THE PATIENT PIXEL
Resume
Blake Schnitkey
Creative Director
Phone: 773.710.1982
Email: windytech@gmail.com
Location: Wapakoneta, OH
About Me
I began my life in art as a pencil artist specializing in realism, spending countless hours hunched over a piece of paper with an army of pencils and erasers at my side. I grew up in a small town in Ohio called Archbold and had some pretty big dreams right from the word go. After visiting my cousin in Chicago, I decided it was going to be the place for me some day. I enlisted in the Air Force at eighteen and during that time attended BGSU, majoring in Visual Communications Technolgy; ultimately culminating in a BS in Tech. As an autodidact and well, somewhat of a nerd, I have spent many hours learning software, coding languages and anything I could possibly soak up related to my dream job. I still love learning today. Outside of work, I love music and have played guitar for 30+ years. I have also had the absolute honor of serving as commander of my local American Legion Post. I currently reside in Wapakoneta, Ohio with my wife Sayward, our two children Cooper and Tessa, and our Irish Wolfhound mix Seamus.
Awards & Recognition
13X MarCom Award Winner – many of them Platinum that live at the HIMSS office (below).
AMA Marketer of the Year
2024 Titan Health Awards’ Gold Medal Winner for Integrated Marketing
Intelligent and Cutting Edge Design
Air Force Achievement Medal
Skills & Expertise
Intelligent and Cutting Edge Design
Motion Graphics
Art Direction and Team Leadership
Brand Strategy
Project Management
Collaboration and Global Focus
Software & Languages
Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, Premier Pro, Dreamweaver, XD, Animate, Acrobat Pro
Microsoft Office
Blender, Sketchup
Salesforce Cloud, Marketo, Pardot, MailChimp
HTML, HTML5, CSS, Javascript
Rigidly compliant HTML email for desktop and mobile
Relevant Work Experience
2009 – Present
Creative Director
HIMSS
Chicago, IL
I currently lead a global team of 6 designers and freelancers. In my role, I develop branding, rebrands, and provide art direction across the globe. Focused on visual storytelling with a dash of humanity, I’ve created many brands within HIMSS over the years, including an entire orgnzational brand overhaul. I encourage my team to collaborate with myself and stakeholders to truly bring the HIMSS brand to life.
2011 – 2014
Adjunct Professor
Defiance College
Defiance, OH
This was such a fun position. Part-time in addition to my normal job, I taught the next generation of designers in web-design, print, and typography focused classes. I was responsible for all lesson plans, grades, project assignments, and student wellfare.
2006 – 2008
Marketing Coordinator, Graphic Designer
Hub International
Chicago, IL
In this role, I was mainly responsible for Hub International’s American Veterinary Medical Association Professional Liability Trust (AVMA PLIT). During my tenure, I designed print pieces to promote the AVMA’s book of insurance business to veterinarians. Gained invaluable knowledge of budgeting, different print processes, die-cutting, and many other skills related to print production.
Various
Freelancer
I’ve had the pleasure of working with many clients over the years including Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, Architect Valerio Dewalt Train (also in Chicago) and Kraft Foods, particularly pieces for Latin America in multiple languages.
Education
2002 – 2006
Bowling green State University
Bowling Green, OH
BS Tech in Visual Communications Technology
2006
Community College of the Air Force
Associate of Applied Science
2004
Sheppard Air Force Base
Witchita Falls, TX
Fuels Technician 5-Level School
Fuels Technician 7-Level School
2004
180th Fighter Wing
Toledo, OH
Airman Leadership School | Promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-5)
2009
Ascend Training
Chicago, IL
Mulitple courses on web design, databasing and coding languages
Get in touch.
There’s a big, scary world of branding and design out there. Let’s navigate it together.