Linda Schenk

Current

Founder & CEO at Social Media Works at Social Media Works
Founder & CEO at Cirquel Design & Development LLC

Past

Usability & Production Specialist at The Berndt Group
Director, Creative Services at Arthur Graphics, Inc.
Lead Creative Producer, UI at Fatbrain.com

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Education

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Recommended

8 people have recommended Linda

Connections

206 connections

Industry

Online Media

Websites

Linda Schenk’s Summary

I'm a creative geek with a passion for web design and helping companies create a social media strategy to grow their business and network. I'm the Founder & CEO of Cirquel Design & Development LLC and Social Media Works. I lead a team of experts that can help any size business, locally or remotely.

My primary experience includes social media training; website architecture, design, and frontend programming; usability evaluations; and project management. I aim to design websites that are easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye, load as quickly as possible, target an intended audience and meet key business goals.

In addition to design and usability skills, I have extensive web production experience. Sites are built with custom development or using content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress or Drupal.

I believe that successful web development combines three elements: aesthetics, usability, and ease of programming. If I create a design that is difficult to navigate or extremely costly to program, I have not done my job. From years of hands-on experience with web production, I understand, when I design, what coding challenges will follow.

This combined design/production perspective enables the development team to do their job better and faster. Understanding all phases of development allows me to make choices up-front that will mean less work (and less cost) later in the process.

I have completed projects for companies of all sizes in a variety of industries. I have also worked with major hospitals, universities, banks, and a major Washington lobbying group. My freelance projects range from small businesses and non-profits to large media companies.

My experience also includes project management and bridging the gap between clients and backend developers. I have the ability to explain tech talk to non-techies, as well as to talk tech with software engineers. I am able to suggest creative solutions for sales challenges and marketing needs.

Linda Schenk’s Specialties:

Almost every field has the need for social media training and graphic design services. My portfolio includes work for: Corporate, eCommerce, Financial, Industrial, Medical, Professional Services, Small Businesses and Technology.

Linda Schenk’s Experience

Founder & CEO at Social Media Works

Social Media Works

(Privately Held; Internet industry)

April 2009 — Present (8 months)

I lead a team of Social Media experts that can help any size business, locally or remotely.

Our training includes free white papers, ebooks, webinars and seminars on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and blogging. Services offered include strategic planning, usability evaluations, information architecture, branding and logo design, illustration, content (copywriting and editing), analytics and web metrics, and virtual assistance.

Web services include custom WordPress and Drupal development. These content management systems (CMS) allow your team to make changes. Add-ons to the framework include podcasts, eCommerce, membership and subscription management.

Our team is an external resource to assist you in finding new target audiences, leveraging your existing network and expanding you business!
Founder & CEO

Cirquel Design & Development LLC

(Design industry)

January 1998 — Present (11 years 11 months)

Services offered include strategic planning, usability evaluations, information architecture, branding and logo design, illustration, content (copywriting and editing), analytics and web metrics, and virtual assistance.

We aim to design websites that are easy to navigate, pleasing to the eye, load as quickly as possible, target your intended audience, and meet key business goals.

Cirquel is launching a new division in early June 2009. Social Media Works will help business owners and busy professionals use social media to grow their business and network. Training includes free white papers, ebooks, webinars and workshops on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and blogging.
Usability & Production Specialist

The Berndt Group

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry)

September 2005 — January 2008 (2 years 5 months)

• Front-end programming of multiple websites using HTML, CSS, javascript, Flash-detect and SEO (search engine optimization) techniques. Sites used Dreamweaver templates, server-side includes and/or CMS template integration.

• Conducted on-site client training of Adobe Contribute and Dreamweaver. Wrote documentation for internal production and QA procedures.
• Evangelist for usability and interdepartmental collaboration to streamline the development process.
• Sites launched include The Berndt Group, AIPAC, Mercy Medical Center, Maryland China, Enterprise Community Investment and the Maryland SPCA.
Director, Creative Services

Arthur Graphics, Inc.

(Partnership; 1-10 employees; Design industry)

September 2002 — August 2005 (3 years )

Services include: Graphics, New Media, Photography & Video, Writing & Editing, Web Site Development, Internet Services

Areas of expertise: Corporate, eCommerce, Entertainment, Financial, Government, Industrial, Medical & Technology
Lead Creative Producer, UI

Fatbrain.com

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Internet industry)

February 1999 — April 2002 (3 years 3 months)

• Responsible for designing and maintaining unified look and feel of entire web site using templates, storyboards, style guide and software training.
• Worked as part of the User Interface Team to define end-user and product feature requirements.
• Created flow charts, screenshots and interactive prototypes of products/features for use in usability testing, marketing and web production training.
• Finalized design and HTML to resolve identified usability defects and to engender customer satisfaction.
• Launched new web sites: Mightywords and Accenture Information Exchange.
• Collaborated with departments including Production, Writing, Product Marketing, Program Management, Engineering and QA to evaluate, plan and execute company needs.

As Senior Web Producer:
• Contributed to the creation and regular maintenance of HTML pages.
• Created customized bookstores for partners including: Adobe, Cisco, Clarify, Lucent, Microsoft, Nortel Networks and Sun Microsystems.

Linda Schenk’s Education

University of Maryland Baltimore County

BA , Fine Arts (Graphic Design & Computer Animation) , 1990 — 1994

Additional Information

Linda Schenk’s Websites:

Linda Schenk’s Interests:

web design, social networking, social media, wordpress, usability, branding, marketing strategy, walking, yoga, meditation, swimming, aqua aerobics

Linda Schenk’s Groups:

Network Referral Group (NRG)

Online Marketing, Web Analytics, and E-commerce Group -- WebAnalysts.Info
UMBC Alumni Network
Facebook.com
Web 2.0
A Solo Business - Solopreneurs And Business Owners
Refresh - Promoting design, technology,and usability.
Social Media Today
Social Media Marketing
SalesBlogcast.com
Social Media Influence
BALTIMORE CONNECTIONS
Designers Talk
SocialDevCamp East
CREATIVE DESIGN PROS
Business Blogging Network
Smalltimore - Connecting the Dots in Baltimore
WordPress
Engine Performance
Social Media, Social TV, Monitoring, Mobile Social Networks, Marketing, Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0, PR
Linked Strategies
Twittering
Twitter Power for Business
Social Media Success Summit
I-270 Technology Corridor Community
Selfgrowth.com's Social Media University
Linked Local Northeast Baltimore
Parenting Teens with Your Parent Partner
White House
Innovate Baltimore
FB Applications / Games
FB Business
FB Groups
FB Open Networkers
FB Helpdesk
FB Fanpage
Facebook & Twitter For Business