RESUME
RESUME
As 3D Animation Director & CG Generalist:
A strategic and collaborative 3D Animation Director & CG Generalist with 18 years of experience crafting impactful visuals for industry-leading clients including Target, 3M, General Mills, The History Channel, New Balance, Minnesota Twins, Ferrara, Starkey, BASF, and Cummins. Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, manage budgets and schedules, and deliver high-quality computer graphics content across advertising, experiential, and visualization projects. Proficiently utilizes a wide range of industry software such as Maya, Blender, V-Ray, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Unreal Engine ensuring a streamlined production process.
As IT Support Specialist:
CompTIA A+ Certified IT Support Specialist with 18 years of experience managing workstation infrastructure and providing advanced technical support within fast-paced creative environments. Proven ability to lead technical workflows, manage IT budgets, and proactively resolve complex hardware and software problems, maximizing uptime and successful project delivery for industry-leading clients including Target, 3M, General Mills, The History Channel, BASF, and Cummins. Dedicated to operational efficiency, user support, endpoint security, workflow optimization, and continuous technical evolution.
As 3D Animation Director & CG Generalist:
3D Animation Direction, Computer Graphics, 3D Design, 3D Visualization, Product Rendering, Character Animation, Motion Design, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, Digital Content, Multimedia, Project Management, Budget Oversight, Client Communication, Pipeline Development, Storyboarding, Previsualization, 3D Modeling, Look Development, Rigging, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Rotoscoping, Compositing, Image Editing, Video Editing, Color Grading, Final Delivery, Maya, V-Ray, Mudbox, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Phoenix FD, Substance Painter, Marvelous Designer, SketchUp, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Unreal Engine
As IT Support Specialist:
Hardware Diagnostics & Repair, Windows 10/11 Pro, macOS, Google Workspace Administration, Ticketing Tools, SOP Documentation, Asset Inventory, End User Peripherals, Hardware Lifecycle, Software Licensing, Log Analysis & Troubleshooting, Computer Graphics Software Technical Support (Autodesk Maya 3D, Adobe Creative Cloud), LAN/WLAN Networking, IPv4 Configuration, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, Network-Attached Storage (NAS), RAID, FortiClient VPN, Windows Remote Desktop (RDP), Patch Manager Plus, Sophos Endpoint Deployment, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), FortiToken, Data Backup & Recovery
NEIGHBOR Animation | A boutique motion design and animation studio known for compelling advertising.
June 2012 - May 2025 | Full-time | Minneapolis, MN
Successfully directed multi-disciplined animation teams while also managing budgets and schedules, resulting in effective project delivery for industry-leading clients including Target, 3M, KeyBank, The Hoover Institution, Ferrara, Starkey, BASF, Cummins, and Cox Communications.
Collaborated with creative leads to craft high-quality computer graphics content across all aspects of production including previsualization, 3D modeling, look development, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing, image editing, video editing, color grading, and final delivery.
Increased project efficiency and team productivity by streamlining computer graphics production pipelines, managing technology, providing technical support, and contributing to IT architecture.
Spearheaded a 3D visualization account for Target for five years, consistently meeting tight deadlines, creating an extensive asset library, delivering over 500 interior architectural renders and multiple flythrough animations that supported key marketing initiatives.
Led IT support responsibilities in addition to primary Animation Director duties.
Managed workstation infrastructure and provided advanced technical support for a multi-disciplined animation team, resulting in effective project delivery for industry-leading clients including Target, 3M, KeyBank, Starkey, BASF, Cummins, and Cox Communications.
Administered core IT operations by managing Google Workspace user provisioning, hardware and software procurement budgets, asset inventory tracking, software licensing, and SOP documentation.
Maintained local network stability and security by configuring IPv4 addressing for NAS connectivity, deploying FortiClient VPN and Remote Desktop for secure remote access, and utilizing Patch Manager Plus and Sophos Endpoint deployment to ensure security compliance.
Streamlined computer graphics production workflows by assembling high-performance workstations, troubleshooting and resolving software bottlenecks, performing data backup, maintaining a render farm, and escalating complex technical problems to external IT partners.
Pixel Farm | A leading multidisciplinary creative studio known for excellence in advertising.
January 2007 - May 2012 | Full-time | Minneapolis, MN
Collaborated with creative leads and team members to craft high-quality 3D art and animation content for major clients including General Mills, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, The History Channel, New Balance Athletics, and Pioneer Hi-Bred International.
Managed computer graphics software installations, updates, and technical support for team members in addition to primary animation responsibilities, contributing to successful project outcomes for major clients including General Mills, Milwaukee Brewers, and The History Channel.
The Art Institutes International Minnesota | July 2005 - June 2008 | Minneapolis, MN
Certified April 2026 | www.credly.com/users/joerusso