Opinions to Technology, Business, and main news. Conceived, researched and executed story presentations, illustrations, photo illustrations and informational graphics. Illustrations executed in wide range of media, styles and techniques including painting, mixed-media sculpture, digital drawings, composite photo illustrations and scratchboard. Consistently met deadlines.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION EAGLE, 1981-1988
Creative Services Manager — Responsible for advertising, marketing and editorial design, information graphics, and promotional programs for this 30,000 circulation newspaper and its direct mail products. Directed a staff of up to four artists and two writers. Built multimedia ‘ad agency’ in-house. Responsible for budget and department payroll. Joined paper as advertising artist in July 1981, promoted to Advertising Art Manager in 1982, Creative Services Manager in 1985.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts with specializations in painting, graphic design and advertising, Sam Houston State University. Magna Cum Laude, Alpha Chi, Golden Key National Honor Society, Polley Art Award

AFFILIATIONS

DiverseWorks, past president of executive and artist boards, executive member six years
Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WIVLA), former president and advisory board member
Member American Institute of Graphic Arts
Western Oaks Civic Association, former secretary, newsletter editor