Experience

Nexus Direct

• United States
• Fundraising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Production Services

  • Feb 2023 - Present

  Responsible for providing direction and leadership for the production team with primary focus in the areas of print buying, direct mail processing, project management, and customer service. Set priorities for direct reports. Ensure the every day activities within the production department run smoothly by setting parameters to judge how efficiently and effectively the department is operating. Review and evaluate departmental procedures, sort through inefficiencies and provide solutions company wide. Research and implement cost saving solutions company wide. Train, mentor, and coach direct reports and other associates. Show less

• Production Manager-Print Buyer/Production Artist

  • Jul 2021 - Feb 2023

  In addition to the duties listed below for Production Manager-Print Buyer:Work on the creative team to execute creative design utilizing InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Sketch software to create or tweak artwork for direct mail and digital campaigns.Ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity of creative projects. Prioritize workflow to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.Review final copy, layouts, and content in print or digital form to ensure brand standards across color, font, print specifications and quality.Scale, crop, retouch, change layout and eliminate redundancy in copy, put the final touches on art to maintain the brand.Create mock-ups to determine that all print/production specifications are accurate and confirm design printability.Place high resolution images into artwork before releasing to printers. Collect, check and release creative and personalization files to the production team.Review print proofs and inkjets and laser lives to ensure accuracy. Show less

• Production Manager-Print Buyer

  • Jan 2020 - Jul 2021

  Coordinate and manage the proper flow of projects from planning and scheduling through completion for direct mail projects. Develop strong vendor relationships and purchase direct mail materials.Work closely with members from other departments to create and communicate schedules and ensure they are updated on a regular basis and provide timely warnings when delivery dates may be in jeopardy. Provide recommendations for alternate mail formats for cost effectiveness or time savings.Act as a liaison with service partners. Develop and maintain relationships with printers and lettershops, as well as research additional service providers to expand network of partners.Responsible for sending RFQs and negotating contracted costs with printers and lettershops. Select vendor and award project work. Schedule the details of the project to meet the mail date.Create and maintain pricing spreadsheets. Create purchase orders. Analyze direct marketing cost plan and create create estimates. Keep track of all costs through project's life cycle.Responsible for reviewing creative components to ensure specs match what was priced and included in the estimate. Review data proofs and create specific instructions to lettershops, provide John Q Sample records, package all data files, and post to lettershop.Review and understand postage options to optimize postage costs and delivery times. Complete check request for lettershop postage check and send to lettershop.Review and send personalization proofs. Route, review and approve inkjets, laser lives and insertion orders.Maintain inventory levels. Provide monthly disposition on whether to recycle or save the materials.Expense final invoices from partners and reconcile final billing costs.Update and improve Production Department's Process and Procedures manual. Help enforce and evolve agency processes and procedures. Assist other departments in understanding production procedures and train new team members. Show less



The Shopper

• General Manager/Graphic Designer

  • Jul 1986 - Jan 2020

  The Shopper is a monthly direct-mail advertising magazine with eight separate community editions. We also publish Doctor to Doctor Magazine, which reaches the medical I oversee the day-to-day business operations in sales, graphic design, editorial, finance, Human Resources, website management, and administrative functions. I Lead and motivate diverse teams in sales, production, finance, Human Resources, administration, and website management to perform as a cohesive unit to successfully deliver advertising products on time. I also put my design skills to use creating effective ads, programs, brochures, etc. Technically Proficient in the following: Microsoft Office Suite Adobe Creative Suite 4 Macintosh and PC platforms Web Update Content Management System ResQue Mail List Software Quicken Quick Books Lightroom Show less