about

summary

My name is Stef Mates (née Szymanski), and I have more than 15 years of experience in content development, communications, and creative services. I'm currently based in Orlando, although I'm originally from northeast Pennsylvania and have lived in Portland, Oregon. 

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 Rush, Premiere Pro, After Effects)

  • Collaborative design platforms (Figma, Miro, Canva)

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

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

  • Web content management systems (WordPress, Squarespace)

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

  • Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, 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