Ozarks Profile: Bruce R. Helm

Bruce R. Helm

Owner, Helm Graphics. Helm is a free-lance graphic designer who works out of his home on South Holland in Springfield. He designs logos, brochures, newsletters, catalogs, outdoor boards, direct mail pieces and basically anything in print. He also does some illustration work. Helm set up his first graphic design studio in the duplex where he lived in 1987. In 1990, he bought his house and his first Macintosh computer. Helm is a member of the Springfield Advertising Association and serves on the executive committee of Home-Based Businesses of the Ozarks, the board of the Sertoma Club of Springfield and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Advisory Committee.

Age: 44.

No. of years in Springfield: Helm was born and raised in Springfield, spent five years working in New Windsor, N.Y., and returned to Springfield in 1987.

Education: Helm went to Portland Elementary, Jarrett Junior High School, Parkview High School and graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design.

Early career: Helm's first job was in the summer of 1972 working for Kmart in the menswear department part time. While still in college, he began working part time for an art studio and ad agency called Artists Studios. After graduating, he worked there full time. In 1982, he got a job as art director for the U.S. Chess Federation in New Windsor, N.Y., where he designed a monthly magazine and several catalogs for its mail-order business, plus all the collateral material needed. In 1987 he moved back to Springfield with the intention of finding a job with an ad agency in St. Louis, but began free-lancing for several businesses and ad agencies here. After a few months, he decided to try working as a free-lancer full time and has been doing it ever since.

Current projects: "I have an ever-changing array of jobs that I work on. I compare it to being a fireman the phone rings and your whole day changes. But I do have several clients that I produce monthly or quarterly newsletters for that remain constant," Helm said.

Management philosophy: "Treat everyone with respect and do the best work I can for each client. I strive to keep learning, especially with technology changing so quickly. Presently, I am taking classes to learn Web page writing."

Spare-time pursuits: "In my spare time, I like to hike, garden and travel. I also enjoy constructing things last year I helped good friends build a major water garden on their property. It was a lot of work, but it was also great fun."

Family data: Helm is single and shares his house with his cat, Velcro. He said he is also about to become an uncle. Helm's brother and his wife are adopting a baby girl from Nepal.