Alumni Success Stories

Adriana M. Perez (Multimedia 2000)
JOB TITLE: Information Technology (IT) Web Designer, Starz Entertainment Group Englewood, CO JOB DESCRIPTION: Works with the Web design team to design, develop and maintain Starz Entertainment Group’s company Intranet, Extranet and Internet websites
Designs banner ads, mini-sites, sweepstakes websites, e-mail campaigns and movie promotions
Worked as a Web Designer for four years and then began taking on project management responsibilities at Starz
Next step: Developing and proposing a two-year training plan to acquire management experience as an Assistant Director of IT. more...

Andy Titus (Graphic Design 2001)
JOB TITLE: Creative Director, Interactive at MTV Networks
New York, NY
JOB DESCRIPTION: Lead the design department for MTV. more...

Chad Foster (Digital Media Prodcution 2004)
JOB TITLE: Producer, FB Productions Denver
JOB DESCRIPTION: Produces, shoots and edits amateur sports around the Denver metro area
Footage is mixed with music, titling and motion graphics, and then finalized on DVD for teams and associations
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Interned and volunteered the first year of school to get experience
“By the second year, I jumped on some small, paying freelance opportunities. more...

Chris Hume (Industrial Design 2005)
JOB TITLE: Industrial Designer, Kiosk Information Systems Lafayette, CO
JOB DESCRIPTION: Conceptualizes, models and renders new designs for the informational kiosk market
Updates and refines existing kiosk designs based on client requests
Interacts with the sales team and management to outline design parameters and needs
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Design intern at Main Street Pedicabs in Broomfield
“The best experience came from various freelance design jobs I obtained through professors and career counselors at The Art Institute of Colorado. more...

David Burton (Multimedia 1999/Multimedia & Web Design BA 2004)
JOB TITLE: IT Manager, SharperAgent. more...

Derek Rippe (Media Arts & Animation 2001)
JOB TITLE: Designer/Illustrator,Creative Consumer Concepts (C3) Overland Park, KS
JOB DESCRIPTION: Design and illustration of children’s collateral for the dining industry, including toys, activity books, cups and apparel. more...

Desmond O'Hagan (Advertising Design 1982, Hall of Fame 1998)
Desmond O’Hagan is enjoying and employing the best of both worlds: business and art. more...

Jennifer Burris (Culinary Management 2003)
JOB TITLE: Sales Specialist, US Foodservice Kansas City/Topeka Division
JOB DESCRIPTION: Part of the Street Sales team
Sells food/equipment/chemicals to restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Pastry chef for Alex Brooks Catering Company (now Gourmet Catering) while in school
Worked as Dede Schuringa’s workstudy in the Career Services department. more...

John Blessing (Visual Effects & Motion Graphics 2004)
JOB TITLE: Graphic Designer, WB2/KWGN-TV Greenwood Village, CO Winner of 2005 NATAS Heartland Region Emmy for Best Promotional Campaign JOB DESCRIPTION: Creates motion graphics for the station’s promotional spots, from a single spot to a complete re-branding of the channel to match what the WB network is doing
Design work ranges from Photoshop to 3D modeling, and animation in Cinema 4D and After Effects
Occasionally works on graphics for the News department for new segments and covers the News graphic designers when they are on vacation
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Freelance work through college career helped gain experience in dealing with a variety of clients. more...

John Kirk (Graphic Design 2004)
JOB TITLE: Art Director/Graphic Designer, The Ianni Group in Denver
Ianni Group is a marketing/advertising agency that specializes in everything from collateral design and merchendising to broadcasting and media. more...

Kevin Bachman (Visual Communications 1989, Hall of Fame 2002)
JOB TITLE: VP, Creative Director at New Wave Creative (of New Wave Entertainment) Burbank, CA
JOB DESCRIPTION: Works directly with movie studios. more...

Kevin Dillon (Media Arts & Animation 2004)
JOB TITLE: Human Factors Engineer, Northrop Grumman Colorado Springs, CO
JOB DESCRIPTION: Responsibilities range from doing visualization support work for proposals, demonstrations, and contracts to designing knowledge delivery systems via visualization
Most work is in support of defense contracts, research and development
HOW HE GOT THERE: Job was a direct result of school-generated externship with Northrop Grumman
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: "Don’t be afraid to look for work in places that are out of the mainstream of the graphics community. more...

Lizelle van Vuuren (Interactive Media Design 2005)
JOB TITLE: Marketing Director AccuCode, Inc Denver, CO
JOB DESCRIPTION: Web design Graphic design Proposals Marketing Trade shows Advertising THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Internship during her second year led to contract work, then a promotion to Marketing Director after graduation
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: Don’t do it if you don’t love it. more...

Megan Wood (Interior Design BA 2002)
JOB TITLE: Facilities Planning Supervisor/In-house Interior Designer, Liz Claiborne New York, NY
JOB DESCRIPTION: Works with in-house fashion designers to make their work space and showrooms reflect the individuality of their designs. more...

Michelle Neumiller (Interior Design 2004)
JOB TITLE: Interior Design Associate, Spa Strategy Denver
JOB DESCRIPTION: Concept design
Programming
Space planning
Rendering
Project management
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Got the job lead from Career Services
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “I would highly recommend working in the field early in your school career. more...

Mike Marcos (Culinary Arts 2004)
JOB TITLE: Personal Chef, Tongue River Ranch Dumont, Texas (October-March) Executive Chef/Fishing Guide, Rainbow Trout Ranch Antonito, Colorado (May-October)
JOB DESCRIPTION At Tongue River Ranch: Responsible for planning menus for three meals a day seven days a week for 5 to 35 people
Responsible for all kitchen duties
Travels to purchase supplies as needed
At Rainbow Trout Ranch: Responsible for á la minute service of three meals a day for 35 to 65 guests and 30 staff members
Responsible for bi-weekly food and beverage orders, as well as maintaining high food cost standards
Supervises kitchen staff of four and communicates with head wait staff on a constant basis
Also teaches and guides fly-fishing excursions
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Job leads from career advisor Dede Schuringa and her employment newsletters
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Go into this experience with an open mind, and the knowledgeable staff at The Art Institute of Colorado will teach you everything that is needed to succeed in the field. more...

Nicki Snyder (Media Arts & Animation 2001)
JOB TITLE: Graphic Artist, Carrot-Top Industries Inc. more...

Nicole Askari (Graphic Design 2005)
JOB TITLE: Graphic Designer, Richmond American Homes Denver
JOB DESCRIPTION: Works on projects as a team member or individually: Designing and updating insertion ads for various newspapers and magazines throughout the U. more...

Sara Aderhold (Video Production 2003)
JOB TITLE: Owner, Visions of Life Denver
Winner: 2004 Heartland Emmy Award for Student Achievement
Visions of Life specializes in personal documentaries, memory preservation and storytelling with promotional, instructional and informational videos
JOB DESCRIPTION Lights and composes the shots, and holds the camera
Manages the company, working with a partner to network, make advertising decisions and research equipment to buy
Edits the final videos and author the DVDs
Interviews clients on camera, pre-production work with each client to give them exactly what they need
Designs graphics such as DVD or tape covers
Hires contracted workers such as production assistants, camera operators, artists and Web designer
Worked closely with the Web designer to come up with the concept, page transitions and introduction of website
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Partnered with an investor to create Visions of Life
WIth the advice of my mentors and teachers, entered my documentary into the Student Achievement category of The Heartland Emmy Awards. more...

Scott Scherrer (Media Arts & Animation 2004)
JOB TITLE: Cinematic Animator, Shiny Entertainment Newport Beach, CA
JOB DESCRIPTION: In a typical day: Assigned a cinematic to work on “Shoots” a 3D cinematic (5-30 seconds) to help tell the story of the game
Creates and models game characters
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: Internship at Evil Genius Games in Boulder
Internship at Knott Laboratory in Englewood
Hired at Shiny Entertainment less than a month after graduation
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Work hard to better your art skill. more...

Tom Benway (Multimedia 2004)
JOB TITLE: New Media Developer / Interface Designer Nine Systems Englewood, CO
Nine Systems is the 2nd largest company in the nation specializing in streaming media applications. more...

Tyrell Pauling (Culinary Mgmt 2003)
JOB TITLE: Sous Chef, Axis Restaurant at the National Museum of Australia Park Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Canberra Australia
JOB DESCRIPTION: Day-to-day food operations for the Hyatt at the National Museum: Oversees food cost control, ordering, labor cost control and “general happiness from the venue executives. more...