Sales Director

KAREN L. GESTAUTAS

**** ******** ******** *****, ******, Illinois 60439

630-***-****, e-mail: *****.*********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Winston Brands, Elk Grove Village, IL 2/2011 – 6/2011 (4 months)

Art Director

Directs catalog design and photography for the Collections, Etc. catalogs. Includes

annually, 60 catalogs (64-96 pages each). Responsibilities include supervision of senior

graphic designer who assisted in production of catalogs. Interaction between

e-commerce and catalog merchandising and outside creative and production sourcing,

as well as in house studio photographers and stylists. Also wrote poetry and verses for

original product designed in house. Maintained budget, negotiation with vendors.

Personal Creations, Lemont, IL 6/2007 – 2/2011

Director of Advertising

Directs all advertising for the company specializing in personalized merchandise.

Including annually, 11 catalogs (72-100 pages each), email program (minimum 1 per

week), homepage (minimum 1 per week). Also various affiliate projects throughout the

year, ranging from collateral materials to catalogs, web banner and ads. Responsibilities

include: branding of all company materials, design, photo art direction, layout. Interaction

between e-commerce and catalog merchandising and outside creative and production

sourcing. Also, synergize wholesale department with affiliates (ensured affiliates

received tools they require to activate sales). Also wrote poetry and verses for original

product designed in house. Maintain budget, negotiated with vendors to improve quality

and quantity produced for less.

RR Donnelley & Sons, Inc. Premedia Technologies, Elgin,IL 2003 - 2007

Lead Advertising Coordinator

Coordinates the execution and production of monthly circular and specialty projects,

maintaining standards of quality and consistency, enforcing schedule. Acts as liason

between merchandising, marketing, advertising and retail dealerships. Manages

activities and duties of coordinating staff. Initiates innovation for improvement of project

flow; assures accuracy of information. Provides feedback to IT and management on

progress of initiation of new circular management program. Works with outside vendor to

provide satisfaction and communicates updates to client.

Photo Coordinator

Arranges the execution of photography, maintaining standards of quality and

consistency, while adhering to strict budget and schedule.

Interacts with vendors and agencies to acquire additional images.

Manipulates photography when adjustment is necessary.

Initiates innovation for archiving, monitors techniques for constant improvement.

Coordinates between client and staff for complete customer satisfaction and follow up.

Freelance Art Director (Self-employed) 2002 – 2003

Directed various projects with a variety of agencies.

Karen L. Gestautas, Page Two

Spiegel, Inc. Downers Grove, IL 1986 - 2002

Senior Art Director (1998-2002)

Develops concepts stemming from extensive market research, creative design utilizing

ideas from interaction with marketing, merchandising and advertising.

Directs resources providing them all the information they need to execute properly.

Emphasizes cost-cutting planning with both new and existing artwork usage.

Consistently comes in under budget for all projects.

• Developed a system for archival of digital imaging and uniform instruction to

studio for smoother completion of project.

• Consistently managed most profitable sections from season to season.

• Initiated use of digital photography; documented process for department.

• Acted as mentor for assistant art director (new hire).

Freelance Art Director (Self-employed) 1991 - 1998

Directed the process of production of high volume catalog projects including:

• White Sale (minimum 88 pages)- 4 per year

• Discover - a prospecting device- 5 per year

• Home Stuffers - ride-along with an order

• Anniversary sale (108 pages) -1 per year

Conducted line closing, initiated design, provided thumbnail layouts to layout artist,

maintained communication with merchandise associates throughout project, directed

photography and set design, performed complete markup on releases and followed

through with production staff on final printing of job, viewing proofs at all stages.

Associate Art Director (1988-1991)

Reporting to Art Director, responsible for Electronics section of Spiegel Big Book.

• Developed new format to simplify buying process for customer.

• Used cartoon artist for editorial spots designed to add humor and inform; sales

increased and section size was increased from 16 to 34 pages.

Copywriter (1986-1988)

Wrote sales copy for catalog merchandise. Handled solo projects and editing.

.

Key Litho Corp., Chicago, IL 1983-1986

Graphic Designer

Layout and finished art, type specification and camera work. Worked directly with

pressman to achieve specified results. Also responsible for customer relations.

• Designed a system using the CompuGraphic 7500 typesetter and an IBM

computer to improve speed and quality of production.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL

(Art major, Psychology minor)

Karen L. Gestautas, Page Three

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

National Photographers: Michael Venera, Jim Cooper, Pieter Estersohn,

Steven McDonald, Peter Rosenbaum, Diane Giancaspro,

William Waldron, Steven McDonald

Chicago studios: Pirrello Digital Imaging, Pettersen Associates, GSP Productions,

Black Box, Centerpoint, Hartland, Silver Lining Graphics, Nugent Wenckus, WFM,

Big Deahl, Nobart, Kranzten

Stylists: John Wagner, Betsy Shaver, John Harrelson, Stephen Earle, Steven Pappas,

Kemper Hyers, Carolyn Lawrence, Steve Sams, Laura Grosbeck,

Jeff O’Shea, Lisa Gose, Danita Cherney, Laurel Tzietze, Caroline Krizak, Pat Darre,

Hodges Williams

PROGRAMS

Mac and PC literate. Quark, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat,

FileMaker Pro, Word, Excel

Experience in the following catalog management programs: Promotion Manager,

Connect 3, Dataflow, Media Bank, Cumulus, Teams, Pindar.

Contact this candidate