About

My name is Michael Catarineau. I am a proud Aggie and native Texan, with a passion for creative storytelling—mostly through photography, layout design and journalism. I received my bachelor of science in agricultural communications and journalism from Texas A&M University in 2016.

I got my first camera in elementary school—I swear it only had about half a megapixel—and have had one in my hand since. My interest in photography slowly led to my interest in graphic design and even videography. I created this website to use as an online portfolio, blog and online presence. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy creating it!

Awards

College Finalist
Best of High School & College Photography Spring Contest 2013
Photographer's Forum Magazine

Publishings

Writing

A Crude Awakening
AgriLeader - Volume 15 Issue 1
Fall 2016

The Manly Salon: A Fine-Tuned Grooming Experience
Brazos Valley Insite Magazine
March 2017

Photography

Photographer's Forum Magazine: Best of High School & College Photography 2013
2013

AgriLeader - Volume 15 Issue 1
Fall 2016

AgriLeader - Volume 15 Issue 2
Spring 2017

Hallettsville Tribune-Herald
March 2017

Shiner Gazzette
March 2017

Brazos Valley Insite Magazine
March 2017

Résumé

Work Experience

Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute
Houston, Texas — April 2024 – Present
Communication Specialist

I support the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) — an agency established by the 87th Texas Legislature and associated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) — with general communications activities as well as a TEPHI sub-project to develop a comprehensive vaccination social marketing and health promotion campaign for migrant agricultural workers and their families in the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso and Panhandle regions of Texas.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Houston, Texas — January 2022 – April 2024
Graphic Designer II

I drive the visual aspects of print and digital publications, catering to the subject matter expert's needs while ensuring accessibility compliance. I streamline project documentation, management and delivery, and excel at handling multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining SME expectations.

Beyond my core responsibilities, I willingly take on diverse tasks as needed, showcasing my adaptability and dedication to our team's success. My work as a Graphic Designer II has allowed me to merge my design passion with the agency's mission, creating visually captivating and inclusive materials that strengthen our brand and resonate with our diverse audience.

Multimedia Project Specialist I

As a multimedia project specialist, I create and update web-based and multimedia curriculum products for the many facets of AgriLife including publications, photography and videography.

I work both directly and indirectly with Subject Matter Experts to effectively and creatively share their knowledge with Texans — whether that be through a 100-page publication on direct beef sales or a with 12 eye-catching calendar photos of delicious, healthy recipes.

Gannett (formerly GateHouse Media)
Houston, Texas — September 2018 – January 2022
Page Designer

As a designer for GateHouse Media’s Center for News and Design in Austin, I used Adobe InDesign, Newscycle Solutions and G Suite to collaborate with local editors across the country to design newspaper pages — mostly broadsheet and berliner.

GateHouse Media bought Gannett in 2019 and in October of 2020 I transitioned from the CND side to the Gannett design side. I now use the CUE publishing integrated CMS — CUE Print, CUE Designer and CUE Composer — and MicroSoft Teams to communicate with newsrooms, page editors, page proofers and team members all over the United States to create stunning newspapers.

I have designed 1As for The Columbus Dispatch, The Arizona Republic, The Knoxville News Sentinel, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Green Bay Press-Gazette, The (Nashville) Tennesseean, The Palm Springs Desert Sun, The Palm Beach Daily News and Palm Beach Post, The Florida Times-Union, The Des Moines Register, The Register Guard, The Salem Statesman Journal and many, many more.

Freelance photographer, journalist and graphic designer
Texas — May 2010 – Present
www.michaelcatarineau.com

I have taken graduation and engagement photos, headshots and photos for print stories in the Hallettsville Tribune-Herald, the Shiner Gazette and Insite Magazine. I have written two small pieces for Insite magazine and a handful of profiles for Ranch House Designs. I have designed logos, small-batch publications and even t-shirts.

Scottsbluff Star-Herald
Scottsbluff, Nebraska — January 2018 – August 2018
Agricultural Journalist

As the Star-Herald’s ag journalist, I covered events and stories of interest pertaining to agriculture in the Nebraska Panhandle. I wrote stories, shot photos and video and designed the weekly special section, “Farm & Ranch.”

Copy Editor | Page Designer

As a copy editor and page designer for the Star-Herald, I placed, proofed and edited stories written by staff journalist and the Associated Press. I and two other copy desk folks split up pages between the daily paper, special sections and classifieds using InDesign and — believe it or not — QuarkXpress.

Igor Kraguljac Photography
College Station, Texas — June 2013 – December 2017
Assistant

As Igor’s assistant, my duties varied widely — from grip to model. I set up multi-light studio and on-location photo and video shoots, grew an eye for catching out-of-place items on set and an ear for any background noise that may interrupt an otherwise perfect interview. We even set up, broadcast and recorded livestreams from time to time.

AgriLeader
College Station, Texas — August 2016 – December 2016
Graphic Designer | Photographer

AgriLeader is the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ bi-yearly publication and a semester-long project/collaboration between agricultural communications and journalism majors at Texas A&M University. As graphic designer, it was my privilege to work alongside my classmates and design layouts that aided in effectively telling their stories. This is where my passion for print design grew exponentially. On a handful of occasions, staff writers asked me to help conceptualize and shoot photos for their stories. Some were featured in the Fall 2016 issue of AgriLeader.

January 2016 – May 2016
Photographer | Ad Graphics Designer

As the ad graphics designer, I worked with advertisers to create simple, effective ads to be placed in the Spring 2016 issue of AgriLeader. As the photographer, I worked closely with staff writers to propose, frame and shoot photos for their stories.

Skills