Personal Profile

Hi, I’m Cherie Herne.. many years ago when I was five years old, my parents told me I would be an artist.. thirteen years later I was enrolled at the Colorado Institute of Art in the Commercial Art program. After unanimous approval by CIA’s portfolio review committee, I graduated with honors and moved back to the East Coast to begin my career as a Commercial/Graphic Artist.

I have been using computers for almost 21 years and I have gained a great knowledge in all areas of design, computers and the internet. I am very passionate about the industry I am involved with assisting many small start-up companies with their branding and marketing strategies.

I see one of my major strengths being my adaptability. I am able to jump easily from being a graphic designer, to a web designer, to organizing information and writing copy, to decision maker. This adaptability can also be seen in my design work where I am able handle any task I’m given, be it web, branding, or print.

Career History

The beginning… Graphic Design | 1987 to 1990
In 1987 I, along with two other partners, formed MGM Advertising in downtown Portsmouth, NH. My position was Co-Founder/Creative Director. One year later Orchard Management, a major eastern seaboard land development company, recruited me as Marketing Director.

Although I had an advertising/ marketing budget of $1M per year, my lifelong dream was to be a graphic designer for Green Peace soooo... In 1990 the concept for a “green” design business came to fruition .....

NO NAME:Stock Pics:RhythmoftheEarth.gif

Graphic Design & Marketing | April 1990 to 199

Earthly Concerns, Inc: Company Founder | Marketing/Creative Director

In 1990 I opened the doors to Earthly Concerns, an environmental message wholesale apparel company that contributed 10% of its profits to local schools for environmental education.

My roles within the company were extremely broad, ranging from creative, technical, management, client contact and manufacturing. As Founder and Creative Director of EC, I conceptualized designs that were brought to completion by contracted illustrators.

Traveling the US and abroad to display our eco-products at trade shows, our clothing, buttons, posters, greeting cards and jewelry were sold in such places as Disney, Sea World, Boston Museum of Science, Sundance Catalog and other international retail stores and catalogs. Sales topped at $2.5M in 1996 before deciding that it was time to cut out the middle man (the products) and go directly to the end user - the children..

Hmmmmm, I thought, “why not bypass the printed message and put the mission right into the hearts and souls of our future generation!”.....

Graphic/Web Design & Marketing | April 1997 to 2008
Herne Schools of Discovery: School Founder | Executive Director

In 1997 I founded, designed and directed the Herne Schools of Discovery, an environmentally based early education facility located in York, Maine. A nature-based environment integrated into a high-achieving academic curriculum, preschool through 2nd grade children were taught character education, earth-care, art, music, sign language and diversity. The daily schedule included such activities as going for nature hikes; tide pooling at the local beaches and walking to visit our elderly friends at Sentry Hill Assisted Living.

As Executive Director, my largest task was to promote and market the school. In the latter years of overseeing the function of the school, I new it was time to get back to my passion and trade...

Graphic/Web Design & Marketing | November 2006 to present
Shoofly Creative: Freelance Graphic & Web Designer

Since 2006 I have been working as a freelance graphic & web designer in the Southern Maine and New Hampshire coastal area. I new it was time to learn web design when my clients were going elsewhere for their web sites, which subsequently undermined the branding momentum I had created. The web sites were not being designed to compliment the print and promotional materials. Now I design from logos right up through print, promotional materials and web design. My clients gain impact from my creative design and intuitive marketing skills.

Software Proficiency

My Industry Preferences:

In my seat :: IMAC & MAC G5

On the fly :: MACbook 5,2

Operating Software :: OS X version 10.5.8

Search Engine Preference :: Mozilla Firefox

Domain & Hosting Preference :: GoDaddy

Along with the standard office software, I have extensive knowledge using Adobe CS3-5.

Adob Photoshop
I have been using Photoshop extensively since 1999 and consider myself to be a first-rate user. I use Photoshop for creating layouts for most of my web designs as well as retouching and manipulating photos.

Adobe Illustrator
I have had plenty of experience illustrating and designing with this application. Creating logos, backgrounds for websites, designing magazine layouts, and virtually any type of media, this software allows me to go wild. If I can dream, I can design it!

Adobe InDesign
This is my preferred application when it comes to laying out multiple page documents. With InDesign I have designed magazines, magazine ads, promotional materials and newsletters.

Macromedia Dreamweaver
I’ve used a range of HTML authoring software but Dreamweaver has been my choice for five years. When necessary I have the ability to modify and hand code.

Macromedia Flash
I use Flash to create fades and sounds for my website.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROWESS

I design my websites using the following technologies: XHTML / CSS, PHP, Flash & Javascript, Wordpress. For simple shopping carts I use DesignCart, BigCommerce or Paypal and for more complex carts I use Drupal..

Education

PRIMARY EDUCATION

AA Commercial Art
The Art Institute of Colorado, 1200 Lincoln Street Denver, CO

FURTHER EDUCATION

I find the internet with its vast library of information, to be one of the greatest places to research, study and expand my skill set. However since finishing art school, I have completed the following courses pertinent to my career:

o    Adobe Photoshop Advanced | Adobe Systems

o    Designing Attention-Grabbing Brochures, Catalogs, Ads, Newsletters and Reports | SkillPath

o    Every Child is Learning Trainer |Yale University Schools

o    Supporting Children’s Communication Using Technology | UMaine CCI

o    Money Management CARE Courses

o    The Role of Arts in Education | Tidewater School

o    Board Financial Oversight | The Board Network

o    Effective Board Recruitment and Orientation | The Board Network

o    Taking Quickbooks to the Next Level | MANP

o    How to Use Quickbooks Effectively | MANP

o    Managing the Future | NCCA

Qualities Extraordinaire

DESIGN QUALITIES

o    Creative and original

o    Thrives under pressure

o    Capable of designing in any style

o    Excellent knowledge of design and typography

PERSONAL QUALITIES
Friendly, inquisitive, hardworking, funny, eager to learn or teach, passionate, eco-friendly, active

I’m in excellent health and a non-smoker

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
All facets of design, golf, tennis, snow boarding, kayaking, racquetball and traveling.