E-mail: olsega@mchsi.com

Personal Web Site showing work samples: http://www.garyolsen.com

I'm a life-long learner, and I've been extremely successful in applying technology to creativity and enterprise. I want to share what I know as well as continue to pursue new and exciting opportunities.

Education

Bachelor of Arts Degree, English, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 1966-1970. Currently working toward a Master's Degree in Communication.

KDTH Radio (Telegraph Herald): broadcaster, news reporter, advertising writer and producer, 1968-1974.

Deere & Co. and the John Deere Dubuque Works: graphic artist, photographer, videographer from 1974-1977; editor of employee communication 1977-1994.

Frank Hardie Advertising: Manager of 17th St. Design Studios January through June 1994; creative director for Hardie Interactive, June 1994-June 1995; creative technology director, 1995-January 1996, lead media designer and Webmaster, January 1996 to July 1997.

University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA: adjunct faculty member, Business Education Department, taught class in Advertising Planning and Management.

NCS - National Computer Systems, Iowa City, IA:  Graphic Designer and New Media Specialist, July 1997 to present. Designing Web sites for such enterprises as WeHelpKids.com, the Federal Government, Department of Education, Toyota USA, State of California Department of Education and several other commercial and government clients.

Clarke College:  Currently teaching design and applied technology course including advanced PhotoShop technique, Quark Xpress, and non-linear video editing. Also helping architect the new Multimedia Major at Clarke with Communication Department Chair, Dr. Abdul Sinno.

Dubuque Community Schools: Currently the Public Affairs and Multimedia (Webmaster). 

Gary Olsen Illustration & Design - Consultative design company employed by such firms as Deere & Company, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Great Plains Solutions, Junnie's Cat Tracker, United States Air Force, McGraw Hill, and a growing list of clients.

Award winning communication program for the Dubuque Community School District. Public Relations Society Awards at the state of Iowa level for the Dubuque Schools Web Site, Annual Report, Pathways Newsletter and DCSD logo design.

Award-winning publication designer specializing in organizational communication. Wrote, designed and published TRACKS for John Deere Dubuque Works (17 years), winner of the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Gold Quill of Excellence.

Author of three books for North Light Books, Cincinnati, 0H: Getting Started in Computer Graphics, Editions 1 and 2 , and Getting Started in Multimedia Design. The latter title deals with the management process of creating interactive multimedia. Book of the Month February, 1997, Graphic Arts Book Club. The book won a graphic design award in Cincinnati, OH, Spring 1997.

One of the founding members of Dubuque365.com, a community based non-profit Web development tool for community organizations in Dubuque, Iowa.

Member of Rotary Club of Dubuque, named New Membership Chair for 2001-2002.

Numerous awards for advertising design and illustration - Dubuque Advertising, Cedar Rapids Advertising, Waterloo Advertising Associations.

Teach workshops and seminars on organizational communication, publication design, computer graphics applications for publication design and screen printing.

Write articles for magazines and trade journals such as Presentations Magazine. Work featured in advertising testimonials for computer products (Tektronix, Wacom, Aldus Corporation).

Exhibiting fine artist, print publisher and portrait painter. Gallery contact: Susan Kaesbauer, Creative Touch Gallery, Dubuque, IA.

Frequently present demonstrations on new technology for computer companies at trade shows such as SIGGRAPH, Comdex, International Catalog Exhibition and the International Multimedia Association.

Continually invited to make presentations on computer technology and the Internet to clubs and organizations.

Consulted on curriculum opportunities in applied computer technology and new media for Clarke College and the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA.

Taught Advertising/Marketing Course for the Business Department at the University of Dubuque.

Designed the instruction and teaching Advertising Design, Advanced Photoshop, and Quark Xpress classes at Clarke College, and creating Web-based textbooks for the courses.

Currently working with McGraw-Hill Educational Publishing Division on Web site design and development.

Web Master for the Dubuque Community Schools. Designs and maintains the District-wide Web site and Intranet site for one of the largest school districts in the State of Iowa.

Fluent in both PC Windows (including Windows NT, 95, 98 and 2000) and Macintosh Operating Systems

Advanced skills (22+ years) in computer graphics applications including PageMaker, Quark Xpress,Adobe Illustrator, FreeHand Painter and Photoshop.

Advanced skills in Windows and Macintosh versions of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access.

An acknowledged expert among area printing companies on the subject of desktop computer color separating techniques to high resolution imagesetters. Union Hoermann Press, Dubuque, Register Printing Company, East Dubuque, IL.

Skills in Web authoring and HTML programming tools including Microsoft FrontPage, Visual Interdev, Dreamweaver and Fireworks.

Competency in a variety of multimedia authoring tools including Macromedia Authorware, Director and Microsoft Office 97 Pro PowerPoint.

Contributing columnist: Presentations Magazine.

Competency in database tools including Oracle Media Objects, FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Access.

Facility with a wide range of hardware including high-capacity drives, CDROM and DVD drives, image scanners, pressure-sensitive tablets, modems, digital cameras and high-end color printers.

Advanced skills in computer-based training creation, interactive media and multimedia design. Created interactive CD-ROM employee orientation program for Barnstead-Thermolyne, Dubuque, an interactive CD-ROM marketing tool for National Computer Systems, Minneapolis, MN, and designed the "Lab Partner" demonstration CD-ROM for Wm C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque.

Book illustrator for McGraw-Hill, specializing in cartographic illustrations, portraits and cartoons. Currently designing Web pages and graphics for McGraw-Hill Primis Web set.

Advanced skills in designing, building and installing trade show exhibits. Most recent trade shows include International Catalog Association and the International Multimedia Association Shows, both in New York, NY, and managed the technical presentations for the Pre-award Site Survey by the U.S. Department of Labor for NCS in Lawrence, KS.

Certified employee trainer (Deere & Company) and instructor in Group Problem Solving and Team Building.

Skilled in photography, videography, audio engineering, film direction and audiovisual presentation production.

Professional narrator and voice talent.

Creative and promotional director including major event planning.

Screen-print textile designer for several promotional clients including Miller Brewing Company (Milwaukee, WIS), Image Pointe (Waterloo, IA), Advance Designs (Dubuque, IA).

Advanced skills in script writing and speech writing.

I currently own the following computer equipment for which I have a full complement of graphic design software including Macromedia DreamWeaver, Adobe Premiere, Macromedia FreeHand, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Sound Forge. I also do cross-platform digital photography and video production.

• Dell Inspiron 8000 1 gigahertz RAM 32 gigabyte hard drive, GeoForce Graphics Card, CDburner, DVD, etc., for portable video production, audio and graphic design.
• Omnitech 750 megahertz custom-built PC (Dubuque Community Schools... used for desktop publishing and graphic design)
• Apple PowerPC G-3 (personal... used for video and audio production)
• Apple PowerPC 800/300 (personal... graphic design)
• Dell Latitude Pentium II 266 MHz Notebook (personal... used for Web site development and maintenance)
• Apple Power PC G-3 (Dubuque Schools... used for video production using Final Cut Pro)
• 1985 Macintosh Plus (for nostalgic reasons)
• Complete Sony DVCAM video production unit, professional grade digital video capture, professional lighting, audio capture and sound design hardware and software, plus 2 non-linear editing systems, one portable and one fixed studio.

Career Development

Attended Comdex (PC computer technology show) for the past three years)

Attended SALT (conference for the Society of Applied Learning Technologies) Washington, DC) 1995

Attended Internet and Mobile Computer Conference Trade Show (Boston) 1996

Attended HTML Programming Class, Connecting Point, Waterloo, IA, 1996

Attended Director Programming Class, Introductory though Advanced Levels, Chicago, 1995

Attended Authorware Programming Class, Introductory through Advanced, Chicago, 1995

Attended National Association of Broadcasters Convention and Seminars April, 1998, Las Vegas, NV

Attending the Macromedia Webworld Convention, Seattle, Washington in 2000.

Attended Public Policy Workshop conducted in Des Moines, IA, sponsored by New Iowa Schools, 2000.

Current and Recent Client and Project Listing:

Hansel Realty, Dave Hansel owner: www.garyolsen.com/hansel.

Rado Dubuque, KGRR, KDTH, KAT-FM. www.garyolsen.com/radiodubuque.html

Maria House, The Stained Glass Project. www.garyolsen.com/Stainedglass.html

DuTrac Community Credit Union (Annual Report). www.dutrac.com

Music & More Productions (Logo Design). www.garyolsen.com/MusicMore

Jack Jenney Music Festival (Logo Design, contributor to the Web site, and co-organizer). www.jackjenney.com

SwingFest (Graphic Design coordinator on project for Rotary Club of Dubuque) www.garyolsen.com/swingfest

Dubuque365.com TV (Founder, talent and lead designer on project) www.garyolsen.com/365tv and www.dubuque365.com

Sundown Mountain Winter Sports Resort Graphic Design Update Project: www.garyolsen.com/sundown