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Rachel Courtney
Graphic Designer

 

Experience

Pretty Nice Creations, Las Cruces, NM; Wenatchee, Wa; Broomfield, Colo.

Owner • 5/2016-present

Help clients communicate with their audience by creating logos, business cards, letterhead,
wedding invitations, announcements, instructional sheets, packaging, advertising design, rate cards, and more.

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N2 Company, Las Cruces, NM; El Paso, Texas

Creative Management • 11/2016-present

Provide concierge design service for more than 150 clients in high-quality neighborhood publications which create a sense of community and support local businesses. Publications include Stroll Sonoma Ranch (11/16+), Stroll Picacho Hills (11/16+), BeLocal Las Cruces (7/22+), Coronado Living (11/18 to 6/22), Franklin Hills Living (5/19 to 6/20), Life in Kern (2/20 to1/22), BeLocal West El Paso (7/20 to 12/22).

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Content Manager • 4/2019-8/2023

Write stories that showcase neighbors, their pets and local businesses. Keep events calendar up-to-date. Publications include Stroll Sonoma Ranch, Stroll Picacho Hills, BeLocal Las Cruces.

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​Horse N Hound Feed N Supply, Las Cruces, NM

Marketing Director • 3/2014-8/2016

Create brand strategy. Purchase and design ads according to budget. Write press releases, take photos, communicate with media. Plan events in full: concept, advertising, promotions, partnerships to fruition. Design all outgoing communications. Assist with company budget. Monitor social media. Human resources: scheduling, payroll, mediating.

Doña Ana Community College, Las Cruces, NM

Adjunct Instructor • Fall 2014, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017   

Teach students a variety of skills using InDesign program as well as design principles.

Las Cruces Bulletin, Las Cruces, NM     

Production Manager • 8/2006-2/2014    

Oversee the production of weekly newspaper. Create dummies from sales runsheets, paginate Business, Arts & Entertainment, Health & Well Being, Homes and Southwest Living, The Bottom Line and NMSU football and basketball sections, adjust photos for optimal print quality, troubleshoot. Coordinate workflow of 7 graphic designers. Maintain physical and digital archive of weekly newspaper, special sections and photographs. Communicate with printer and website provider.

Las Cruces Bulletin, Las Cruces, NM    

Graphic Designer • 9/2005-8/2006    

Produce ads based on client preference, layout pages for sports and arts and lifestyles sections and special sections, design creative covers for arts and lifestyles section and work photos for weekly newspaper. Pre-press production.

KDBC-TV, El Paso, Texas    

Production Assistant • 4/2004-9/2005    

Produce daily live newscasts. Positions include graphic creator, video playback operator, audio operator, character generator operator, floor director, teleprompter operator and camera operator.

Education

New Mexico State University    

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Linguistics • 8/1999-5/2003     

Emphasis in Advertising and Production, Creative Strategy/Copywriting, Advertising Campaigns 3.6 GPA
 
Doña Ana Community College     

Certificate in Digital Graphics Technology • 7/2003-5/2004    

Emphasis in Layout, Media Graphics & Design, Principles of Digital Graphics, Page Layout for Business Publications I & II, Image Processing, Computer Illustration, 3.9 GPA    

Awards
Las Cruces Young Professionals    
LCYP of the Year • 2015

Doña Ana Community College    
2012 Distinguished Alumni
Technical and Industrial Studies Division
       
New Mexico Press Association    
1st Place – Color Advertising
2005-2006 Weekly Newspaper Class 1

New Mexico Press Association    
Honorable Mention – Supplements & Special Editions
2005-2006 Weekly Newspaper Class 1

 

Extracurricular

Volunteer Work

  • Project Linus Las Cruces - Blanketeer • 3/1999-present

    • Maintain Facebook page, crochet more than 200 blankets for children in need of comfort in our community. Attend events, write newsletter articles and promote Project Linus.

  • Broomfield Historical Society, 2023-present - design & social media management

  • Anchor House, 2023-present - design, website & social media management

  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder, 2023-present - board member - website management

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La Semilla Food Center • 2016

  • Work with Healthy Food Financing Initiative to create branding and logo supporting Healthy Food Healthy Communities campaign 

  • Develop plan for Coalition to acquire funding

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Doña Ana Photography Club • Member 2016-2018

  • Design Newsletter - 2/2017-7/2018

  • Attend Bootcamp and occasional monthly meetings

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Art Classes Attended

  • Crochet with Katie Kelly, Las Cruces, NM • 10/2000

  • Chan Liu-Inspired Bracelet Making with Jennifer Rogers, Las Cruces, NM • 3/2013

  • Saori Weaving with Dedri Quillin, Las Cruces, NM • 7/2016

  • Nuno-Felting with Judy Licht, Las Cruces, NM • 10/2016

  • Eco-Printing on Silk with Judy Licht, Las Cruces, NM • 7/2017

  • Triangle Loom Weaving with Susan Jewel, Las Cruces, NM • 5/2018

  • Awaken Your Inner Art Girl with Gail Lieurance and Mary Havenor, Las Cruces, NM • Fall 2017, Spring 2018

  • City of Las Cruces Museums Class, Las Cruces, NM • Spring 2018 • Printmaking with Katy Stuckel 

  • Doña Ana Arts Council, Las Cruces, NM • Spring 2018

    • Painting on Silk with Judy Licht

    • Painting Gourds with Pat Black

    • Pen & Ink with Watercolor with Sally Quillin

    • Gelatin Prints with Linda Elkins

    • Shibori Silk Scarf with Linda Elkins

  • Jewelry Making with Gypsy Lotus, Wenatchee, WA • 11/2018

  • Pickle Papers, Wenatchee, WA

    • Pointed Split Nib Calligraphy with Peggy Nichols • 1/2019

    • Intro to Karin Markers with Josie (Chalk Chick Mama) • 7/2019

  • Clay sculpture with Martha Flores, Wenatchee, WA • 7/2019​

  • Sketching and Watercolor with Kmbris Bond, Wenatchee, WA • 9/2019

  • Mermaid Wine Glass Painting with Kmbris Bond, Wenatchee, WA • 2/2022

  • Collapse Contemporary Art Gallery, Wenatchee, WA

    • ​Begin an Oil Painting with Lindsay Breidenthal • 7/2021

    • Needle Felted Goat's Milk Soap Workshop with Story Feist • 7/2021

    • Collage Creations with Chad Yenney • 8/2021

    • Botanical Papier Mâché with Sara Hasslinger • 9/2021

  • Longmont Yarn Shoppe, Longmont, Colo.

    • Introduction to Coiled Vessels with Mary Balzer • 3/2022

    • Coiled Vessels: Level 2 with Mary Balzer • 4/2022

    • Dye Your Own Yarn with Jennifer Miller • 7/2022, 7/2023

    • Stephanie Flynn Sokolov

      • Spinning 101 • 7/2022

      • Spinning 102 • 2/2023

      • Needle Felt a Baby Bunny • 4/2023

      • Andean Plying on a Drop Spindle • TBD

      • Blending Colors with Handcards • TBD

    • Blocking Basics with Hannah • 8/2022

    • Level Up Your Granny Square Game, Online • 8/2022

    • Christianna Bowland

      • Aspen Christmas Stocking • 11/2022

      • Corner-to-Corner Crochet Snowman Scarf • 12/2022

    • Paint with Wool: Needle Felt 2-D Otter with Deborah Coccoli • 12/2023

    • Kathy Partridge

      • ​Ravelry 101 • 1/2024

      • Ravelry 201 • 3/2024

    • Crocheted Yip Yip Fiber Friday with Carissa Browning • 2/2024

    • Understanding Your Yarn & How It Shapes Your Project with Caroline Sommerfeld • 3/2024

      • Fibre Content

      • Construction

      • Yarn & Colour

    • Setting Goals for Improving our Knitting and Crocheting Techniques with Carson Demers • 4/2024

    • Confidence with Color: An Introduction to Color Theory for Fiber Artists with Pamela Schwab • 10/2024

  • Maker General, Longmont, Colo.

    • Woodworking Workshop with Riley Davis • 1/2022

    • Flower Pot Painting Workshop with Coy Ink • 4/2022

  • Basketweaving with Sue Smith, Johnstown, Colo. • 3/2022, 7/2022

  • Invent HQ, Broomfield, Colo.

    • Adult Playdate: Bookmaking with Laser Cutting • 7/2022

    • Adult Playdate: Faux Stained Glass • 8/2022

    • Crafty Night Out: Bottle Lanterns • 9/2022

    • Adult Playdate: Ink Wash Painting with Rebecca Lefebvre • 9/2024

  • Twill Weaving with Sara Goldenberg White, Boulder, Colo. • 2/2023

  • Simple Printmaking with Janet Strickler, Boulder, Colo. • 2/2023

  • Needle Felted Mushroom Houses with Alexandra Busby, FingerPlay Studio • Lewisville, Colo. • 4/2023

  • Bud Vase Workshop with Sally Spear, Modern Folklore • Lewisville, Colo. • 4/2023

  • Wet Felting with Janelle Sowers • Longmont, Colo. • 6/2023

  • Macro Photography with Bob Krugmire, Butterfly Pavilion, Broomfield, Colo. • 10/2023​

  • Broomfield Out Loud: Creativity Workshop with Rebecca Lefebvre, Broomfield Depot Museum • 10/2024

  • WARP (Weave A Real Peace)

    • ​Continuing Textile Traditions: Basketry in the North American Southwest, from Prehistory to Now with Diane D. Dittemore, Edward A. Jolie, Ph.D., RPA, August Wood • 2/2024

  • pARTiculars Art Gallery & Teaching Studio​

    • Silk Painting Workshop with Suzanne Connolly Howes • 4/2024​

    • Fused Glass Class with Molly Hargarten • 10/2024

 

Art Classes Taught (Multiple Occasions)

  • Tutu Creation • 2014

  • Chan Liu-Inspired Bracelet Making • 2016+

  • Jamberry Jewelry Creations • 2017-2018

  • Alcohol Ink Creations • 2018+

  • Prayer Flag Creations • 2019+

  • Rock Painting • 2019+

  • Tree of Life Beading • 2021+

  • Pine Needle Basket Weaving • 2019+

  • Pine Needle Basket Weaving on Gourds • 2022

  • Pine Needle Basket Weaving on Pottery • 2022

  • Lino Block Printing Class • 2021+

  • Needle Felting • 2021+
  • Coiled Rainbows • 2024

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Art Exhibits

  • Monumental Exhibit (Group Show) • West End Art Depot, Las Cruces, NM • 5/2015

  • Southern New Mexico State Fair (Group Show) • Las Cruces, NM • 10/2016

    • Earning First Place Ribbons for Weaving and Felted Cloud, Second Place Ribbon for Crochet Blanket, Third Place for Crochet Necklace, Fourth Place for I Love NM (Zia) Pillow,  Honorable Mention for Weaving​

  • For the Love of Art Month (Group Show) • Rio Grande Theatre Art Gallery, Mas Art, Las Cruces, NM • 2/2017

  • Pretty Nice Creations: Every Day in Every Way (Solo Show) • Tombaugh Gallery, Las Cruces, NM • 8/2017

  • Uplifting Artwork (Multiple artists donated for Infusion Center) • Memorial Medical Center, Las Cruces, NM • 5/2018

  • First Friday Art Walk with Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce • 3/2020

  • Handweaver's Guild of Boulder Showcase and Sale 

    • 2022 • I make things because I must • Coiled Basket Sunflower and Silver Lining/Cloudy Day​

    • 2024 • Past Made Present • Pinecone Sunflower

 

Sales/Marketing Classes Attended

  • Inbound Marketing • Spring 2016

  • Retail Solutions • Fall 2015

  • WhizBang Retail Training • Fall 2015

  • Animal Care Workshop • 9/2014 • Purina Farms • St. Louis, Mo

  • Purina Customer Service Training • 10/14 • Albuquerque, NM

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Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce 

  • Member 2016-2018 • Attend First Friday Lunch and Learns, Green Drinks Networking Events, Donate to Auctions

  • Think Local First Committee • 2016-2018 • Create "Think Local Love" and "Think Local First" Logos, plan local education events, participation in the "No More Walmart" campaign, create the Green Gift Guide to promote shopping small during the holidays

  • First Friday Solo Proprietor • Panelist • 6/2017

  • First Friday Building your Branding • Presenter • 2/2018

  • Award of Appreciation • 4/2015

  • Ribbon Cutting • 8/2017

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Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces • Member 2015-2018

  • January 2018: Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual and Organizational Tools for Leaders with Rev. Suzanne Redfern-Campbell and Rev. Nancy J Anderson, minister emerita UUCLC

  • Tombaugh Gallery Committee • 3/2015-7/2018 • Curate exhibits, design and distribute postcards, write and send press releases to media, create events and add photos to Facebook, create labels for exhibits, hang artwork, create scholarship fund and reward.

  • Ministerial Search Committee • 5/2017-5/2018 • Work with 6 other church members to facilitate casita meetings, design packet, announcements, communication to congregation, review Ministerial Records, interview candidates, welcome pre-candidates to Las Cruces and narrow down to one final candidate. Resulted in the hiring of Rev. Dr. Xolani Kacela.

  • Auction Committee • Timeless Treasures Jewelry Sale • 10/2017 • Collect donations, create announcements, coordinate volunteers, price jewelry and work sale resulting in more than $2,500 of funds raised. 

  • Aesthetics Committee • 2017-2018 • Assist with the design of new outdoor sign, color palette and general graphic design at church

  • Retirement Celebration Committee • 2018 • Plan retirement party for Rev. Suzanne Redfern-Campbell

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Cascade Unitarian Universalist Church • 2019-2020​

  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training with Julie A. Rickard, PhD • 2/2019

  • Visual Arts Team • 2018-2020 • Work with worship leaders and committee to design a visually appealing and pertinent sanctuary each month

  • The Give-Away Christmas Play • Christmas 2018 • Assistant Director • Mask Maker

  • Covenant Group Member • 2019-2020

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Shops

From baby blankets to Pride jewelry and custom I Love Colorado notecards, several stores have carried my creations since I started my business.​

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Rachel Courtney
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