Client: Volt Workforce Solutions Design: Various in-house designers   Challenge: For more than 50 years, Volt had built its brand through sales, not marketing. When I joined in 2008, the marketing materials suffered from that common business ailment, corporate-speak. (Lots of "utilize," "leverage," etc.) I was asked to infuse a straightforward, conversational tone to the company's marketing materials, and make it consistent across the company's web site, direct mail and email campaigns, and burgeoning library of product sheets, case studies, topic briefs, and other print collateral.    Product Sheets   Candidate-facing introductory collateral Client-facing information collateral Client-facing alternative energy collateral Client-facing entertainment industry collateral    Direct Mail   Our Biggest Stories Start Small, a direct-mail campaign created to highlight the value that a single individual can bring to a business. Rather than merely claim that Volt supplies better employees (a claim made by every staffing company), this four-touch campaign tells true stories of people who made a difference for Volt's clients.    Advertising   As the economy struggled in 2009, we opted for a "glass is half-full" response to the changing employment picture. This ad appeared in CareerBuilder magazine. To celebrate Volt's partnership with Lifeworks, we focused on people's possibilities, rather than their disabilities. This ad appeared in a Lifeworks event brochure. Web banner ad targeting mothers seeking to return to the workforce. Because mothers sometimes feel they're out of touch with the working world, I emphasized that the skills honed as a parent are also valuable in the workplace.    Print Collateral   On-site poster promoting the Volt Military Heroes Program, emphasizing that Veterans possess the essential skills — and perhaps more of them — that employers seek in their workers. Letter insert promoting Volt Accounting & Finance Letter insert promoting Volt's full-service recruiting    Corporate Blog   The Volt Workforce Solutions blog shares original insights and information that will help candidates find a job they love and clients find talent who can contribute to their business. I am one of several subject matter experts who contribute content. I speak primarily to candidates, sharing true stories and insights to encourage and inspire job seekers. (click links below to read posts) Make Your Own Luck Questions Matter Want the Job? Ask for the Job    Volt Technical & Creative Communication   This niche Volt brand recruits marketing, sales, design, and technical communication specialists. The design of this brochure material intentionally differed from the primary Volt brand in order to better compete with boutique talent agencies offering similar services. (click links below to see larger sheets) what makes us different sales & marketing media, design, & production technical communication Client: Rip Caswell Sculpture   Design: Tracy Holstad, Hallock Agency Challenge: Rip Caswell, one of the Northwest's leading Lost Wax bronze sculptors, needed to reach a wider audience but retain his established reputation as a devoted naturalist. The Hallock Agency overhauled the brand, both the aesthetic appeal of the collateral with improved photography, spacious layout that gave the pieces room to exist, and copy that spoke to Rip Caswell's talents and history with artistic sensibility without losing the flavor of his personality. Click on a page to open the copy in a new window Save-the-date card Invitation   Brochure Client: Stems, an upstart florist Design: Hallock Agency   Challenge: Shelly, owner of Stems, had long managed the floral department at a gourmet grocery store across the street from her new shop, and she wanted postcards that would playfully let people know not only that the store was open, but that her familiar face was back in the neighborhood. Client: PacifiCorp Design: Hallock Agency   Challenge: PacficiCorp, now a division of MidAmerican Energy Company, have a long tradition of emphasizing local connections, exceptional customer service, and energy efficiency. Our agency maintained that consistency while expanding it to include environmental responsibility (for both the company and its customers.)     Client: Recycle-Freecycle.com Design: Bill Reagan Challenge: I read an article about a local non-profit that was recycling bicycles and wheelchairs for folks who couldn't afford their own, and it inspired me to create this spec ad. Car shopping is an activity to which many can relate, so I played with the idea of finding just the right vehicle. (Sadly, the non-profit has since ceased operation.) Client: Columbia River PUD Design: Taylor Design Group Challenge: Columbia River PUD is a publicly-owned utility serving rural northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington, and they wanted a voice that was blue-collar and rural. I wrote ads for them for several years, and created brands and names for a several of their programs, including Always Current, their automatic payment plan (with the dual meaning in the title---always up to date, always with energy) and Chinook Winds and Columbia Waves for their Choice Energy renewable wind turbine and hydroelectric programs respectively. Click the images at left to enlarge in new window Client: First Capital Group, Inc. Design: Linda Diteman/Mint Marketing   Challenge: First Capital Group had been sending text-heavy informational direct mail pieces to prospective home buyers with imperfect credit, and wanted something with a more emotional connection to their prospective customers. My solution emphasized the reliability of the company, and anticipated the joy of owning a home.        Client identity, web biographies       Taylor Design Group, Portland OR   The Hallock Agency, Portland OR      Newsletters   Client: Evergreen Safety Council Design: Tracy Holstad, Hallock Agency   Challenge: This Seattle-based client specializes in motorcycle, automobile, and truck safety training and awareness. For their first safety employer-targeted training event in Portland, they asked the Hallock Agency to create a newsletter previewing the seminar topics. The newsletter worked — seats at the event sold out.   Client: Atomic Auto Repair Design: Bill Reagan   Challenge: Atomic Auto, Portland's top independent Saab repair facility, had hired the former manager of a well-known Swedish repair shop. They wanted to announce the news to his former customers, so I suggested a newsletter that would let the customers know about the change, and introduce clients to the personality of the shop---easy going, direct, and down-to-earth.      Press Kits - Musical Artists      Logo Design   Don't tell any of my talented visual artist pals, but I occasionally dabble in graphic design when friends need a logo or business card. I enjoy creating visual images that capture their personality or the mood of the work they do.