Coroflot

Resume

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, Orland Park, Illinois 2010 - present

Creative Director, Communication Designer and Illustrator.
Partner with companies to build brands through online and print marketing. Work independently from home office or onsite.
Clients Serviced: Brookfield Zoo, Peerless Mounts, Jeffrey LaMorte Salon & Day Spa, Bean Productions and Jet Box Baseball Club

1800BASKETS.COM, Melrose Park, Illinois 2009 - 2010

Director of Creative Services
Constructed e-commerce gift basket brand - sister company to 1800Flowers.com, developed marketing materials to sell basket product and built photo department. Managed creative team of 10 individuals, daily execution of all projects and oversaw department budget.
• Developed photo process from start to finish and established photo shoot schedule
• Created brand consistency of company logo, web pages, online banners, email, brochures, packaging, and sale sheets
• Digitally enhanced and manipulated photography in pre-production
• Built creative staff and initiated process and formalities from ground up

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, Orland Park, Illinois 2008 - 2009

Creative Director, Communication Designer and Illustrator.
Partnered with companies to build brands through online and print marketing. Work independently from home office or onsite.
Clients Serviced: Jeffrey LaMorte Salon & Day Spa, Trisect, legacy.com, Keyser Group, IMS and Maddock Douglas

MOMENTUM WORLDWIDE, Chicago, Illinois 2007 - 2008

Creative Director
Led creative team working on Kraft Frozen Pizza brands, Snack categories and also Mac & Cheese. Delivered strategic concepts and design layouts for multiple POS signage equating to $3.3M in revenue opportunities. Managed 5 Art Directors and 3 Pre-Production Artists to adhere to project brief and client expectations.
• Developed creative process changing client effectiveness
• Established internal production department increasing project efficiencies
• Advanced information technology between global offices providing orderly communication
• Built locations creative staff adhering to client daily demands
Brands Serviced: DiGiorno, Jack’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Planters, Triscuit, Toasted Chips, Trail Mix and Mac & Cheese

THE MARKETING STORE, Lombard, Illinois 2006 - 2007

Director, Creative Development
Supervised creative team for New Business division. Delivered 2-5 pitches weekly for promotional premiums and retail products ranging from $25K to $1M in revenue opportunities. Managed workflow of 3 designers and 4 engineers to adhere to budget guidelines and technical specifications.
• Fabricated creative process increasing design efficiency by more than 50%
• Implemented trafficking system that improved moral of team
• Developed new pitch standards showcasing ideas and increasing sales opportunities
• Created 40+ brainstorming techniques helping constructiveness and inspiration
Clients Serviced: General Mills, Sabritas (Frito Lay Mexico), Sonrics, Claire’s, Target, Reebok, Unilever, Disney, NHL, MetLife, Kraft, Kraft Argentina, Nestle Shell and Molinos

JIMMYVISION LLC, Chicago, Illinois 2002 - 2006

President/Creative Director
Co-founded design firm that provided turnkey creative solutions and dynamic designs to build brands and deliver sales results for print and interactive marketing. Lead client expectations and creative development from concept through final production. Managed interchangeable Art Directors, copywriters, designers, illustrators and keyliners.
• Developed and implemented sales and marketing process producing company’s annual revenues of $300K
• Fabricated company’s creative process to deliver well-crafted and affordable communication design
• Built concentrated creative teams with background on client’s business delivering productive marketing tactics
• Generated creative process that accommodated efficiencies with client revisions
Clients Serviced: Toys R Us, Kid Stuff Marketing, Erehwon, Bean Productions, Whole Foods, 141 Worldwide, Awana, FrostSounds, Wellington Chase Homes, St. James Lutheran, ProActive, Flair Communications, Jet Box Baseball Club, Launch Creative Marketing, Weber Shandwick, Higgins Sports Rehab S.C., Tracy Locke Partnership and Midwest Tourism Association

THE GRAND GROUP, Chicago, Illinois 1999 - 2002

Project Director, Creative
Generated innovative marketing ideas for promotions, branding, in-store, direct mail, collateral materials and packaging. Managed 4 designers, 2 keyliners and freelancers from creative development through final production and client presentations.
• Improved creative process and tracking system extending company efficiencies
• Increased quality control standards helping revenue and over delivering on client expectations
• Researched industry trends and technologies advancing company’s infrastructure
• Arranged creative and production departments increasing workflow
Clients Serviced: Cedar, Manhattan Bagel, Häagen-Dazs, Georgia-Pacific, Motorola, Sunbeam, Funbrain.com and Bally Total Fitness

FRANKEL, Chicago, Illinois 1997 - 1999

Art Director
Developed creative solutions for customized branding and in-store promotions to help drive traffic and sales to over 800 Target stores nationwide. Managed 4 Junior Art Directors, mount room staff, freelancers and external vendors from concept through production.
• Evolved Target’s initial brand image to establish them as major retailer
• Implemented craftsmanship techniques increasing client creative trust
• Delivered on trend ideas helping client awareness

F.A.O. SCHWARZ, Chicago, Illinois 1994 - 1997

Regional Visual Manager (1995 - 1997)
Responsible for creative development of point-of-purchase environments and evolved company branding to 10 regional stores. Directed external vendors and 5-8 freelancers on a daily basis while managing project budgets to meet overall department goals.
• Conceptualized innovative solutions and promotional tactics to help increase toy sales nationally
• Implemented state-of-art digital techniques to visual department that streamlined workload
• Evolved company branding to region stores increasing awareness and driving excitement

Visual Display Designer (1994 - 1995)
Accountable for concept, design, illustration, hand crafting and installation of point-of-purchase displays and signage for Michigan Avenue Flagship store and 9 national retail location.
• Incorporated designed, illustration and sculpting techniques that differentiated store experience and increased revenue
• Developed efficiencies with sign distribution to 9 national retail locations assisting company growth

EDUCATION

College for Creative Studies • BFA • Detroit, Michigan • art direction, design and illustration

MAC University • Chicago, Illinois • Continuing education on computer software and applications

The University of Chicago • Chicago, Illinois • Principles of Marketing

DePaul University • Chicago, Illinois • Web Design Program