Shirley Smith
Arlington, Texas 76002
469-***-**** / ******@***.*** / www.linkedin.com/in/shirleysmithknowsprinting
Print Production Manager
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
A detail-focused, articulate, and dedicated professional with solid experience in planning and coordinating work
flow of print and other graphic projects. Able to set schedules, determine priorities, and guide work flow to
completion on time, in budget, and error free. Highly motivated and recognized for responding to continuous
challenges in fast-paced environments, building and maintaining client satisfaction, as well as continually
improving processes to ensure successful products while maximizing profits. Key strengths:
• Project Management • Traffic Coordinator • Organization • Multi-tasking • Communication
• Production Manager • Problem Solving • Operations • Planning/Coordinating
• Vendor and Client Relations • Procurement • Quality Control • Negotiating
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Our365 – Newborn Photographer 2010-present
• Make babies and families first professional photographs together and separately with little supervision in
hospital,
• Schedule sessions and sell photo packages and keepsake accessories.
American Paint Horse Association – Print Production Coordinator 2008-2009
• Managed contracts for publication of 4 periodic magazines, with varying specifications and printers;
included providing mail lists, preparing ad/edit ratio, print orders, and all paperwork necessary, while
coordinating printing and mailing with out-of-state printer, mail service, and USPS to meet exact deadlines
and within annual budget of $750,000 for printing and mailing of 2 magazines. Wrote specifications,
managed buying, and awarding bids for printing and specifications of other 2 magazines.
• Additionally, skillfully coordinated (30 or more, primarily marketing) printing projects, writing and
submitting RFP/RFQ to outside vendors, negotiating with vendors for best prices and quality, according to
client budget, making adjustments as needed to satisfy the client and all quality requirements.
• Managed documentation of all projects and reports for association’s administration and board.
• Also set schedules and moved all projects (including magazines) through production and fulfillment or delivery.
Baptist General Convention of Texas – Production Manager/Assistant in
Marketing/Creative Services 2004-2008
• Worked with design/graphics team and advertising agency to manage print production, writing
specifications, securing quotes, making site visits, awarding projects, and determining alternative printing
methods to meet client’s requirements.
• Negotiated with numerous printers, vendors and mail houses based on their specialty, bringing cost savings
to organization without compromising quality or deadlines.
• Investigated and compared project management systems before recommending a successful web-based one
that was used for scheduling, tracking, and archiving of all project information.
• Reviewed all invoices for accuracy and followed through with department if payment problems arose. Was
instrumental in changing the billing system of the primary newspaper in which the BGCT advertised in
order to eliminate errors in billing.
Grand Prairie Times – Managing Editor 2003-2004
• Edited and wrote news and feature stories, took photos used for final product, laid out pages, and prepared
and approved files for publication.
• Managed the office staff, freelancers, and graphic designers of advertisements of 8–10 persons.
Motheral Printing – Production Coordinator-Customer Service 2002
• Oversaw workflow from receiving of job from estimating to final completion using Print Management System (PSI)
for large commercial printing jobs on web and sheet-fed presses.
• Acted as primary facilitator between customer, sales and production in seeing that proofing, pre-press, printing,
bindery, delivery, and invoicing was to client’s satisfaction.
The Newsletter Company – Senior Account Manager-Account Executive 1999-2001
• Supervised and produced periodic newsletters from inception through print, purchasing, writing, layout and design,
editing, proofreading, printing, and fulfillment in agency-like environment.
• Researched expenses and formulated plans for savings on printing, materials, and fulfillment.
• Developed largest revenue-producing newsletter account while continually improving quality.
• Documented, wrote and edited comprehensive Training Manual and Systems and Procedures Manuals for several
accounts. Provided a standardized way accounts were managed and newsletters were produced.
The Advertiser Company – General (Advertising) Manager 1994-1999
• Managed government contract for publishing an award-winning, weekly, military newspaper, never missing
publication date and continually maintaining successful contract relationship with Public Affairs Office.
• Established and oversaw all day-to-day operations, systems and procedures, including scheduling, budgeting,
purchasing, and preparing reports; responsible for budget profit and loss and setting and meeting sales goals.
• Negotiated vendor pricing and advertiser contracts, saving the company $1500 per month by contracting with a new
printer, shortening the time for printing, and improving the print quality.
• Increased revenue on a regular basis, resulting in 100% increase in profits and $42,000 increase in revenue.
Income Builders International - Graphic Designer and Office Manager 1993-1994
• Designed and produced a book, brochures, booklets, and other promotional printed material.
• Reduced book publishing time and cost by one-third by creative problem solving and cost-effective vendor
selection.
Louisiana State University Press - Assistant Production Manager 1990-1992
• Coordinated and wrote bid specifications for annual contracts for printing and paper. Prepared each book
estimate and actual production plan cost.
• Designed, prepared, scheduled printing and fulfillment of perfect and hard bound books from contract printers.
• Saved thousands of dollars by determining/correcting overcharges of contract quotes and vendor invoices.
EDUCATION
Mississippi College - BA in Graphic Arts
Relevant courses completed:
•
• How to Supervise People • Professional Communications
• Team Building • In-house BGCT computer courses
• Proofreading • Courses in SLR Digital Photography
Computer Skills:
• PC – Outlook 2007, Excel 2007, Word 2007, Access 2007, PageMaker 4.0, QuarkXPress 5.0, Adobe
Photoshop CS4, Adobe Acrobat 8.0, Marketing Central, Financial Edge, Razor’s Edge
• Macintosh – QuarkXPress 7.1, Excel, Word, Adobe Photoshop CS3, FileMaker Pro, Adobe Distiller
6.0.1, Font Reserve and Mail 2.1.3