Holly Grzyb, creative director - designer in Ferndale, MI

About

I am an articulate person with exceptional design skills with extensive experience in brand positioning, strategic marketing, product and web development. I am exceptionally creative, hands-on strategist with a 30+ year record of directing the execution of all creatives including corporate identity, branding, design, copy, photography, content creation, new media and digital delivery. I enhance project management by challenging creative boundaries, ensuring the execution of high-level objectives within strict timelines by understanding that the creative product must be exceptional. Some of the clients that I have worked with include AAA, Mopar, HKS, Exedy, Eibach, Costco, Kroger, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Walt Disney.

COMPUTER LITERACY

(mac/pc platforms)

• mac os 26 • ms-dos/pc-dos • windows nt • windows 11 • unix • dms

(skills)

• illustrator • photoshop • indesign • after effects • firefly • dreamweaver • acrobat • quark • html/css/java/joomla • director • premier • project • imageready • visio studio • word • excel • powerpoint • sharepoint • access • • outlook • ims utilities • quicken • hits aar • kronos • adp • sap • cpt

Education

bachelor of science graphic design

the art institute of california

2002 - 2003

graduated with highest honors, 3.9 gpa
undergraduate art

wayne state university

1991 - 1994

fine art psychology

Experience

CREATIVE LEAD

AAA - THE AUTO CLUB GROUP/MEEMIC INSURANCE

Auburn Hills, MI

Feb 2016 - Present (10 years 5 months)

~ lead consultant to initiate, develop, deliver & manage creative assets for multiple company brand platforms for print & digital marketing to elevate the brand for all media - ads/flyers, banners, social media, display, email, landing page, website, signage, templates, etc.
~ Collaborate with team members to develop marketing concepts.
~ Review and approve graphics, copy and designed materials.
~ Coach junior team members in the development of their work and creative skills.
~ Apply knowledge (creative, corporate, product, membership, regulatory) to the creative planning and execution of marketing programs.
~ Act as advisor on best practice creative design and copywriting.
~ Oversee use of and ensure adherence to advertising style guide criteria.
MARKETING MANAGER

CITY OF TAYLOR

Taylor, MI

Jul 2015 - Jan 2016 (6 months)

~ responsible for managing the city of taylor brand and image through the web, traditional media, and customer relations.
~ identified opportunities for new services and improved market segments for existing services as well as works with department heads to ensure product/service meet market needs.
~ designed all graphic and visual representations including advertising, printed materials, branded objects, signage, product labeling and multimedia materials.
LEAD ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER

SPECMO ENTERPRISES

Madison Heights, MI

Nov 2008 - Jan 2015 (6 years 2 months)

~ creative lead and responsible for the overall visual aspects and creative direction of the advertising/media campaigns that support and convey the company’s and their two sister companys’ brand positioning, strategic marketing, product and web development goals.
~ conceptualized, designed and maintained innovative and unique concepts/designs for new marketing projects: ad campaigns, email campaigns, direct marketing campaigns, web design and user experience, digital illustration, magazine ad, trade shows, promotional materials, and vehicle decal designs from concept through completion.
~ used creative expertise to interpret a client’s needs and make tangible and deliverable products and present to the client to produce an effective advertising campaign for iconic brands as mopar, hks, exedy, eibach, kelford, quaife and tokico.
~ rebranded and developed new visual identity and website in digital and print
across all business units.
~ ensured that high quality of creative and production is upheld and maintained consistently high standards for developed themes, innovative conceptualization and execution of all internal and national events and trade shows.
ART DIRECTOR

GARDNER WHITE

Warren, MI

Jan 2006 - Jan 2008 (2 years)

~ designed, wrote, edited and built content for web, social media and other digital properties and managed collection portfolios and upload product files for the web.
~ created print and digital media, store forms and pop advertising including preflight all final files before being sent to outside vendors, to ensure technically accurate, print-efficient materials.
~ maintained the website content and print advertising and initiated promotional and e-mail campaigns.
~ developed creative layouts for weekly advertisements - advo and inserts, brochures, direct mail, signage and the company’s corporate identity materials.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LC MARKETING

San Diego, CA

Feb 2004 - Nov 2005 (1 year 9 months)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
~ managed all aspects of the art department; hire and art direct designers as well as supervised artists in executing designs to fruition.
~ initiated new marketing and concept development, illustrated a range of solutions for food packaging (clients include: walmart, costco, sam’s club and kroger).
~ developed creative and compelling designs for collateral including corporate identities, brochures, pop campaigns, direct mail.
~ verified and approved final proofs for print and perform press checks.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
~ responsibilities included: concept, design as well as 3-D structure prototypes, file production, building mechanicals, comping and prepress, material sourcing and vendor and printer relationships; domestic and international.
~ developed naming, brand identity and provided packaging solutions for different products and verify that all fda regulations are in compliance before going to print.
~ performed all aspects involved with package design for food products from thumbnails to templates to creative structural form and graphic designs to final comps.
FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR

MARS ADVERTISING

Southfield, MI

Jun 2005 - Aug 2005 (2 months)

~ designed for the clorox account which includes kindsford, glad, 409, pinesol, armorall, stp, hiddenvalley.
~ developed creative layouts for collateral including market branding, magazine ads, brochures, pop campaigns, direct mail and signage.
~ translated marketing strategy into persuasive layouts, logos and packaging.
MANAGE FINANCES/ACCOUNTANT

MIDAMERICA CINE SUPPORT, INC.

Troy, MI

Apr 2001 - Dec 2001 (8 months)

~ organized, maintained and processed all accounts receivable and accounts payable.
~ maintained two databases of all financial records and tracked approved budget to actual/committed spending.
~ processed employee benefit enrollment and personnel documents.
CONSULTANT/CONTRACTOR

AJILON SERVICES, INC.

Southfield, MI

Sep 1997 - Apr 2001 (3 years 7 months)

~ consulted clients including general motors headquarters and powertrain, oakland police department, and eds systems.
~ served as asset manager for eds – scheduled, conducted and reconciled physical inventories of all computer equipment consisting of 55,000 pieces.
~ served as a service request owner and planning analyst – track approved budget to actual/committed spending and assured alignment with strategic and operational plans to improve project management process.
OPERATIONS MANAGER

COMPUSA

Madison Heights, MI

Mar 1995 - Apr 1997 (2 years 1 month)

OPERATIONS MANAGER
~ key manager that supervised over 100 employees - hired, terminated and trained new employees and maintained all personnel files.
~ maintained $45 million worth of inventory with over 5,000 product sku’s and maintained operations and expenses for the store.

LOSS PREVENTION DISTRICT MANAGER
~ monitored and controlled inventory shrinkage and theft for stores throughout michigan.
~ audited all store departments to enforce company policy and procedures using jda and an as/400-based pos system to compare and analyze information.

Awards

graduated with highest honors 3.9 GPA

Industries

Advertising

Skills

On Coroflot

@hol_bee, member since 2008

Following 1
Followers 1

Holly Grzyb

Brand Design Lead

Associate Industrial Designer