2017-Current
Creative Director/Operations
Rockford, Il

Clients Served:

Berner Food & Beverage, Butter Buds, Doumak (Campfire Marshmallows), Eaglestone, Florida Food Products, Innophos, Middleby Corporation,
Nellson, Powder Process Solutions, Sokol, Taylor Company, Taylor Star Alliance, The Wright Group

Assisted Business Wins:

Butter Buds, Clyde's Donuts, Eaglestone, Florida Food Products, Innophos, Middleby Corporation and Sokol

Key Achievements:

• Managed creative services and served as a liaison between cross-functional departments and the creative marketing team

• Lead in the coordination and project management of creative projects and processes including design, marketing, video, photography, digital, production, copywriting, and development to ensure projects are on-track, within scope, and on budget

• Developed and chaired a leadership committee focusing on the improvement of key issues facing the company

• Implemented and improved company processes and policies as the company doubled in size over a two-year period and through the transition to an entirely remote workforce

• Assisted in the transition from an external development partnership to an inhouse development team, saving costs and creating an additional revenue stream.

• Restructured creative brief templates for improved efficiency, implemented an employee handbook, redesigned and restructured client pitch decks, and redesigned and restructured project pitch decks

• Assisted in the growth of an additional $1.2 million in gross sales

• Transitioned the staff into new software platforms such as Slack, Adobe XD, and Aqua Webvantage

• Directed, mentored, hired, and assisted with the educational goals of a creative staff of 7

• Stepped in as the key account contact for multiple accounts during a 4-month transition between Account Directors

• Introduced new vendors and maintained current vendor relationships
  

2016-2017
Creative Director/Marketing Services Manager (Brands)
Beloit, WI

Brands Served:
Big Train, DaVinci Syrups, Golden Dipped, Island Oasis and Oregon Chai

Key Achievements:

• Assisted in developing and managing the RFP for the transition of all print material and sample distribution for Kerry Consumer Brands Division

• Assisted in the acquisition transition of Island Oasis to Kerry, including the creative and print departments, along with the transfer of a 20-year graphic file history

• Assisted with all external and internal creative communications across 5 brands through direct mail, print, digital, e-mail, social, web, video, photo,
  and trade show, while maintaining both timeframes and budgets

• Managed and mentored a national design staff of 7, located in California, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin

• Managed the restructure of 7 external creative agency partners to 1 main strategic agency with 3 supporting agencies across all brands

2003-2016
Sr. Art Director 2012-2016

Art Director 2006-2012
Designer 2003-2006
Rockford, Il

Clients Served:
American Dehydrated Foods, American Egg Board, Anchor Ingredients, Briess Malt & Ingredients Company, Bunge, Danisco -DuPont, DDW the Color House, The Garlic Company, Grain Millers, Grain Processing Corporation, International Dehydrated Foods, Purac, Puratos, Silverson Machines, Taylor Company, TreeTop

Key Achievements:

• Created on-brand concepts in multiple mediums including collateral, digital, identity, packaging, photography, presentation, social, trade show, video, and web from creative brief to completion

• Collaborated with the development team on UX/UI for all client-related digital work

• Provided art direction for both video and photography shoots

• Balanced strategic development with client business objectives

• Built relationships with clients, partner agencies, photographers, and other vendors

• Established best practices, and documentation for different projects

• Participated in agency leadership discussions around values, culture, and team development

• Mentored and coached teams on company culture, policies, and practices as well as client history and brand guidelines.

• Attended and lead brainstorming sessions

• Assisted in client pitches and presentations

2002-2003
Art Director
Rockford, Il

1999-2002
Sr. Designer/Print Production Manager
Loves Park, Il

1997-1999
Designer
Rockford, Il