Emily Shepard

Experience

• 

  University of Louisville

  Apr 2009 - May 2010

  • Arts and Sciences Lead Peer Advisor

    Apr 2008 - May 2010

  • Student Government Association Executive Staff - Graphic Designer

    Apr 2009 - Apr 2010
• 

  Norton Healthcare

  May 2010 - Dec 2010

  Post-Graduate Graphic Design Intern

  In-house designer of collateral and materials for all divisions and service lines

• 

  InGrid Design

  Feb 2011 - Sept 2011

  Freelance Graphic Designer

  Freelance in-agency designer for clients such as Little Brownie Bakers and Yum! Brands

• 

  Group Nine Marketing

  Sept 2011 - Mar 2014

  Graphic Designer

  • Branding design for clients in the health care industry with clients Kentucky One Health and University of Louisville Physicians• Oversight of print and project coordination and management

• 

  Churchill Downs

  Mar 2014 - Sept 2018

  Graphic Design Manager

  • Developed and evolved the in-house graphic designer role for Churchill Downs Racetrack• Created and maintained the Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby brand style guide• Designed and produced all materials for the Kentucky Derby, including tickets and ticket jackets, event race programs,and invitations to Derby events• Provided creative direction and project management of external agency design for Derby logos, race meet programs, and facility mapping• Managed a direct report graphic design Intern• Oversaw on-site photo shoots of event spaces Show less

• 

  Humana

  Sept 2018 - Jan 2019

  Graphic Designer 2

  • Graphic designer for The Hive, Humana’s in-house agency supporting internal Humana lines of business and departments• Implemented the new Humana brand identity across projects, including print, digital, social, and e-mail

• 

  Churchill Downs Racetrack

  Jan 2019 - now

  • Lead the development and implementation of the annual content, creative and merchandise licensing strategy for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, driving continued growth, reach, and revenue while maintaining creative consistency across all platforms.• Manage and mentor a dynamic content and creative team, consisting of in-house graphic design, e-mail, website, social media and licensing, fostering their professional growth and ensuring high-quality deliverables.• Provide strategic oversight and creative direction for the ongoing evolution of the Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby brand.• Collaborate closely with agency partner, licensees, and internal stakeholders, offering valuable insights and expertise to shape strategy, development, and creative execution.• Key projects: - Collaborated with notable brands and businesses for the 150th Kentucky Derby to create officially licensed products and merchandise direct to consumers, including Beaufort Bonnet Company, Goodr, vineyard vines, lululemon, and Goldbelly. - Curated a talented social media team for the 150th Kentucky Derby, inclusive of photographers, videographers, social media strategists, content creators, and publishers, resulting in highly engaging content with 60% growth in overall social media reach. - Spearheaded the creative, content and licensing direction for the highly anticipated 150th Kentucky Derby, including the creation of a logo, video, and website landing page, resulting in record growth in sales and global brand reach. Show less • Manage, develop, and coach the in-house graphic design team• Social media graphics before and during the live Kentucky Derby Week events• Design and art direction of the Kentucky Derby programs distributed to 100,000+ customers annually• Art direction, project management, review, and approval of design requests from all Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby departments including digital, signage, sales materials, and tickets• Oversight and creative direction for the continued evolution of the Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby brand, with a brand refresh launching in 2021• Consult with agency and internal partners on advertising campaign strategy, development, and creative• Creative direction and management of onsite photo and video shoots of venues, talent, lifestyle, and culinary• Key projects: - Brand development, creative direction, in-space artwork curation, and signage to support and launch the Matt Winn’s Steakhouse restaurant at Churchill Downs - Direction of the graphic design team’s artwork development of the #KYDerbyAtHome brand to support the at-home Derby event in March 2020, including logo, digital, and social media graphics - Spearheaded the investment in a digital asset management system to archive historic Derby photography and negatives, providing searchable metadata and disaster prevention for deteriorating images via Veritone - Internal creative direction and team lead for annual Kentucky Derby event mark development, coordinating with the agency, writing the creative brief, and providing constructive creative feedback and input Show less

  • Sr. Director, Content & Creative

    Jun 2022 - now

  • Director, Design & Creative

    Jan 2019 - Jun 2022