Education: 

  • Associate Degree in Commercial Art/Marketing/Visual Design, Madison College 

  • Pastry Arts,  Madison College 

Industry Acknowledgments:

• Recipient of many ADDY®, Best In Class, and Certificates of Excellence from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) on local and national levels.

• Member of the Team winning a 1998 Pulitzer Prize award for coverage of the 100-year Red River Flood in Public Service.

• Chosen to work on a committee for Grand New Grand Forks marketing the revival of the City of Grand Forks, ND. The committee was formed following the devastating destruction caused by a 100-year flood and subsequent fires.

• Board member for Valley Advertising & Marketing Federation, a part of the AAF. Committee head of ADDY Awards two years running, as well as Vice President.

Work Experience:

KRISTIN THOMAS

Senior Graphic Designer | Publication Designer | Communications & Marketing Specialist | Creative Director

Award-winning creative professional with multiple years of experience designing high-quality print and digital publications, marketing campaigns, websites, and branded communications. Extensive expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, publication design, typography, editorial layout, print production, website content management, and cross-channel communications. Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while collaborating with writers, editors, stakeholders, vendors, and production teams to deliver polished, deadline-driven publications. Recognized with multiple ADDY® Awards and as part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper team for excellence in public service.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Funkadelic Food Group – St. Augustine, FL (Remote)

Marketing Director | September 2024 – Present

  • Lead the creative direction and execution of all print and digital marketing initiatives.

  • Design publication-quality menus, rack cards, brochures, banners, social media graphics, promotional materials, and branded collateral.

  • Develop and maintain comprehensive brand standards to ensure visual consistency across all communications.

  • Produce strategic marketing plans aligned with organizational goals.

  • Create visually engaging layouts with strong attention to typography, accessibility, readability, and user experience.

  • Coordinate projects from concept through final production while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

  • Prepare press-ready artwork and digital assets for publication and distribution.

FreshBaked Cafe & Food Truck – St. Augustine, FL

Owner / Communications & Brand Manager | January 2019 – October 2024

  • Built, maintained, and updated the company website to promote products, seasonal offerings, and events.

  • Developed the company's complete visual identity, including logo, packaging, menus, signage, advertising, and promotional materials.

  • Designed print and digital marketing campaigns across web, email, and social media platforms.

  • Created and managed Mailchimp email marketing campaigns to increase customer engagement.

  • Produced publication-quality layouts for menus, promotional flyers, brochures, and point-of-sale materials.

  • Managed all branding, content creation, photography, copywriting, and marketing communications.

  • Oversaw multiple concurrent projects while maintaining production schedules and meeting deadlines.

  • Hired, trained, and supervised staff while ensuring USDA and Department of Health compliance.

Observer Media Group – Palm Coast, FL

Graphic Designer | January 2017 – September 2019

  • Designed multi-page newspaper publications, advertising supplements, magazines, rack cards, brochures, digital advertisements, and promotional materials.

  • Produced editorial layouts using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

  • Collaborated with clients, editors, sales representatives, and production staff to deliver high-quality print and digital communications.

  • Created animated graphics and multimedia assets supporting integrated marketing campaigns.

  • Customized campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • Developed PowerPoint presentations and sales materials for prospective clients.

  • Prepared press-ready files and ensured accuracy throughout the production process.

Times-Union Media / The Florida Times-Union – Jacksonville, FL

Marketing Communications Specialist | January 2011 – June 2017

  • Managed the planning, design, production, and implementation of integrated marketing campaigns for internal and external audiences.

  • Produced editorial publications, newsletters, digital magazines, promotional materials, and consumer outreach campaigns.

  • Collaborated daily with editors, writers, designers, sales representatives, and production teams to meet demanding publication deadlines.

  • Increased digital subscribers from approximately 11,000 to more than 21,000 through strategic email newsletters, contests, and marketing initiatives.

  • Wrote AP-style articles and repurposed content for websites, email campaigns, and social media.

  • Designed digital publications for area Realtors and other business partners.

  • Managed website content, contests, promotions, and social media campaigns.

  • Evaluated campaign performance using Google Analytics and post-campaign reporting.

  • Produced press-ready files while maintaining brand standards and publication quality.

Freelance Graphic Design – St. Augustine, FL

Freelance Graphic Designer | January 2010 – September 2011

  • Developed branding systems, logos, websites, and marketing materials for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

  • Designed brochures, advertisements, newsletters, flyers, direct mail, and digital communications.

  • Created publication-ready artwork for print and online distribution.

  • Worked independently while managing multiple clients, priorities, budgets, and deadlines.

  • Wrote marketing copy and messaging that supported client branding objectives.

PresentYourPractice.com – Jacksonville, FL

Creative Director | January 2008 – November 2010

  • Directed creative strategy for healthcare marketing campaigns and practice branding.

  • Designed websites, brochures, newsletters, patient education materials, advertisements, and promotional campaigns.

  • Established and enforced brand standards across multiple business divisions.

  • Managed print vendors, production schedules, and creative workflows.

  • Supervised creative interns while mentoring designers and coordinating project assignments.

  • Collaborated with clients throughout concept development, production, and implementation.

Palm Coast Data – Palm Coast, FL

Graphic Design Specialist | January 2007 – July 2008

  • Designed USPS-compliant print materials for publication clients.

  • Produced publication layouts while maintaining quality control and brand consistency.

  • Organized and maintained digital asset libraries for production efficiency.

  • Assisted with print production and file preparation for commercial printing.

Times-Union Media / The Florida Times-Union – Jacksonville, FL

Marketing Promotions Specialist | January 2006 – September 2007

  • Designed educational publications and promotional materials supporting community outreach initiatives.

  • Developed print collateral for schools, nonprofit organizations, and newspaper-sponsored events.

  • Assisted with marketing campaigns promoting readership and community engagement.

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure projects were completed accurately and on schedule.

EDUCATION

Madison College – Madison, Wisconsin

Associate Degree in Commercial Art, Marketing & Visual Design

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite

  • Adobe InDesign

  • Illustrator

  • Photoshop

  • Acrobat Pro

  • Premiere Pro

  • After Effects

  • Lightroom

Publication & Print

  • Editorial Design

  • Publication Design

  • Typography

  • Page Layout

  • Print Production

  • Prepress File Preparation

  • Press-Ready PDF Creation

  • Digital Asset Management

  • Brand Standards

Web & Digital

  • WordPress

  • SharePoint

  • Squarespace

  • Figma

  • Website Content Management

  • Basic HTML/CSS Knowledge

AI & Creative Technology

  • ChatGPT

  • Claude

  • Gemini

  • Adobe Firefly

  • Midjourney

  • Kling

  • Jasper

  • Perplexity

  • Lovable

Marketing & Analytics

  • Mailchimp

  • Constant Contact

  • Contactology

  • Google Analytics

  • Hootsuite

  • Social Media Campaign Management

Business & Collaboration

  • Microsoft 365

  • Word

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Teams

  • Slack

  • Smartsheet

CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Publication Design

  • Editorial Design

  • Typography & Page Layout

  • Print Production & Prepress

  • Adobe Creative Suite

  • Brand Identity Development

  • Marketing Communications

  • Website Content Management

  • Cross-Channel Marketing Campaigns

  • Accessibility-Focused Design

  • Copywriting & Content Strategy

  • Project & Production Management

  • Deadline-Driven Workflow

  • Vendor & Print Coordination

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Digital Asset Management

  • Internal & External Communications

  • Educational Publications

  • Quality Assurance & Proofreading

  • Skills/Proficiencies:

  • Brand Building and Implementation

  • Marketing Communications

  • Color Theory Expertise

  • Strong Graphic Design Skills

  • Attention to Detail

  • New Product Development 

  • Typography Expertise

  • Typing speed of 50wpm

  • Copywriting 

  • Creativity and Innovation

  • Marketing Principles

  • Problem-Solving

  • Meeting Deadlines

  • Scheduling

  • Time Management 

  • Design Concepts

  • Project Coordination Experience

  • Strong Communication Skills

  • Ability to Work in a Team

  • UX Design 

  • Application Flow for UX Design

  • Event Planning & Marketing

  • Illustration

  • Photography and Photo Manipulation

  • Use of AI Technologies within Design Tools