about

summary

I’m Stef Mates (née Szymanski), and I’ve built my career around content development and management, communications, and creative services. I'm originally from Northeast Pennsylvania, have lived in Portland, Oregon, and Orlando, Florida, and currently reside in Northern Virginia.

My strength is quickly learning and adapting to changes and new concepts, which my history demonstrates. I have seamlessly integrated into different industries and roles, often worked on multiple projects simultaneously, and created a wide range of content, including marketing collateral, style and brand guidelines, procedural and technical documentation, and instructional design materials.

No matter the project, I value open communication and quick turnaround times, and I deliver high-quality results that satisfy client specifications and brand guidelines.

resume / work experience

For details about my education and work history, visit my LinkedIn page and review the relevant projects listed on this site.

technology skills

  • Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Bridge, Express, Premiere Pro, After Effects)

  • Collaborative design platforms (Figma, Miro, Canva)

  • Art and design tools (Procreate, SnagIt, Infinite Painter)

  • AI-powered tools (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Adobe Firefly)

  • Web content management systems (WordPress, Squarespace)

  • Document management systems (SharePoint, Egnyte, IBM FileNet P8)

  • Project management tools (Trello, Basecamp, Teamwork, Slack)

  • Email marketing/newsletter platforms (HubSpot, MailChimp, Beehiiv, Substack)

  • Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive)

  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, Outlook)

writing / editing specialties

  • Corporate and technical documentation, such as policies, procedures, process workflows, and knowledge base articles (KBAs)

  • User guides, job aids, and other training content

  • Marketing collateral, such as case studies, e-commerce/wholesale product copy, and blog posts

  • Instructional materials, such as textbook study guides, projects, exam questions, and other learning activities

  • Newspaper articles and newsletters

  • ​​​​​​​Novels/novellas

art / graphic design specialties

  • Desktop publishing and layout design

  • Branding and logo design

  • Digital and hand-drawn art

  • Image editing and photo retouching

  • Creation and optimization of artwork for both digital platforms and print production