Richard Aber’s Résumé
Phone: 320-298-1230 • Email:
I have a love of technology that has led me down many paths, from design, to prepress, to web development and IT. I have successfully blended these seemingly disparate skills into a powerful capability. Understanding how technologies co-exist, how they interact with one another, and how you can leverage them together, while putting on a pleasing aesthetic. My objective is to develop new and exciting websites and content, help clients and coworkers understand the technologies they use, and providing an appealing user experience while delivering what the client needs like no one else can. I seek a new Team to collaborate with, a Team that has varied experiences and capabilities to complement my own, a Team that I can learn new skills with, and teach new skills to.
My extensive experience in many areas of the graphics industry, from advertising design and prepress production to server configuration and web development make for a powerful combination of graphics and technical expertise. Need a website? I can do that. Need email marketing? I can do that. Need a design? I can do that too. With skills that extend beyond visual appeal, I develop websites with PHP, Perl, and MySQL. I configure and theme Content Management Systems like Joomla!, WordPress, and Expression Engine. I design print jobs that fly through preflight and print right the first time. Virtually any task thrown at me, technical or graphical, I can find the solution to, or I can develop a solution for.
With outstanding graphics expertise, intimate knowledge of prepress, and technical proficiency with internet technologies, I will provide you with a one-stop expert to provide solutions to all your internet needs.
I seek to obtain a position that will utilize my graphics expertise and technical knowledge, to challenge myself at all levels. I am a problem solver, so if you have a problem, I am your solution.
Skills and Abilities
- Experienced web developer, prepress technician, systems administrator, and graphic designer.
- Seasoned LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP and Perl) developer, comfortable with installing and configuring server side software and frameworks, remote administration with control panels and secure shell access.
- Accomplished coding skills with PHP, Perl, JavaScript (jQuery), HTML, CSS, Shell scripting, and MySQL. Some experience with ColdFusion (CFML).
- Knowledgable of Content Management Systems such as Joomla!, WordPress, and Expression Engine, skills that can be transferred to alternate CMS packages.
- Experience with Zen Cart Ecommerce system, and PayPal integration. Some experience with Shopify Ecommerce.
- Capable with both MySQL and FileMaker databases. Some experience with MSSQL databases.
- Experience with PHPList, Campaign Monitor, & MailChimp email marketing solutions.
- Experienced with TextWrangler, BBEdit, TextMate, Adobe DreamWeaver, Eclipse, and Affrus development environments. Some experience with Adobe Flash.
- Powerful understanding of Mac OS X Server, Apache WebServer, and UNIX-like operating systems.
- Training in all areas and aspects of graphic arts for both commercial print and web design.
- Extensive experience with prepress production and graphic design.
- Adept with Creo Prinergy Trap Editor, Scitex Full Auto Frame trapping, and traditional PostScript trapping.
- Experienced with Creo Prinergy computer to plate, Scitex Dolev film output, and traditional paste-up.
- Accomplished with QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, MacroMedia FreeHand, Adobe Streamline, Extensis Suitcase, MS Office and Open Office on both Macintosh and Windows platforms.
- Qualified with Creo Prinergy Workshop, Scitex PS/M RIP, Xerox DocuColor 12 with Splash G630 RIP, XES ColorGrafx X2 wide format plotter with PosterShop RIP, and Indigo E-Print Pro Digital Press with onboard Indigo RIP.
- Well-versed in AppleScript for automation and productivity.
- Proficient with photo color correction, repair and retouching.
- Skilled scanner operator.
- Award-winning design skills.
Employment History
Employer: Echo Press (A Forum Communications Newspaper)
Title: Web Developer / IT Specialist
Location: Alexandria, MN
Duration: 04/2009 – Present
Job Duties:
- Create internet ads for clients utilizing Photoshop & Flash, for use on Forum Communications sites.
- Create & monitor ad campaigns for clients utilizing AdJuggler, to deliver ads to the network of Forum Communications sites.
- Create & manage email marketing campaigns for clients, using Photoshop & hand coding.
- Create & maintain websites for clients utilizing PHP, CFML, HTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery), MySQL & MS SQL on LAMP stack servers & MS IIS servers. Implement open source Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress & Joomla, as well as the proprietary Expression Engine CMS. Provide support to clients as needed, act as liaison with their webhosts.
- Analyze traffic for client websites using Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, & Bing Webmaster Tools on client websites to determine effectiveness of implemented search engine optimizations.
- Create & manage special content & “niche” publications for EchoPress.com.
- Analyze traffic, reader trending, & popular topics on EchoPress.com utilizing Google Analytics & Quantcast metrics.
- Maintain Echo Press social media presence on Facebook & Twitter, utilizing HootSuite, RSS feeds, & manual postings of content, poll questions, & conversation starters.
- Perform IT duties such as XServe administration & maintenance, backup procedures, Active Directory user management, hardware & software installations, upgrades, maintenance, & troubleshooting on both Mac & Windows platforms. Systems administrator for Apple Macintosh systems. Enforce IT security practices & policies.
- Provide support to online readers & subscribers to EchoPress.com.
- Assist print Design staff with my prepress & postal expertise when requested.
- Process lists, clean & format data with grep when requested.
- Create & maintain Echo’s online discount gift certificate store, maintain inventory, process requests, run reports.
- Act as liaison between Forum IT & Echo regarding IT matters, & between Forum Interactive & Echo regarding online matters.
- Research technology challenges & suggest solutions to management.
Employer: Shortprinter.com
Title: Web Developer / Designer
Location: Fargo, ND
Duration: 10/2008 – 01/2009
Job Duties:
- Web development for Shortprinter.com and clientele.
- Constant Contact email marketing development for Shortprinter.com and clientele.
- HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript programming.
- Joomla research and development.
- MySQL and FileMaker Database administration for web and in house use.
- XServe and Apache administration.
- IT duties including administering users and groups, remote software installs, upgrades, and troubleshooting.
Employer: Knight Printing
Title: Web Developer / Prepress Technician / Graphic Designer
Location: Fargo, ND
Duration: 04/2004 – 10/2008
Job Duties:
- PHP programming for extranet, intranet, and client fulfillment sites.
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript programming for web development.
- PERL programming for processing customer provided data.
- AppleScript programming for automation and productivity of prepress department.
- MySQL and FileMaker Database administration for web and in house use.
- Apache web server administrator.
- Responsible for all prepress work and automation for the Premier Student Agenda Summer Project in which Knight Printing produces in excess of 2,000,000 spiral bound student planners for 5,500 to 6,000 schools throughout the U.S. during a three-month period.
- Create and maintain the Knight Printing internet presence at knightprinting.com including programming the logic that drives the dynamic content in the client-only area, maintain security, fix bugs, administrate users and groups, and interface to the Xinet WebNative environment.
- Perform preflight and prepress duties
Employer: Knight Printing of Grand Forks / Century Creations Printing
Title: Graphics Department Head
Location: Grand Forks, ND
Duration: 09/2001 – 04/2004
Job Duties:
- Organize, coordinate and schedule graphics department activities for a wide range of commercial print, design, and service bureau projects for this commercial printer.
- Provide on-the-job training for graphics employees; evaluate and document individual performance.
- Work closely with sales to assess and meet customer specifications.
- Interface with upper management, lithography, press, and bindery departments to ensure efficient project turnarounds.
- Assisted Knight Printing with successful merger of Century Creations Printing, Inc., via software recommendations, hardware installation, procedure implementation and setup of graphics department.
Employer: Echelon Technologies
Title: Webmaster
Location: Grand Forks, ND
Duration: 12/2001 – 01/2003
Job Duties:
- Conceptualized and implemented website at the personal request of Echelon’s CEO.
- Design work based on high-level meetings with Echelon management team to define the client’s needs and the look and feel of company’s flagship on internet.
- Maintained site content; redesigned graphical content and iconography based on client requests.
Employer: Lakes Area Recreation
Title: Independent Contract Webmaster
Location: Alexandria, MN
Duration: 03/2001 – 09/2001
Job Duties:
- Evaluated needs and wants of Director, division supervisors and organization in relation to web site.
- Designed site from storyboard to finish with clean, concise and easy to navigate pages.
- Project was finished ahead of schedule.
- Created stylized representational graphics and iconography; scanned, retouched and optimized photographs.
- Coded web pages and rollovers utilizing DreamWeaver and BBEdit.
Employer: Herald-Register Publishing Co.
Title: Lead Graphic Designer
Location: Grinnell, IA
Duration: 08/1999 – 09/2000
Job Duties:
- Designed majority of single color, two color, and full color advertising and promotional materials for twice weekly newspaper and weekly tabloid publications.
- Worked closely with sales and management teams to provide superior advertising design to local clientele.
- Cataloged and maintained advertising archives, font libraries, and stock art libraries.
- Managed and directed 3 ad designers.
Education
Major: Web Design Program (Evening Classes)
School: North Dakota State College of Science (Fargo Skills & Technology Extension)
Location: Fargo, ND Extension
Degree: None, Completed 1 year of 2-year program, Paid for by employer
Completion Date: 09/2004 – 05/2005
Courses: HTML, CSS, Java, Perl, MySQL, Flash
Major: Communication Art & Design
School: Alexandria Technical College
Location: Alexandria, MN
Degree: Two-Year Degree
Completion Date: 09/1996 – 05/1998
Courses: HTML, PhotoShop, QuarkXPress, FreeHand, Ad Design, Layout Design, Package Design, Logo Design, Storyboarding, Typography, Illustration, Color Theory, Life Drawing, Traditional Painting, Airbrushing, Pen and Ink
School: Jefferson Senior High School
Location: Alexandria, MN
Degree: Diploma
Completion Date: 05/1995
Courses: General high school studies with emphasis on art
Licenses/Certificates/Additional Training
Mailpiece Quality Control (MQC) Specialist
9/18/2006
United States Postal Service
Professional Honors
- Minnesota Newspaper Association 2010 Better Newspapers Contents — 1st Place — Website for weekly papers with > 5,000 subscribers (team award)
- Minnesota Newspaper Association 2009 Better Newspapers Contents — 1st Place — Website for weekly papers with > 5,000 subscribers (team award)
- Iowa Newspaper Association 2000 Better Newspapers Contest — 1st Place — “Best of Class Advertising” for “Elect Byron Worley” Ad
- Iowa Newspaper Association 2000 Better Newspapers Contest — 1st Place — “Best Ad Featuring Miscellaneous” for “Elect Byron Worley” Ad
Collegiate Honors
- Achieved President’s List 4/6 trimesters during college career
- Sno-Daze Design contest winner
- Member student intranet team
- Member Alex Tech Art Club (ATAC)
- Organized and promoted ATAC fund raiser
- Maintained CAD Macintosh lab — installed software, performed upgrades
- Runner up “Bite by Byte” Café logo design contest
- Student tutor for CAD