Education
Rochester Institute of Technology
One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Fine & Applied Arts
Major: Graphic Design, 1988-1990
Mohawk Valley Community College 
1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, New York
Major: Advertising Design & Production, 1986-1988
Experience
Director of Marketing
Jet Genius (FlyCFG/Jet Agency/JetCharter.com)
Boca Raton, FL (Remote)
November 2022 - Present
Oversee and drive creative direction and brand strategy for three aviation brands within the Jet Genius portfolio. Manage marketing initiatives from concept through execution, owning all aspects of visual design and brand expression across the full spectrum of marketing efforts. Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to align creative strategy with business goals to deliver cohesive, insight-driven brand experiences that elevate brand awareness, strengthen engagement, and drive measurable results.
Key Achievements:
- Creative Leadership: Lead the visual strategy and design execution for all marketing and brand initiatives, delivering cohesive and compelling creative across digital, print, video, web, and social channels—with a focus on Jet Agency, the company’s premium brand. 

- Strategic Growth Initiatives: Researched and presented two new marketing avenues that were approved by leadership and successfully expanded audience reach and engagement.

- Earned Media Growth: Engaged and directed a public relations consultant who secured regional earned media, expanding brand visibility and credibility within key markets.

- SEO & Web Strategy: Manage an external SEO agency to evaluate analytics and plan new content initiatives to improve visibility and lead generation. Spearhead a web refresh, developing and implementing new content optimized for GEO and LLM search.
- Team Leadership: Provide creative direction, feedback, and guidance to cross-functional collaborators, fostering innovation and maintaining high design standards.
Director of Creative Marketing | November 2022 – December 2023
- Integrated Brand Development: Established unified design systems and visual standards across three aviation brands, elevating brand identity and trust while ensuring aesthetic excellence across all marketing channels.

- Partner & Vendor Collaboration: Managed agency and vendor relationships, ensuring on-time delivery, fiscal accountability, and alignment with brand standards.

Freelance Creative Consultant
Melissa Corrigan Design
8-D Par Place, Queensbury, New York
August 2002 - Present
Provide strategic creative direction and design solutions for diverse clients across industries. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate complex marketing goals into compelling, on-brand visual communications that strengthen awareness, engagement, and credibility.
Key Achievements:
- Partner with local and national clients to develop cohesive brand identities, digital campaigns, and marketing systems that elevate visibility and drive measurable growth.
- Consult on marketing workflows and creative processes, applying operational strategies from agency and in-house experience to improve efficiency and output.
- Deliver cohesive, data-informed creative solutions that balance design excellence with business impact across digital, print, and experiential channels.
Notable Work:
- Schenectady City School District: Developed branding and marketing for the “Circle Up” initiative, including logo design, campaign collateral, and community outreach materials that unified program identity and boosted engagement.
- JMZ Architects: Led creative direction for the firm’s rebrand and website redesign (jmzarchitects.com), establishing a modern visual identity aligned with firm values and positioning the company as an innovative leader in architectural design.
Graphic Designer/Marketing Communications Lead
Saratoga Hospital/Albany Med Health System
211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, New York
March 2018 - December 2021
Worked closely with leadership and key stakeholders to plan and execute marketing efforts that supported strategic organizational goals and strengthened community engagement. Collaborated across departments to develop materials promoting hospital services, recruiting initiatives, fundraising programs, and patient education campaigns—including critical communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Refreshed, evolved, and elevated all marketing and print materials, ranging from internal communications to patient-facing brochures and large-scale campaigns, ensuring consistency, creativity, and alignment with brand standards.
Key Achievements:
- Brand Evolution: Refined and modernized the hospital’s brand identity, ensuring visual and tonal consistency across all internal and external communications.
- Strategic Marketing Support: Partnered with senior leadership to execute initiatives that advanced hospital growth, community outreach, and patient awareness.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked independently with multiple departments to fulfill diverse marketing needs, from internal awareness campaigns to external service promotions.
- Vendor & Agency Partnership: Collaborated with external agencies, print vendors, and signage partners to maintain brand standards across all regional facilities.
- Foundation & Recruitment Support: Designed and produced all creative assets for fundraising events, recruitment campaigns, and community initiatives, enhancing engagement and visibility.
Notable Work:
- Albany Med Health System Integration: Expanded the existing Albany Med logo to incorporate the Health System identity, creating a unified visual standard across multiple hospitals.
- Corporate Annual Report: Designed and produced the hospital’s annual report, elevating brand credibility and community perception through refined storytelling and visual design.
Creative Director
Allegory Studios & CultureTalk
153 Regent Street, Saratoga Springs, New York
July 2008 - November 2017
Led creative direction and brand development for a boutique agency serving local and national clients across multiple industries. Collaborated with partners and clients to shape brand strategy, oversee creative execution, and ensure excellence across all deliverables. Managed internal and freelance designers, guided developers, and worked closely with photographers, videographers, and print vendors to bring complex creative concepts to life.
Key Achievements:
- Award-Winning Creative: Earned four industry awards recognizing design excellence and brand storytelling:
   - 2017 MarCom Award – Balzer & Tuck Website
   - 2017 MarCom Award – Nussbaum Driver Recruitment Campaign
   - 2012 ReBrand Merit Award – NBS
   - 2011 ReBrand Notable Award – Walking Mountains
- Brand Leadership: Directed over 25 brand initiatives encompassing logo design, identity systems, websites, and marketing collateral: delivering strategic, differentiated visual narratives.
- Expanded Creative Capabilities: Introduced video and motion graphics as new agency offerings; self-taught Premiere Pro and After Effects to lead testimonial video production and motion storytelling.
- CultureTalk Brand Development: Co-led the creation of the online survey company CultureTalk—from naming and logo design to survey interface, marketing campaigns, and a published archetype guidebook.
- Team Leadership: Mentored creative staff, participated in hiring, and provided annual performance feedback to foster professional growth and maintain high design standards.
Notable Work: 
- Balzer & Tuck Architecture: Developed a new brand identity and website that modernized the firm’s presence and earned a MarCom Award for design excellence. (balzertuck.com)
- Nussbaum Transportation: Concepted and executed the “Faith & Family” recruitment campaign, including videos, motion graphics, and web assets, recognized with a MarCom Award.  (nussbaum.com/hauloffaith).
 
Assistant Advt./Private Label Supervisor
The Golub Corporation
501 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady, New York
August 1999 - August 2002 
Assistant Advt./Private Label Supervisor: June 2000 - August 2002
Promoted to lead the creative direction and production of private label packaging design initiatives for the company’s extensive product line. Managed a small creative team, overseeing concept development, design execution, and vendor collaboration to ensure brand consistency and strong shelf appeal. Collaborated closely with internal stakeholders and external print vendors to deliver packaging that reflected high design standards and aligned with business objectives.
Key Achievements:
- Award-Winning Design: Directed creative efforts for multiple private label packaging lines, earning three consecutive NORI Finalist Awards for excellence in design and visual innovation.
- Brand Elevation: Elevated packaging design standards to compete effectively with national brands, enhancing perceived value and market presence.
- Team Leadership: Mentored junior designers to strengthen creative execution and maintain production quality and consistency
.
Graphic Designer | August 1999 – June 2000
- Develop cohesive packaging systems and marketing materials for a variety of store-brand products. Balanced creativity and functionality within established brand guidelines while ensuring technical accuracy for print production.
Key Achievements: 
- Brand Cohesion: Strengthened the company’s visual identity through consistent, high-quality packaging and marketing design.
- End-to-End Design Execution: Created packaging concepts from initial sketches through final production files, ensuring accuracy and efficiency across the creative process.
Graphic Designer
Fletcher-Barnhardt & White
3925 Rose Lake Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina
July 1996 - May 1999
Created high-impact marketing and promotional materials for Fortune 500 clients, including Dr. Pepper, MCI/Worldcom, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Worked collaboratively with senior art directors and account teams to deliver bold, on-brand creative that met strategic marketing objectives and elevated client visibility.
Key Achievements:
- Award-Winning Design: Earned a PICA Gold Award for the MCI/Worldcom Kentucky Derby Invitation, recognized for creative excellence and craftsmanship.
- National Campaign Creative: Designed the “Sounds of Summer” SunDrop sweepstakes campaign, developing packaging, in-store displays, and branded merchandise that increased consumer engagement.
Earlier Experience
Art Director, Custom Printers & Design Graphix | Charlotte, NC
Graphic Designer, Iuppa/McCartan Marketing Communications | Rochester, NY

Skills & Achievements 
Core Competencies
Leadership & Strategy: Creative Direction, Brand Strategy, Leadership & Mentoring, Collaboration, and Design Thinking. 
Design Expertise: Graphic Design, Branding, Typography, Website Design, Packaging Design, and Applying UX/UI Principles 
Marketing Execution: Marketing Campaigns, Advertising, Marketing (Print & Digital),  Social Media, Motion Graphics, and Video Production. 
Illustration: Digital and traditional (pencil, markers, acrylics, and watercolors).
Tools & Platforms 
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, InVision, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Express, Adobe Fresco, Canva, SocialPilot, Microsoft 365, Unbounce, HubSpot, Qualtrics, WordPress CMS. Plus, ClickUp, Slack, and ChatGPT.

Honors & Awards
2017 Marcom Award Winner: Balzer & Tuck Website
2017 Marcom Award Winner: Nussbaum Driver Recruitment Campaign
2012 ReBrand Merit Award: NBS
2011 ReBrand Notable Award: Walking Mountains
2002 NORI Finalist: Price Chopper Facial Tissue
2001 NORI Finalist: Price Chopper Pure Maple Syrup
2000 NORI Finalist: Price Chopper Maraschino Cherries
1999 PICA Gold Award: MCI Kentucky Derby Invite
Back to Top