Rachel Nehl likes dogs, Daydreams, bikes, Veggies, Art, Vintage and ham.

Experience

Professional EXPERIENCE

 

Performance Marketing
Creative Director / May 2019 - Present

  • Direct and mentor a team of copywriters and designers to produce engaging, branded and results-oriented creative for a technology client and internal agency branding initiatives.

  • Look for new solutions, partners, vendors and freelancers to increase efficiencies, quality of work and profitability.

  • Present and pitch solutions to clients and internal agency partners and stakeholders

  • Manage budgets, timelines and staff allocation with account team

  • Concept, direct and manage details of video and photoshoots in addition to managing post-production work

Creative Strategist / Nov. 2017 - May 2019

  • Developed creative briefs, presentations, creative and communication strategies and creative concepts on large projects, video shoots and campaigns

  • Supported new business with proposal writing and creating and pitches

  • Helped lead major rebranding, repositioning and reorganizational changes for all five of our corporate brands

ITA Group
Creative Director / Nov. 2016 - Nov. 2017

  • Directed a team of copywriters, designers and production coordinators to produce creative and engaging solutions to Fortune 100 and 500 clients.

  • Wrote proposals and provided communication, event and incentive strategies including print, email, digital, social media, environmental and experiential solutions.

  • Presented and pitched solutions to clients.

  • Managed budgets, timelines, project specifications and account profitability with production coordinators.

Performance Marketing
Creative / Mar. 2016 - Nov. 2016

  • Designed, concepted, strategized and directed print and digital with a focus in B2B communications

  • Presented and pitched designs and concepts to clients.

  • Provided art direction and prop staging on photo and video shoots.

  • UX/UI, wireframing and sitemapping.

The Integer Group (Midwest)
Sr. Art Director / Jan. 2013 - Mar. 2016

  • Designed, concepted, strategized and directed print, digital and experimental media with an emphasis in shopper marketing and considered purchase.

  • Presented and pitched designs and concepts to clients.

  • Provided art direction (including talent and location selection) on photo and video shoots.

  • Collaborated with strategy, analytics and account teams to provide solutions for clients.

  • Managed and mentored employees.

Innova Ideas & Services (Alt Studios)
Sr. Graphic Designer / Oct. 2005 - Jan. 2013

  • Designed and concepted print, apparel, environmental, promotional and some interactive design for local, national and international clients.

  • Served as creative lead on several accounts.

  • Developed and maintained several
    AdBuilder/MOD sites and templates.

  • Maintained several online stores.

vgm creative
Designer / Apr. 2003 - Oct. 2005

  • Developed marketing materials, PowerPoints and advertising for VGM corporate and its affiliated companies as well as for external clients.

  • Coordinated bids with outside vendors.

  • Responsible for all client and project management and billing.

Grout Museum District
Design Intern / Sept. 2002 - Dec. 2002

  • Created brochures, posters, tickets and other printed materials for the history- and
    science-based museum.

  • Archived photo collection.

 

RELATED Experience

 

Freelance Illustrator

  • Mighty Jack Climbs Mount Everest / 2014
    Illustrator and Designer

  • Princess Elizabeth and the Reluctant Unicorn / 2015
    Illustrator and Designer

Volunteer Designer
AIGA Iowa Design Assign

  • EMBARC
    2014, 2015

  • Iowa International Center
    2013

Art Shows

  • Female Gaze Show / Des Moines Girl Gang
    Participant
    2016

  • Plein Aire Festival / Des Moines Social Club
    Participant
    2015, 2016

  • "The Big Dance" Show / Des Moines Social Club
    Participant
    2016

  • ArtCrank Poster Show / Des Moines, IA
    Participant
    2010, 2011

  • ArtWalk / Ames, IA
    Demonstrator
    2011

Areas of  Experience

Industries

  • Home / Automotive

  • Insurance

  • Banking

  • Healthcare

  • Technology

  • Start-up

  • Energy / Renewable Energy

  • Government / Legislative

  • Telecommunications

  • Janitorial / Sanitation

 Areas of experience

  • Considered Purchase

  • Shopper Marketing

  • Retail / B2C

  • B2B

  • Incentives

  • Events

Special Skills

Managing and mentoring - Coaching employees to find their passions and reach their potential is the best part of my job. At the start of my career, I had excellent managers, and I feel it’s my duty to do the same for those that cross my path.

Illustration - In my professional experience, I've used my drawing skills for storyboarding, t-shirt design, hand lettering, hand-drawn logos, illustrations for stories, etc. I've also created murals for corporate office walls.

Print production - Because I worked for an agency whose parent company was a commercial printer, I had an inside look at all-things print. I pride myself on making a clean file that's going to print to expectations. 

Direct response/marketing automation - I've designed and directed successful campaign with A/B test panels – managed in several marketing automation systems. I have more than a 15-year background creating print and digital campaigns utilizing variable data, as well as creating MOD / adbuilder templates and managing their online storefronts. 

Digital - Well-versed in designing for email, landing pages, microsites and web banners. Skilled in UX/UI, sitemapping and wireframing Comfortable on larger-scale projects when working in tandem with a developer. In fact, I really enjoy collaborating. 

Programs

Operating systems - Mac OS. Working knowledge of Windows.

Design - Adobe Creative Suite. Familiar with Unbounce, Mailchimp, Stripo, BeePro, Squarespace, Wix.

Presentation and Office - Microsoft Office. Google tools. Apple Keynote. Slack.

Education

University of Northern Iowa / Dec. 2002

Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art
Emphasis: Graphic Design

Language Certificate: Portuguese