about me

I am an accomplished, hands-on design leader with a proven track record in creative resource management, UX, digital marketing communications, and learning & development in corporate and higher ed environments. I’m passionate about producing results oriented, design-driven user experiences.

I excel at bridging the gap between creative, technical, and business resources, and have extensive experience leading multidisciplinary remote teams.

Member, AIGA, The Professional Association for Design 2018 — Present

Member, User Experience Professionals Association 2018 — Present

Member, eLearning Guild 2016 — Present

Member, Rochester Advertising Federation 2015 — Present

Advisory Board, National Institute for Social Media 2014 — 2019

Judge and Member, Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts 2008—Present

Spring 2022 Judge, 28th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2021 Judge, 17th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Spring 2021 Judge, 27th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2020 Judge, 15th Annual W3 Awards, invited

Spring 2020 Judge, 26th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2019 Coordinator, RAF Portfolio Panel Event, invited

Spring 2019 Assistant Coordinator to RAF Education Chairs, 11th Annual Upstate NY 2019 Emerging Designers Portfolio Review sponsored by AIGA & Adobe, invited

Spring 2019 Pro-Bono Creative Consultant, Ontario County ARC, Canandaigua NY

Spring 2019 Judge, 25th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2018 Judge, 14th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Fall 2018 Reviewer, Rochester Advertising Federation Portfolio Event, invited

2018-2019 Reviewer, National Institute for Social Media SMS (Social Media Strategist) Certification Exam, invited

Spring 2018 Judge, 24th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2017 Judge, 12th Annual W3 Awards, invited

Spring 2017 Judge, 23rd Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Spring 2017 Participant, Rochester Advertising Federation Undergrad Speed Networking Event, invited

Fall 2016 Judge, 11th Annual W3 Awards, invited

Spring 2016 Judge, 22nd Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Spring 2016 Reviewer, Rochester Advertising Federation Student Portfolios, invited

Fall 2015 Judge, 10th Annual W3 Awards, invited

Spring 2015 Participant, Rochester Advertising Federation Undergrad Speed Networking Event, invited

Spring 2014 Judge, 20th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Spring 2013 Judge, 19th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2013 Judge, 8th Annual W3 Awards, invited

Fall 2013 External Reviewer, FLCC New Media Program , invited

Spring 2012 Judge, 18th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2011 Judge, 7th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Fall 2010 Judge, 6th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Spring 2010 Judge, 16th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2009 Judge, 5th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Spring 2009 Judge, 15th Annual Communicator Awards, invited

Fall 2008 Judge, 4th Annual Davey Awards, invited

Service to Nazareth University Rochester, NY

2019 — Present Member, Academic Advising Council

2018 — Present Member, Center for Life’s Work Faculty Advisory Board

2019 — 2020 Institutional Representative, NASAD 

Fall 2019 Chair, Art and Design VCD Instructor Search Committee

Fall 2018 Member, IMC Marketing Instructor Search Committee 

Spring 2018 Member, IMC Marketing Instructor Search Committee 

Fall 2017 Member, IMC Marketing Instructor Search Committee 

Fall 2017 Coordinator, Art and Design Department New and Returning Student Welcome Event

Spring 2017 Co-Contributor, Art and Design Photo Studio Overhaul

Spring 2017 Creative Consultant, Art and Design Admissions Video Update

Spring 2017 Creative Consultant, Title IX Student Awareness Campaign

Fall 2016 Co-Curator, The Greater Good Social Design Invitational Exhibition, Arts Center Gallery

Fall 2016 Participant, #LifesWORK Naz Instagram Takeover

Fall 2016 Academic Space Cleanup and Reconfiguration Team, Arts Center Studios

Fall 2016 Coordinator, Art and Design Department New and Returning Student Welcome Event

Spring 2016 Creative Consultant, Art and Design Department Admissions and Marketing Videos

Spring 2016 Guest Lecturer, Web Design for Studio Artists, ART.495 BFA Capstone Thesis

Fall 2015 Coordinator and Poster Designer, Art and Design Department New and Returning Student Welcome Event 

2015 — Present Faculty Advisor, VCD Program, Art and Design Department

Fall 2011 Consulting Group Contributor, Art and Design Department BFA Graphic Design Proposal 

Fall 2011 Guest Lecturer, Brand Design, MGT.363 Marketing Communications (Pat Kurtz, Instructor)

2011 — 2012 Member, Nazareth College Alumni Board 

Fall 2010 Guest Lecturer, Brand Design, MGT.363 Marketing Communications (Pat Kurtz, Instructor)

Fall 2009 Guest Lecturer, Brand Design, MGT.363 Marketing Communications (Pat Kurtz, Instructor)

Spring 2008 Guest Lecturer, Careers in Graphic Design, ART.250 Graphic Design I (Cathy Kirby, Professor)

Fall 2008 Guest Lecturer, Brand Design, MGT.363 Marketing Communications (Pat Kurtz, Instructor)

Fall 2008 Alumni Panel Member, Careers in Advertising, Marketing, and Design (Nazareth College Alumni Association)

Spring 2007 Guest Lecturer, Careers in Graphic Design, ART.250 Graphic Design I (Cathy Kirby, Professor)

I AM AN EMPATHY-DRIVEN LEADER

I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with many talented people to build stateside, offshore, and remote teams ranging from 5 to 125 interdisciplinary members.

I worked with Steve in an early stage startup company. He quickly built a solid team, and just as importantly, developed the business processes to enable us to design and develop in the most effective and efficient way possible. Steve is cool under pressure and is always prepared. He is very good at identifying issues, clearly stating the challenges, along with potential solutions, while not losing sight of the big picture.
Mark Brodsky
Business Advisor and Coach
I had the pleasure of working with Steve for two years while he held the position of Vice President of Content and Curriculum Development at Adapt Courseware. Steve is an extremely professional, well-spoken, respected leader who is passionate about education technology. In this challenging start-up environment, he was a reliable, flexible team player who was willing to wear many different hats to get the job done well.
Sandy Pflugfelder
Project Manager, Scrum Master, Jira Admin, and Training Coach
LinkedIn

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