Gene Russell has worked as a technical llustrator, a graphic designer and since 1980 as a newspaper advertising designer, specifically for Patuxent Publishing Co. and The Baltimore Sun. He has  received 36 regional advertising awards from the Maryland, Delaware, DC Press Association and 5 national awards from the Suburban Newspapers of America, which includes all of the U.S. and Canada. He also received the Front Page Award for advertising from the Baltimore/Washington Newspaper Guild for 2004,

2006 and 2008. He received numerous Baltimore Sun awards for sales support person of the quarter and the paper’s  Electronic Paintbrush Award. His  freelance company's letterhead design featured in Letterhead 6, 6th International Book of Letterhead Design by David E. Carter. Two business card designs featured in Business Card Design by Donna Hicks. He has had numerous logo designs featured in Design USA magazine.

He contributed the poster on the main Working page.