SUMMARY
Results oriented and visionary professional with over 23 years of experience in the creative industry.

Building, managing and innovating processes to optimize and streamline cross-functional departments into a single-purpose cooperative.

Ability to collaborate with all levels and divisions of the corporate structure to set company-wide goals and the associated strategic plans to achieve them.

Personal success achieved through self-motivation, organization, tactical and analytical mindset, communication, and both visual and abstract creativity.

ELUM | 2013-PRESENT
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Stationery Company Specializing in Letterpress Cards, Stationery Products, Housewares and Tabletop Product

Envisioned, developed and implemented the strategic product development plan that supported the annual sales plan by innovating over 200 new products in 7 years, resulting in $8M in revenue, a 400% increase, maintaining an average gross profit of 40%-51%.

Sourced, established terms, and negotiated pricing with all overseas manufacturing partners since 2013.  Sourced 25 new factories in 8 years, lowering cost of goods and keeping within projected margins of 30%-50%. 

Assessed potential roadblock of increasing pricing in 2018 due to 25% tariffs on goods produced in China. Sourced, established terms and negotiated pricing with new international manufacturers in Vietnam, India, and Taiwan.

Identified need, sourced, built and managed 2 new departments for the company: Production Department and Product Development Department.

Created, revised and maintained quarterly company-wide design calendar with seasonal key account buying dates, exit factory dates, cancel dates, design timelines, and production timelines, maintaining lead times of 1 year.

Oversaw vision of differentiated product assortment from conception to completion, catering to multiple markets: Premium, Mass Market, Discount, Big Box, Internet.

Established product guidelines and capabilities to determine cost-effective product without sacrificing quality.

Drove company vision and developed branding guidelines to ensure cohesiveness of company objectives and brand identity.

Managed Marketing Department's collateral, photography, catalogues, customer profiles and website. Set quarterly social media campaigns that increased engagement, link clicks, followers.

Fostered and mentored direct reports by conducting annual reviews via quarterly S.M.A.R.T.

Conducted and participated in the review process for Goals, KPIs and annual 360-degree feedback.

Participated in weekly management meetings, implementing traction and reporting on quarterly rocks for Creative Department and conducted weekly meetings with CEO on direct reports and department status. 

Initiated the development of framework to improve the efficiency of company-wide communication between Operational Departments, Sales and Creative via Google Docs and Trello.

Organized and participated in company strategic planning meetings.

Responsible for annual Creative Department budget of $1.2M.

Collaborated with Sales Manager and CEO to identify new opportunities to expand current key accounts and establish new key accounts by developing new products. Attended key account sales meetings and worked directly with key account buyers landing 25 new key accounts since 2013, including Walgreens, Paper Source, Anthropologie, Burlington, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Staples, Papyrus, and The Container Store.

ELUM WELLNESS | 2020-2024
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Health Essentials Business Providing Personal Protective Equipment

Forecasted Covid-19 environment, envisioned and implemented a new company identity and branding, catering to capitalize on differentiating market segments such as medical facilities, grocery, convenience, and police headquarters.

Prioritized initiatives, developed and executed new product line within 6 weeks, generating $5M in revenue and maintaining a 50% gross profit margin.

Strategized and implemented cross-platform marketing campaign.

FIFTY SIX INCH DESIGNS | 2005-PRESENT
FOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Design Consulting Firm Managing Interior Design, Remodels, Space Planning, Restorations, Custom and Vintage Furniture

General Contractor managing construction teams and budgets for residential and commercial projects with budgets ranging from $10,000-$800,000.

Conceptualized and created renderings of design concepts and space planning for complete remodels and restorations.

Attended international trade shows to source fixtures, furniture and equipment for clients.

Designed, sourced and curated custom and vintage furniture.

Commissioned custom art and sculpture for clients.

HAVOC | 1997-2006
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Book Publishing and Stationery Company With International Divisions and Distribution

Responsible for conceptualization, art direction, production, printing, marketing, and packaging of all products brought to market since inception of the company resulting in over 600 new products.

Managed a department consisting of 18 licensed artists, graphic designers, production artists with an annual department budget of $950K.

Maintained an average of 62% product margin on all products and implemented new processes to decrease production error by 24%.

Coordinated Creative Department schedules with domestic and overseas manufacturers for all products and marketing collateral.

Sourced and approved written copy, accounting for 35% of product literature content.

Conceptualized and executed product and marketing photography.

Built and updated style guides to capitalize on all realms of popular culture.

Traveled worldwide to oversee product design, development and manufacturing.

Attended international industry trade shows for trends and competition.

Participated in key account sales meetings for clients such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Scholastic, Michaels, TJ Maxx, and Bed Bath Beyond.

Strategized, designed and set-up both international and domestic industry trade show booths.

Organized, conducted and participated in both Creative Department and company-wide strategic planning meetings.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Skills And Software Programs: Photography, Typography, Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Paint, Pencil 

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Procreate

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point, Google Sheets, Trello, SquareSpace, Shopify

EDUCATION
University of California of Santa Barbara | Magna Cum Laude