RESUME
Katie Kirkton, IOM
LinkedIn.com/in/KatieKirkton
Experience
INDIANA CPA SOCIETY • CREATIVE DIRECTOR
July 2023 – Present
+ Directs and oversees strategy development for branding, content and communications across all platforms to align with the Society’s goals and initiatives.
+ Determines content strategy based on the Society’s strategic goals and leads implementation with Communications team. Includes:
• Providing strategic oversight of website branding and content.
• Owning the Society’s social media presence, ensuring consistent voice, messaging and alignment with organizational goals.
• Ensuring digital advertising strategy and messaging aligns with Society initiatives.
• Determining appropriate marketing channels for Society campaigns (paid advertising, social media, content marketing, email, print, etc.).
+ Helps develop short- and long-term goals to achieve the Society’s strategic objectives.
+ Strategizes and collaborates with all Society teams to achieve goals.
+ Leads the Communications team, keeping them inspired and on track, and provides feedback on work and career development.
+ Leads outside marketing teams and consultants in development and execution of content strategy based on the Society’s strategic objectives.
+ Manages relationships with printers, freelancers and photographers.
+ Serves as managing editor of Connect magazine, leads content and design development, and writes articles.
+ Uses data from the Society’s digital communication stats to determine frequency, timing, automation, dynamic content and changes as needed.
+ Prepares and maintains all Communications department budgets.
+ Provides creative direction for videos and directs photography and videography at events to align with creative strategy.
INDIANA CPA SOCIETY • CREATIVE MANAGER
March 2018 – July 2023
+ Oversaw the planning, content preparation, design, and production of all print and digital media and managed the Society’s brand.
+ Managed Communications team and all department project deadlines.
+ Prepared the printing and postage budgets.
+ Served as managing editor of Connect magazine, wrote magazine articles, and managed content and design development.
+ Coordinated photography and videography at events and provided creative direction.
INDIANA CPA SOCIETY • GRAPHIC DESIGNER
July 2017 – March 2018
+ Redesigned the Society's logo and led rebrand, which included a new color palette, tagline and brand guidelines.
+ Designed print and digital materials for the Society, including printed magazine, e-newsletters, website graphics, ads and event signage, while ensuring brand consistency.
+ Worked directly with print and trinket vendors; prepared and sent press-ready files.
FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
October 2007 – Present
+ Clients include Otterbein University, Ashland Theological Seminary, Tenet Healthcare and Heartland Intervention.
RAYBOURN GROUP INTERNATIONAL • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS
July 2014 – July 2017
+ Oversaw all marketing, design, branding and communication activities for the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE).
+ Managed email and digital marketing campaigns and maintained marketing calendar.
+ Oversaw website and mobile app content, design and usability; maintained and regulated content for ISAE’s blog and editorial calendar.
+ Updated and maintained social media sites.
+ Supervised ISAE team.
+ Managed ISAE volunteers as staff liaison for volunteer committees.
+ Worked with Board of Directors to execute strategic plan.
MDWISE • MARKETING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
February 2010 – July 2014
+ Created and designed print and web materials for marketing promotions, school programs, advertisements, events and corporate communications while ensuring brand consistency.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
August 2004 – May 2008
+ B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design
+ Minor in Art History
+ Summa Cum Laude
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S INSTITUTE OF ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT (IOM)
January 2022 – January 2025
Skills
+ Extremely proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop & Acrobat Pro; Microsoft Office; Basecamp; Buffer
+ Very comfortable with copywriting & proofreading
+ Skilled photographer
Volunteer Work
AIGA INDIANAPOLIS • COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
January 2023 – December 2024
+ Directed communications strategy and managed organizational social media accounts, increasing engagement and driving event registrations.
+ Planned and executed AIGA Indy's Maker Mindset: A Community Letterpress Event from concept to delivery, including coordinating partnership with University of Indianapolis, promotion and onsite logistics.
INTERCOLLEGIATE YMCA • ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
July 2017 – December 2019
+ Provided strategic guidance on programs supporting college students’ personal and professional growth.
+ Supported the planning and execution of fundraising events.
Recognition
+ Part of team to receive 2019 Indiana Society of Association Executives Innovative Communications Program STAR Award for content strategy
+ Part of team to receive 2018 Indiana Society of Association Executives Golden Shoestring STAR Award for e-newsletters
+ Intercollegiate YMCA 2018 Volunteer of
the Year