Outpost Productions/Jeff Farrell • History

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent Freelancer – OUTPOST PRODUCTIONS
Photographer / Designer / Art Director – 1980 to Present
Freelancing as a photographer and artist has been a part of my life since shortly after gradutaing from high school. Through the years this endeavour has fluctuated from full time to part time status as continuing education as well as in-house and contract opportunities presented themselves. Since February of 2002 I have been freelancing full time as Outpost Productions from my home-based studio here in Carson City. Primary clients currently include Harrah's Northern Nevada, Bally Technologies, The Atlantis/Monarch Casino & Resort, Columbia Sussex Corporation's gaming properties in Nevada and Mississippi, The Peppermill's properties in Reno and Wendover, Nevada and an assortment of other local and regional businesses. The scope of my work includes a broad range of photography and design including:

Studio photography – food, drinks, themes, products and portraits
Location photography – resort/casino, restaurants, entertainment, architecture, portraits, scenery and stock
Billboards, banners and vehicle wraps
Logo/identity development and branding for casino properties, restaurants and entertainment venues
Business card and letterhead identity packages
Brochures, flyers and other print collateral
Posters, backlits and point-of-sale displays
Print advertising campaigns for a variety of promotional programs
Collector series gaming chip design
Special event invitation design
Web site design and management

COLUMBIA SUSSEX CORPRATION
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Creative Director – August 2001 to February 2002
Recruited by Vice President & General Manager Howard Reinhardt and Corporate Director of Marketing Bonnie Picker to develop the company’s first corporate marketing creative department, with the task of managing all advertising creative for the company's gaming division which included properties in Lake Tahoe, Mississippi and venues under development in Las Vegas and Colorado.
Developed the department into a staff of six and put equipment and essential systems in place for efficient work flow management. Created a new graphic standards and logo identity for the Horizon Resort Casino at Lake Tahoe and Lighthouse Point Casino in Mississippi.
From an operational perspective, I put in place the company’s first creative content library which included an FTP server for use in efficiently transferring files between the studio and outside service vendors. Upgraded the department’s production equipment to bring it in line with current standards. Standardized maintenance routines for all Macintosh systems and the creative department’s local network. Also implemented new tools for project planning, tracking and archiving.

HARVEYS CASINO RESORTS / HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Senior Art Director – November 1999 – August 2001
Hired by Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing Jim Rafferty to head the company’s internal creative department.
Accomplishments include development of the overall graphic identity and logo for "A Natural Advantage" campaign, in addition to playing a key role as art director for related TV animation and postproduction.
Ongoing responsibilities involved concepting and hands-on production of print advertising, collateral, outdoor, special event pieces, web site design and still photography. Additional activities include art direction and management of external creative sources, as well as miscellaneous film and video production/postproduction.
Achieved the objective of upgrading creative department’s production hardware and software to bring it in line with current standards. Initiated new routines for maintaining all Macintosh based systems, content library and network.
Refined methods and tools for project planning, tracking and archiving completed work.

THE HMM GROUP, CREATIVE DIGITAL STUDIOS, LTD.
Las Vegas, Nevada & Idaho Falls, Idaho
Creative Director - August 1998 to November 1999
Recruited by CEO Bert Hansen to manage creative staff and production at the company’s facilities in Idaho and Nevada.
Mission at HMM included three primary objectives: 1) raise the caliber of creative services to a national quality level and ensure it is maintained, 2) implement systems to improve communications, planning and production efficiency and 3) help facilitate the company’s growth through an improved identity package and self-promotional materials. This self-marketing also encompassed HMM‘s two divisions – North American Media and Marketing Technologies, Inc.
Specific hands-on activities included still photography, film and video production/postproduction, art direction and design for print, outdoor, collateral, invitations, direct mail, multimedia and web.
Also established new systems and refined existing methods for project planning and tracking, working with vendors, archiving, billing and cost analysis.
Reported directly to CEO Bert Hansen II. Executive committee member.

AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Creative Director - March 1994 to August 1998
Hired by CEO Craig H. Neilsen as Corporate Advertising Manager. Promoted in September 1995 to Director of Marketing at Cactus Petes Resort Casino, then to Corporate Creative Director in August of 1996.
Primary responsibility as Creative Director was to ensure consistent, national quality design standards and leading-edge creative quality in all company marketing and communication materials. Functions included hands-on design and execution of projects as well as direction/management of external creative sources.
Scope of work covered major positioning campaigns for the opening of three themed properties, corporate identity and logo development, promotional print advertising and collateral, annual reports and investor relations material, still photography, film and video production/postproduction and multimedia design.
Created and established the first guidelines for company-wide graphic standards including a comprehensive style manual.
Developed and put into place the company’s first planning and production management system. This system established standardized project timelines and methods for production tracking, estimating, cost analysis, internal communications and archiving.
Interface directly with Chief Executive Officer and senior corporate management. Reported to the Corporate Vice President of Marketing.

HARRAH’S CASINO HOTELS, INC.
Reno, Nevada
Department Supervisor, Corporate Advertising - March 1987 to June 1990
Position responsibilities included management of both the photographic studio and processing lab divisions which employed a combined staff of six people. Functioned as lead photographic illustrator for all of Harrah’s advertising and communications projects involving photography.

ADDITIONAL ENDEAVORS

MAYOR, CITY OF COLFAX, CALIFORNIA
November 1993 to March 1994

COUNCILMAN, CITY OF COLFAX, CALIFORNIA
April 1991 to November 1993

INSTRUCTOR, PLACER COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
September 1991 to March 1994

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

International Association of Printing House Craftsmen – admitted 1999

American Institute of Graphic Arts – admitted 1997

American Advertising Federation including local affiliations in Reno, Boise, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas – admitted 1988

Professional Photographers of America – admitted 1983, certified 1986, marketing division member

Professional Photographers of California – admitted 1983

City of Colfax Economic Development Group – founder, May 1992 to March 1994

Placer County Economic Development Board – member, June 1991 to March 1994

California League of Cities – member, April 1991 to March 1994

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Numerous professional awards for individual design and photography projects – 1983 to present (detailed list available)

IAPHC Gold Award and CSG "Best Mailing Piece" for Harrah's New Years invitation – 2003

Fuji Film National Masterpiece Award – 1992

Northern California Gold "ADDY" for Harrah’s annual report – 1989

Photographic work included in Professional Photographers of America international touring exhibition – 1987

Awarded Professional Photographer of the Year by Professional Photographers of the Sacramento Valley – 1987

Awarded Certified Professional Photographer status from Professional Photographers of America – 1986

EDUCATION

Associates Degree in Art with supplemental emphasis on
Business – 1980
Sierra College – Rocklin, California
Cosumnes River College – Sacramento, California

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photographic Illustration – 1983
Brooks Institute – Santa Barbara, California
Continuing education courses at West Coast School of Professional Photography, The London Art Institute, Ojai Digital Arts Center and NAPP's Photoshop World + individual courses.