DYNAMIC // Art Director and Creative Professional with 20+ years of experience in design for publishing, marketing, special events, and corporate applications. Expertise in managing global licensed brands and providing inspired leadership. Dynamic team player with “no task is too small” attitude and exceptional communication skills who excels at building and maintaining employee/client/vendor relations. Accustomed to managing multiple projects under hard deadlines and budget constraints.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Adobe CS; MS Office; Skype/Teams (remote work); digital retouching; event/trade show booth assembly; proofreading and copyediting

WORK EXPERIENCE

Scandinavian Tobacco Group | Bethlehem, PA
Art Director | Jan. 2020—Present
Graphic Designer | Jan 2016 – Dec 2019

• Manage and mentor a team of 8 high-potential designers
• Review and approve work at key stages of projects
• Develop workflows that integrate input and feedback from fellow creatives, 
merchants, marketing, and planning partners
• Direct the creation of performance-driven full-color catalogs, mailers, product promotions, web graphics, and event collateral
• Partner with photographers, social media team, video producers, merchants, and designers to ensure deliverables align with business unit branding
• Provide thoughtful and composed leadership in a rapidly-changing environment

Graphic Design Professional | 2006—Present
• Successfully execute and manage design projects from creation to completion for diverse clientele ranging from non-profits to global publishers
• Source wide range of specialty paper stocks; employ special printing processes including foiling, embossing, diecutting
• Spec jobs; put them out to bid; negotiate for most competitive pricing; release print-ready files; oversee quality assurance of printing process
• Produce, assemble, and hand-construct multi-piece invitations, dummies, samples

Hyperion Books | Feb. 2013—Sep. 2013
Art and Design Coordinator
• Provide creative and administrative support to art and design departments
• Negotiate and clear cover image rights 
• Process all vendor invoices through SAP; track to ensure timely payment
• Manage centralized archive of all creative billings
• Liaise between vendors and A/P; troubleshoot any problems
• Assist in designing cover mechanicals, preparing binding dies and cases

Guideposts Books | Jan. 2010—Nov. 2010
On-Staff Freelance Designer
• Responsible for design and layout of sample book interiors with corresponding typesetter specs
• Created cover mechanicals for both trade and direct-mail titles
• Provided administrative support to Creative Director

Reader’s Digest | 1999–2006
Assistant Art Director, Select Editions
Senior Designer, Children’s Publishing
• Designed numerous fiction and non-fiction book covers, cases, interiors, newsletters, and inserts for direct-mail subscriber programs
• Received a “Top Performer” award for designing a direct-mail piece that was ultimately selected for the promotional campaign
• Streamlined departmental operating procedures for the core business that resulted in cost savings
• Developed original formats and guided design for global licenses such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Mattel, Sesame Street, and Fisher-Price
• Designed books with interactive or novelty features such as flaps, die-cuts, embedded electronic elements, and toy components
• Managed design teams of illustrators, photographers, and freelancers

Random House Children’s Publishing | 1994—1999
Senior Designer
• Set creative direction for books involving major licenses such as Star Wars, Godzilla, Sesame Street, and Dr. Seuss
• Directed illustrators, photographers, and talent; styled photo shoots
• Designed YA book covers and typeset interiors
• Rose from an entry-level to senior-level design position through two promotions in four years

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Pro Bono Design Work
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley
• Forever Jordan Foundation

Orange County Parents of Multiples
• Current President, 2014
• Event Coordinator and Board Member

Toastmasters International
• Served as president and secretary of Reader’s Digest chapter
• Two-time winner of club speaking contest (humor and international)

President’s Volunteer Service Award

EDUCATION

Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Bachelor of Science | 1993

Ongoing coursework in emerging media and digital technology