Qualifications for

Branding Manager / Director • Creative Manager • Marketing Director

 

Award-winning leader eager to offer 18+ years experience in progressive Branding Consulting, Creative

Services Management, Creative / Marketing Consulting, Art Direction, and Graphic Design roles

toward maximizing a forward-thinking employer s success within an executive-level position.

 

 

Branding / Rebranding • Research • Identity Design • Concept Development Processes • Client Relations

 

National Franchise Programs • Direct-to-Consumer Programs • Email Design / eBlasts • Webinars • Internet Advertising

 

Direct Mail • Circulars • Logos • House Style Development • Copywriting • Break-Out Sessions • Team Building • Budget Control

 

 

         Directed the development of a unique style guide for a new $36-million line of business that included an extensive competitive analysis and provided brand direction for all elements (e.g. colors, photos) under the Brand Usage Guidelines.

         Effectively created and set up outsourced models, including resource and agency reviews, selection, and rate negotiations.

         Led Branding Council for a financial services line of business addressing development and governance of brand standards.

         Conducted a substantial brand refresh project for a $4.9-billion line of business to expand direction, usability, and appeal.

         Increased awareness of an international manufacturer by creating annual calendars, direct mail, email blasts, and box inserts.

         Noted in a P.O.P. magazine for creating brand-focused Campbell s Soup pallet display graphics for use in Walmart stores.

 

 

Private Consultant

 

         Perform branding and rebranding work for an entrepreneurial client base, including facilitating innovative research, positioning, creative direction, and identity design, as well as conceptualizing and developing integrated marketing plans.

 

Creative Services Manager

 

         Utilize broad scope of industry knowledge and dynamic creative talents toward leading a top-performing seven-member FTE team, 15 freelance resources, and outside agencies contributing to 20% growth in sales despite budget reductions.

         Manage a $1-million department budget; develop collaborative concept development processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs; and initiate best practice methodologies for copywriting and design of emails, webinars, and house style.

 

Creative / Marketing Consultant

 

         Strategically steered results-driven team collaborations ranging from targeted planning through to fulfillment / release of national franchise and direct-to-consumer programs creative development for high-profile CPG brands and B2B manufacturers and distributors, including creating brand identities, integrated marketing plans, and varied collateral.

 

Yyyyyy x. yyyyyy                                         Resume • Page Two                                              (xxx-xxx-xxxx

 

 

Creative / Marketing Consultant (continued)

 

         Used interactive and print media which was instrumental in increasing product / services awareness and company sales.

         Interfaced among senior-level managers and business owners to develop marketing initiatives (e.g. eBlasts, web design, internet advertising, advertising programs, direct mail) and conduct break-out sessions that received standing ovations.

         Maximized bottom-line results by aggressively handling all sales calls and product and services presentations, along with cost-effectively negotiating with and managing outside resources to ensure seamless business processes at all times.

         Liaised between clients such as RxHub, Kuhlman s, Tech Toy Universe, and Oskaloosa Food Products, among others.

 

Art Director

 

         Directed development of national in-store tactical marketing initiatives encompassing forward-thinking art direction, design, and production of marketing and advertising materials, consumer publications, logos, identity systems, and websites for such clients as 3M, Campbell s, Pepperidge Farm, Land O Lakes, Walmart, Target, and Publix.

         Collaborated among creative and account teams to resourcefully brainstorm and lead strategic planning sessions.

 

Art Director

 

         Drove business growth and creative and strategic development of trend-right and value-driven seasonal specialty food, candy, and beverage gifts for programs sold through retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Kmart, including partnering with product managers to determine appropriate design and costing objectives relevant to each specific program.

         Handled all facets of art direction, copywriting, packaging design, and production for programs, along with providing efficient and effective development of technical specifications for international production support.

 

Art Director

 

         Applied solid leadership abilities toward managing creative and strategic development of marketing and advertising vehicles for franchises, retailers, and B2B clients (e.g. Paper Warehouse, Holiday Stationstores, CalSpas, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell) encompassing advertising, direct mail, package design, corporate identity, newsletters, POP, and in-store signage.

         Developed frequency and bounce-back programs, handled press checks and photo / illustrations, and purchased prints.

         Recruited, trained, and managed details-focused creative and production teams; obtained and negotiated bids from outside resources; and supervised industry professionals (e.g. copywriters, illustrators, photographers, freelance designers).

 

Graphic Designer

 

         Led creative art direction, design, and production of advertising, direct mail, circulars, logos, and corporate identity programs for varied clients (e.g. Paper Warehouse, Music Land, Radisson Hotels, Rainbow Foods, and Grand Casino).

 

Freelance Art Director

 

         Handled art direction, design, copywriting, and production for clients such as NordicTrack and Thomas Design Group.

 

 

Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design                                      North Hennepin Community College

 

Minnesota Mensa Member • Advertising Federation of Minnesota Member • WARM Member • NEMAA Member

 

Vice President (Plymouth Fine Arts Council, Member Since 2009) • Second Vice President (Minnesota Mensa, 2005 C 2007)

Marketing / Public Relations Coordinator (Minnesota Mensa, 2004 C 2007) • Board Secretary (Galumph Theater, 2003 C 2004)

 

 

 

Date

 

 

Hiring Agent Name

Title

Company Name

Address

City/State/Zip Code

 

Dear__________________:

 

I am currently seeking a challenging [ Insert Job Title ] role, and am submitting my resume for your review.

 

I am excited to build a rewarding career with your company, and am confident that my broad range of professional skills can help to achieve your key objectives.  I can offer 18 years of solid experience in Branding / Rebranding, Concept Development Processes, Identity Design, Strategic Analysis / Planning, Trends Tracking, and Program Conception / Coordination, and am well-versed in all facets of Project Management, Team Building / Training, Budget Control, and High-Profile Client Relations.

 

To complement my background, please note that I hold an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design from North Hennepin Community College.

 

Currently, as a Private Consultant, I expertly perform branding and rebranding work for a varied entrepreneurial client base, including facilitating innovative research, positioning, creative direction, and identity design, as well as conceptualizing and developing integrated marketing plans.  In a concurrent role as Creative Services Manager for Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, I lead top-performing creative teams and manage a $1-million department budget, along with initiating collaborative concept development processes and implementing best practice methodologies for copywriting and design of emails, webinars, and house style.  During this time, I directed the development of a unique style guide for a new $36-million line of business that included an extensive competitive analysis and provided brand direction for all elements (e.g. colors, photos) under the Brand Usage Guidelines.  As this is just a sampling of my job history, please kindly refer to my enclosed resume for additional experience and career highlights.

 

You will find me to be a results-driven creative leader who can contribute a track record of conceptualizing, developing, and implementing forward-thinking marketing strategies to improve bottom-line performance while defining business priorities and meeting targeted goals.  In addition, I can recruit, train, and manage dynamic teams within fast-paced, deadline-oriented creative environments while streamlining processes to increase productivity, efficiency, and quality.  For the sum of these aforementioned reasons, I believe I will prove to be an incredible asset to your company.

 

I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you in advance for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Yyyyyy x. yyyyyy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

 

Contact Name

Company Name

Address

City/State/Zip Code

 

Dear _______________________________:

 

I would like to thank you for providing me with the opportunity to interview for the [ Insert Job Title of Position You Interviewed For ] position currently available within your company.  Having gained a deeper insight into the job requirements, I am confident that you will find me to be an incredible asset toward achieving your goals.

 

As previously discussed, I am a performance-driven, results-focused professional who offers 18 years of solid experience in Branding / Rebranding, Concept Development Processes, Identity Design, Strategic Analysis / Planning, Trends Tracking, and Program Conception / Coordination, as well as expertise in Project Management, Team Building / Training, Budget Control, and Client Relations.  I also hold an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design from North Hennepin Community College.

 

Throughout my career, I have excelled in progressive Graphic Design, Art Director, and Creative Services / Marketing Management roles for high-profile Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, Solaris Internet Technologies, Inc., Ryan Partnership, and Thomas Design Group, to name a few, whereas I led teams toward creating forward-thinking marketing and advertising materials, consumer publications, logos, identity systems, and websites designed to drive bottom-line results, improve brand awareness, and increase respective consumer bases for such clients as 3M, Campbell s, Pepperidge Farm, Land O Lakes, Walmart, Target, and Publix, among others.  Thus, I have proven my ability to work within high-pressure, deadline-oriented environments while strategically prioritizing creative development operations, short- and long-term planning, and team workflow to maximize efficiency and quality.  For these reasons, I am confident that I can achieve success in a rewarding [ Insert Job Title ] role within your company.

 

Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.  I would like to extend my thanks once again for the enlightening interview, and look forward to a positive response from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Yyyyyy x. yyyyyy