Little-known fact: Most of the marketing efforts of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts at Ohio Northern University take place in Bluffton.

That's because, Anita Cook, independent contractor and marketing manager of the Center, lives in Bluffton. She creates most of her work from the office in her home on North Main Street, located just north of Groves Quality Collectibles.

Owner of Maestro Graphics, Cook is a freelance graphic artist, and her work with The Freed Center is one of the many multi-tasking positions she balances quite well.

"It's nice to be self-employed," she says. "It offers flexibility to my day." The Lima native is also heavily involved in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). She served two years as editor of the OMEA magazine. She now handles the design of that piece and design of all OMEA literature.

"I developed an entire brand for OMEA," she said. "It was a challenge to develop its appearance. Now I create forms, signs, program, all types of pieces for OMEA right here in my office in Bluffton."

Claiming that she always secretly wanted to be a theatre major, the Lima native says she really likes living in Bluffton - "It's a great place to work."

After graduation from Lima Senior, Cook attended Ohio Northern. There she graduated with a bachelor's degree in music. Her instrument of choice is the saxophone. Later she obtained a master's in education degree. After teaching music in several area schools she launched a new career in graphic design.

And so, "Maestro Graphics," was born. "I developed the name while I was in graphic art school. It speaks to both sides of my career, that of directing music to being a graphic artist," she said.

Concerning her work with The Freed Center, Cook says she does most of her work in Bluffton, however she has an office at The Center and works in Ada at least one day a week.

Her Freed Center work involves all promotional material including advertisements. "The Center is a unique venue. It is a fully furnished regional theatre but it is on a college campus," she explains. "That makes us rare. It's a blessing and a challenge."

Ohio Northern offers a diverse calendar of events to both the campus and the community. It serves as a venue for top quality performances by the ONU students and offers a wide variety of headliners, children's shows, and tours. The season is developed with both the campus and community in mind and she encourages the community to come take advantage of what is available right here in Ada.

Cook explains that during a typical school year The Freed Center offers 32 events. These include student ensembles, in-house theatre, musical theatre shows, dance theatre productions and headliners.

The Freed Center has two performance stages, Stambaugh Studio Theatre, which seats 136, and Biggs Theatre, which seats 551.

When not working for The Freed Center or OMEA, Cook is a freelance graphic artist. Cook describes her freelance work this way: "I love to freelance. I can develop logos, brochures, business cards, flyers, catalogues, coupons, magazines, books, annual reports, marketing, signage and advertisements."

The Mac-based graphic designer has her front room as her office. It includes a large 32-inch computer screen, two laptops, a scanner, an Image HP black and white printer, an Epson color printer, a digital camera, a backup external hard drive and another external hard drive.

"I'm not a designer out to push my designs on someone. I try to listen to clients and work with them," she said.

To view some of Cook's work, open the attachment at the bottom of this story.

How to contact Anita Cook:
208 N. Main St.
Bluffton, OH 45817
Cell: 419-371-4853
[email protected]