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Mary Mahling Carns

Interactive Designer

Mary Mahling Carns

Fairfax, VA

Highly talented and accomplished IT professional and graphic designer with proven expertise in User Interface Design, Interactive Design, Web Development, Web Management, and Program Management. Adept at improving website usability, creative innovation, data optimization, and interface design.

Areas of Expertise


  • Web Design | Web Usability | Program Management | Design Management | Graphic Design | User Interface Design | Web Development | Website Reengineering | Process Improvement | Architecture Design | Interactive Interfaces | Website Accessibility | Section 508 Accessibility | Mentoring | Social Media | Problem Solving | Leadership | Portal Design | Site Optimization

Experience

  • Web Developer
    Falls Church, VA
    Feb 2010 - Present
    Adayana Government Group

    Create online learning experiences, interpreted from storyboards and style guides. Collaborate online with project managers and fellow instruction developers in multiple locations. E-learning modules built using XHTML, XML, and Flash.
    • Optimize content and graphics for online tutorials in order to function on diverse platforms.
    • Perform testing and quality control on internal web building tools (built using Javascript) and provide feedback to development team based in multiple locations.
    • Draft information architecture diagrams for online form layouts, give feedback to development team.

  • Web Manager
    Silver Spring, MD
    Sep 2004 - Oct 2009
    Aster Engineering

    Led design and development of multiple websites to support NOAA’s 6 National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. Supervised web designers at 3 different East Coast locations. Supported more than 15,000 pages, including look, feel, multimedia, web applications, and more. Managed conceptualization, user interface design, transitional standards, and problem resolution. Mentored junior web designers and presented informational seminars to scientific community.
    • Created innovative concepts for presenting scientific data on websites, using multimedia.
    • Contributed to NOAA’s receipt of several environmental awards by designing and building new website highlighting office’s environmental efforts. Met extreme 2-week deadline for delivery.
    • Designed pilot website that delivered first-ever capability for sharing data in real time. Worked closely with scientists and partner institutions. Project later expanded to cover additional geographic areas.
    • Provided new method for scientists to prevent findings by implementing Javascript library and graphical interface to demonstrate economic issues relating to red tide events.
    • Highlighted potential website usability improvements by conducting major study in 2008 and serving as lead author on follow-up report.
    • Completely redesigned all 15,000+ web pages in only 30 days to meet agency requirements.
    • Improved page design process by creating workflows and scripts to automate changes.
    • Enhanced efficiency by introducing web technologies such as social media, Javascript, and SEO.
    • Cut hosting costs by introducing graphics, videos, and PDF files that lowered bandwidth utilization.

  • Systems Engineer
    Riverdale, MD
    Oct 2003 - Aug 2004
    Gryphon Technologies

    Systems Engineer (2003-2004)
    Served as Design Lead for intranet portal at Immigration & Customs Enforcement. Oversaw user requirements gathering from offices worldwide. Upgraded user interface to pure CSS model using liquid layouts. Prepared storyboards and wireframes.
    • Completed development of portal rollout out to more than 40,000 agents worldwide.
    • Authored requirements document and website style guide.
    • Improving page loading times by optimizing application graphics.
    • Utilized liquid design to ensure site functioned on multiple web browsers and mobile browsers.
    • Achieved seamless integration with other applications by recommending single sign on.

  • Senior Systems Analyst
    Riverdale, MD
    Oct 2001 - Sep 2003
    Gryphon Technologies

    Designed and upgraded applications and websites for Bureau of Land Management’s Eastern States office. Unified website presence for Virginia, Mississippi, and Wisconsin offices by consolidating 3 static websites into 1 CSS-driven dynamic interface with custom Content Management System.
    • Designed new applications that improved communications with Congress and general public.
    • Created application that promoted wild horse adoptions and increased adoption numbers.
    • Improved search engine rankings by developing new HTML and PDF style guides.

  • Web Project Manager
    Arlington, VA
    Apr 2000 - Aug 2001
    Madentech Consulting

    Designed, managed, and improved websites for non-profit, commercial, government, and military clients for interactive agency. Compiled requirements and advised web designers, sales executives and editors. Optimized graphics and Cold Fusion and HTML templates. Hired and trained webmasters. Communicated with clients on project specifics.
    • Built and managed 2 websites for US Army, utilized by soldiers in US and overseas.
    • Member of team that designed company’s new identity, including logos, web presence, and graphics.
    • Ensured all sites adhered to Section 508 accessibility standards 1 year before legally required.

Education

Professional Development


  • Graduate course work, Harvard Graduate School of Design
    Information Architecture
    UX BarCamp, Washington, DC
    3-D Computer Graphics, Rhode Island School of Design
    Voices that Matter website conference
    Managerial Finance, University of Virginia

Technical Skills


  • PCs, Mac, MS Office, Visio, Adobe CS4, ArcGIS, MS Sharepoint, Wordpress, Joomla, XHTML, CSS, XML, Javascript, Actionscript, .NET, Ajax, Windows Servers, Apache Servers

Languages


  • Conversational Spanish and French

Professional Affiliations


  • American Institute of Graphic Artists, DC Chapter
    Harvardwood, DC Chapter
    DC Web Women

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