Resume of Nikola E. Vrtis
Resume sections:
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- Over fifteen years of publishing experience with a variety of subjects and forms, such as health, science, general interest, religion, fiction, educational texts, children's books, games, magazines, newsletters, advertisements, catalogs, Web sites, and more.
- Edited or proofread more than two hundred projects.
- Indexed over twenty-five books.
- More than two dozen published writing contributions, ranging in length from about one hundred words of catalog copy to over forty thousand words for books.
- Primary or assistant graphic designer and layout artist of over a dozen projects, including book interiors, book covers, newsletters, advertisements, and Web pages. Projects were primarily one-color, with occasional two- and four-color work.
- Other publishing experience includes free-lancer contracting, research, copyfitting, style guide creation, scanning, image manipulation, PDF creation, and preparation of files for the printer.
- Knowledgeable about HTML and JavaScript, including tables, forms, and interactive elements.
- Proficient in various desktop publishing and word processing programs, including InDesign, PageMaker, QuarkXpress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, and others.
- Some experience in Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Outlook Express, Internet search engines, GoLive, and other office software programs.
- Comfortable with both Macintosh and Windows environments.
- Willing to take on tasks outside of job focus in order to get a project completed.
- Motivated self-starter with an aptitude for learning new skills quickly.
- Recognized as a dependable employee who works well independently or in a team.
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Creative Support, various companies
November 1996 to present.
- Projects include editing, proofreading, indexing, writing, graphic design and layout, and Web site design and updating.
- Part-time, contract, telecommuting projects.
Customer Service Representative, Home Design Products
August 2006, Carmel, Ind.
- Answered a multi-line phone, answered customer questions about products, and recorded return requests.
- Temporary full-time position; through Today's Staffing (agency).
Administrative Assistant, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
June to July 2006, Exton, Penn.
- Front-desk position, with duties including answering a multi-line phone, creating databases, logging received faxes, making photocopies, sending packages, and other duties as needed.
- Temporary full-time position; through Aerotek (agency).
Graphics Assistant, VWR International
October 2005 to May 2006, West Chester, Penn.
- Assisted with the layout of scientific products catalogs using Pindar Catalog Management System and QuarkXpress.
- Created or made corrections to marketing brochures and other material using QuarkXpress.
- Resized and touched-up photos using Photoshop.
- Added Web links to and modified PDF files using Acrobat Professional.
- Temporary full-time position with some overtime; through Aerotek (agency).
Receptionist, Associates for Women's Medicine
September 2005, Exton, Penn.
- Front-desk position, with duties including answering phones and recreating dozens of forms and brochures using Microsoft Word and an OCR program.
- Temporary full-time position; through ICS Group (agency).
Editor, Graphic Designer, Contributor, Purgatory Publishing Inc./West End Games imprint
November 1996 to August 2005, Downingtown, Penn.
- Edited, copyfitted, formatted, proofread, and indexed manuscripts.
- Determined content and look of books.
- Established style guides for product lines.
- Coordinated various stages of projects, from conception through printing.
- Contracted and supervised free-lance writers, proofreaders, and artists.
- Scanned and manipulated images with Photoshop.
- Used Illustrator to manipulate existing vector art.
- Laid out manuscripts with PageMaker and InDesign.
- Created PDF files with InDesign, PageMaker, Adobe Acrobat Distiller, and Acrobat CS.
- Maintained company's Web site (www.westendgames.com).
- Contributed to over twenty published books or articles for three project lines, in addition to several unpublished works. Writing done as a free-lancer or on staff.
- Devised materials for use in demonstrations, including presentation scripts and consumer handouts.
- Crafted catalog and advertising copy, event descriptions, and event advertising materials.
- Created promotional materials, such as introductory games and product-information fliers.
- Took initiative to develop a volunteer team to demonstrate games.
- Led over twenty sales demonstrations of products in stores and at conventions.
- Organized and supervised set-up and tear-down of booths at over a dozen conventions around the country in the past three years, as well as assisted with answering customer questions and selling products.
- Provided product support to consumers and retailers through email, message boards, mail, phone calls, and contact at conventions and stores.
- Assisted with order taking, order fulfillment, inventory counting, shipping, and receiving shipments.
- Free-lance telecommuting to on-site permanent full-time position.
Web Site Program Contributor, The Craftsman Gallery
January 2003 to January 2004, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Assisted with writing HTML forms and Javascript programs.
- Free-lance telecommuting position.
Testbank Editor, Tamarack Software
March to December 2002, Mount Prospect, Ill.
- Proofread and corrected author-provided tests to follow company format.
- Coded tests for importation into proprietary testbank software.
- Free-lance telecommuting position.
Editor, Systems Manager, Nighthawk Design
December 1993 to February 1998, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Edited, proofread, or indexed manuscripts from university presses, trade publishers, and regional publishers.
- Created templates and laid out books in QuarkXpress and Pagemaker according to designer's written specifications.
- Scanned and manipulated images with Photoshop.
- Other tasks performed included technical support, keymarking, word processing, and client support.
- Maintained company's Web presentation and job-tracking database.
- Trained a typesetting assistant.
- Clients included university presses, trade publishers, religious presses, and many others, including John Wiley and Sons, Johns Hopkins University Press, and Cambridge University Press.
- Temporary part-time to permanent full-time position.
Team Leader, Document Analyst, Compulit, Inc.
November 1993 to May 1995, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Trained and monitored document analysts.
- Entered select terms from documents into databases for use by law firms.
- Handled and scanned original documents.
- Performed basic program troubleshooting.
- Supervised a third-shift scanning and data entry team of four to seven people for two months.
- Directed a team of three to six people in a quality control project for two months.
- Temporary full-time to permanent full-time position.
Desktop Publisher, Cornerstone Publications Inc.
September to October 1993, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Edited copy for and assisted in the design and layout of two booklets using Pagemaker, one for Ottawa County, Michigan, and one for the Greater Grand Rapids Home Builders Association Remodelors Parade.
- Free-lance on-site position.
Writer, Assistant Copy Editor, Gale Group
May to June 1993, Farmington, Mich.
- Researched and wrote five science articles for the Environmental Encyclopedia (edited by William P. Cunningham et al.).
- Copyedited one hundred fifty articles for the Environmental Encyclopedia that dealt with a variety of environmentally significant topics, including legislation, organizations, biographies, and concepts.
- Free-lance telecommuting position.
Public Relations Intern, Bixby Medical Center
January to April 1993, Adrian, Mich.
- Created brochures and news pages using Microsoft Works.
- Proofread and composed press releases.
- Performed interviews, filing, database maintenance, and other duties as needed.
- Temporary part-time position.
Co-editor, Columnist, The Spectra (student newspaper)
January 1990 to April 1993, Adrian, Mich.
- Laid out and pasted up the newspaper using traditional pasteboards or Pagemaker.
- Composed a science column and other articles.
- Edited and typed in articles.
- Helped determine the paper's content.
- Co-managed reporters' work.
- Promoted from production manager.
- Helped stabilize the erratic publication schedule and switch from publishing irregularly to biweekly.
- Seasonal part-time position.
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- Bachelor of Arts, English/Creative Writing and Natural Science. Siena Heights College, Adrian, Mich., May 1993. GPA: 3.88; major GPA: 3.90. Numerous honors, awards, and activities.
- Continuing education courses in QuarkXpress 3.32, Macromedia Freehand 5.5, and Photoshop 3.0. Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Mich., Winter 1996.
- Course in computer animation. Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fall 1997.
- Continuing education course in technical writing. DARC, Downingtown, Penn., Summer 2005.
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- Designed Web sites for three parishes.
Edited and designed a weekly bulletin for a local parish.
Edited, designed, and contributed to a newsletter for a youth group.
Assisted with editing a computer club newsletter.
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