About me
I am a storyteller, graphic designer, photographer, videographer, and multi-level marketer and art director. My passion is for creative communication.Profile
I am currently creating content, managing, and art directing the marketing and social media of Cannonball Garage, one of the premier McLaren automotive performance shops in the world. My goal is to build our marketing and social media presence into one of the most admired in the industry through the use of in-house graphic design, videography, photography, and written word.
Experience
MARKETING MANAGER, Cannonball Garage; Gilberts, IL / 6-2024 TO Present
Responsible for managing the digital footprint for Cannonball Garage including brand building, content creation and design, social media management, sales support, ad campaign development, content distribution, digital marketing strategy, asset management and much more.
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER, CHARTWELL AGENCY; ROCKFORD, IL / 6-2021 TO 4-2024
Responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of design solutions across multiple mediums that meet the client’s marketing goals. Responsible for maintaining a wide range of brand consistencies for a broad portfolio of clients. Responsible for communicating with account managers insuring client goals are being measured, analyzed, and fulfilled. Responsible for managing an extensive library of digital assets.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, AMS PERFORMANCE; WEST CHICAGO, IL / 11-2019 TO 4-2021
Responsibilities include creating and managing brand assets to build a cohesive presence across our company’s media outlets, establishing asset distribution timelines, B2B & B2C relationship management, digital marketing strategy, and much more.
MARKETING MANAGER, AMS PERFORMANCE; WEST CHICAGO, IL / 4-2016 TO 11-2019
Responsible for managing the AMS digital footprint including brand building, content creation and design, social media management, sales team support, ad campaign development, content distribution, digital marketing strategy, and much more.
OWNER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER, SKETCH DESIGN; ROCKFORD, IL — 2011 TO 4-2016
Responsibilities included business management, budgeting, estimating, billing, graphic design, web design, branding, social strategy, videography, photography, and much more.
Education
Northern Illinois University; Dekalb, IL — BFA Visual Communication, Graphic Design – 2003
Skills
Adobe Creative Cloud Software including:
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Premier Pro
- Lightroom
- Final Cut Pro
Videography & Photography – Nikon Z6 Platform and Nikkor F-Mount Lenses
Social
WRITING & PHOTOGRAPHY EXAMPLES
Video Samples
About
RECOMENDATIONS
-Martin Musial – CEO, AMS Performance
I worked with Michael Laskonis for almost a year before selling my shares and leaving my position as Vice President of AMS Performance in 2017. We had hired him to completely re-vamp our branding and website and to catch up with the changing trends in the automotive aftermarket. Throughout my career starting, operating and growing multiple businesses I’ve worked with a lot of people in marketing. They normally have one niche they excel at. I found Michael to be like a Swiss Army knife of marketing. From graphic design, to photography and video to being well versed with all of the major social media platforms and even writing SEO-rich copy, I’ve seen Michael shine in them all. When Michael first came to work for us at AMS Performance he had some experience doing video but it had never been a heavy focus. We quickly found as our industry, like others, was needing more and more video content. Michael quickly picked up and polished those skills, adding them to his marketing arsenal. I found Michael to be a “company man” as well. He meshed right into our company culture and often found ways to rally the troops and keep everyone happy and enjoying their work. He also took his work home with him, taking it upon himself to post content on weekends and find other ways to keep pushing the brand forward like attending local events. I’d highly recommend Michael for any position in marketing. He has a broad view of marketing as a whole offering a unique skill set that would really benefit any company, especially when resources are limited to hire multiple people.
-Arne Toman – CEO, Cannonball Garage
Contact
Phone
(815) 608-6188
Address
5934 Cambridge Chase
Rockford, IL 61107