When people ask what I do, I usually respond with “graphic design”, but I do much more than just that. I am quick to adapt to a situation, and have a history of solving problems as they occur.
Below is an explanation of my work history that goes beyond the bullet points of a resume to tell a story. Use the menu if you would like to skip to a certain position.
Pacifica Foundation
Local Election Supervisor at 90.1 FM KPFT
The Pacifica Foundation is a non-profit organization that operates 5 radio stations across the United States:
- KPFA 89.3 FM in Berkeley, CA
- KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, CA
- KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston, TX
- WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City, NY
- WPFW 89.3 FM in Washington DC
KPFT is my favorite radio station in Houston. They play music and speak opinions that you won’t hear on mainstream radio.
As Local Election Supervisor, I made sure that all nominees for KPFT filled out the required forms and received enough nominations to qualify as a candidate, which is easier said than done. After that, my duties changed to assisting candidates with radio promotions, YouTube videos, debate scheduling and facilitation, and member voting. All of this work was done remotely.
I took on an additional duty outside of the scope of my supervisor role by making the Pacifica elections website easier to navigate and more pleasant to look at. The changes were all made in one afternoon by simply modifying the style of the website without changing any of the HTML structure.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I consider my job as the KPFT Local Election Supervisor to be a success. Of the 31 listeners who were nominated, 29 of them qualified to become candidates. All 10 staff nominees qualified to become candidates.
It was quite the learning experience to supervise this election. I got to know many of the candidates, as well as some listeners who were very active in the election process. It is something I would do again.
ALF Technical Services, Inc.
Administration
ALF Technical Services, Inc. is a construction and engineering company that is closely tied to the oil and gas industry. Some of its most notable clients include BP, Shell, and Hess.
Though I was originally hired as a Graphic Designer for a company project, my talents were put to use in other departments throughout the years I worked there. I worked multiple projects (some simultaneously), but my administrative work remained relatively consistent throughout my time there.
Some of my administrative duties included:
- Processing and filing company paperwork, such as new employee paperwork and insurance.
- Set up and maintenance of company cloud network and employee hardware.
- Maintaining company compliance to satisfy customer requirements.
- Invoicing to customers and following through to ensure timely payment.
- Overhauled the company website.
- Designed and ordered employee business cards.
- Scheduled and assisted in running company meetings.
- Participated in interviews of prospective employees.
BEFORE
AFTER
MOC Coordinator
Coulomb Phase II
The Na Kika platform is an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico that is jointly owned and operated by BP and Shell. It also happens to tap into the deepest subsea cluster in the world.
The Coulomb Phase II (CP2) project involved bringing in new equipment and making changes offshore in order to tap into a new well. ALF Technical Services, Inc. was contracted to handle the Management of Change (MOC) aspect of the CP2 project. Every piece of equipment on the platform that had to be removed, added, or modified required an MOC. Every MOC required a summary, supporting documentation (drawings, diagrams etc), regulatory approval from BSEE and USCG, and any comments or sign offs from BP engineers.
As the deadline for the CP2 turnaround phase (TAR) approached, project engineers discovered that one of the vendors had improperly misfiled most of the required documentation. Without the right documents, the project would have suffered a massive delay.
A few of us took a month off from our usual duties to sift through thousands of files at the vendor’s office. Our team managed to find all required documents and properly filed them just before Shell’s TAR deadline. Without our help, Shell could have wasted around $50 million due to an unproductive facility shutdown.
Technical Writer
Thunderhorse Water Injection
The Thunder Horse platform is the largest offshore platform in the world. BP was preparing for Thunder Horse Water Injection, and ALF Technical Services, Inc. created technical documents for the project. Water injection is a process where water flows into an oil reservoir to maintain pressure and/or make oil easier to extract. Our team’s task was to develop System Operation Manuals (SOMs) and Site Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Though I was originally hired to do graphic design for the project, I eventually moved on to technical writing. I created SOMs for various systems such as Methanol Injection and Utility and Instrument Air, and also SOPs for cold and warm startups, controlled and emergency shutdowns, and equipment testing.
Houston Texans
Quality Assurance
Before every home game starts, we monitor entrance lines at NRG Stadium and time how long it takes for fans to get through security and scan their tickets at the gate. Once the game begins, we go to our assigned floor and monitor the fan experience.
As we monitor the fan experience, there are several things we have to look out for:
- Check to make sure all TVs are showing the game.
- Check on the status of beverage refill stations.
- Ensure all back of the house doors are closed.
- Make sure concession kiosks are stocked with condiments and utensils.
- Time fans as they wait in line for concessions during peak and non-peak times.
- Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and supplies.
- Handle fan issues as they occur throughout the game.
The 2020 season was a bit of a shock for everyone involved. It was the first season since the COVID-19 pandemic had started, and vaccines were not readily available yet. Attendance was limited to 20% capacity, several concession stands remained closed, and all fans and staff were required to wear masks. It was certainly a season that required some adjustment.
At the end of the season, I was selected from the Quality Assurance department to receive the 2020 Spirit of Service Award. There was a ceremony held during the final game of the season, and I was honored in front of a socially distanced crowd.
Signs Now
Production Manager
Signs Now is a nationwide franchise that specializes in making wide format print graphics. Originally hired as Graphic Designer, I quickly became Production Manager for both the Houston and Katy locations.
Not only did I continue with my graphic design duties, but I also had to run and maintain the printers, build the finished products, schedule installations, and interact with customers for two store locations.
Some of the products we made included:
- Signs
- Banners
- Decals
- Vehicle Wraps
- Business Cards
- Custom Logos
So that’s my professional career in a nutshell. I may have left out various short-term gigs, but there are too many and not very relevant.
Keep in mind all of this work is outside of the realm of my own business of Colby Wright Designs. Please have a look at my portfolio to see what I have done for my many clients.