Creative director/marketing manager

Steve Okon

**** **** *****, ******** ** *****

Cell: 516-***-**** / email: *******@*******.***

Link to online design samples https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jjdzb1rt0j1dxmt/AABr7-BIQWOCPfREgp_r5dDOa?dl=0 Objectives

To execute the complete, unique approach to communication concepts, design and marketing. I offer extensive experience as a Creative Director, Art Director, Web Designer, Copywriter, Print Designer, Packaging Designer, and a Marketing Strategist. As a resourceful leader capable of implementing high-profile marketing programs within consumer and corporate arenas, I can develop and create integrated strategies for new/existing customer sales, brand/product evolution and media exposure. With strong and persuasive interpersonal & presentation skills. I am currently in the process of selling the business and would like to finish my career with one company as dynamic and progressive as I am. Professional Experience

April 2010 to present – Horizon Concepts

Creative Director/Owner

As the owner and Creative Director, I exhibited only the finest in all aspects of creative design and developing the strategies to make them work for the customer. My persuasive selling capabilities and presentation skills enabled me to acquire dozens of customers that required the personal touch. My ability to see the vision of their brand, resulted in a rapid brand recognition system that elevated sales between fifteen and twenty-five percent. Here is a summary of accomplishments.

Complete creative direction for all projects, print & web. Created over three-hundred new projects.

Graphics, copy and concepts for all digital, web, mobile, print, direct mail and wide format signage.

Managed staff of six designers, four sales people and office personnel. Mentored and aided the sales staff to generate over half-a-million dollars in billings.

Developed, created and delivered all sales presentations to perspective clients. Obtained over thirty-five new customers and contracts.

Managed and attended all photo shoots for print & web projects. Attended over one-hundred shoots.

Follow up with research and tracking results. Determined the most effective avenues to invest in.

Work with all outside vendors to ensure accuracy, pricing and completion. Saved customers approx. eighty to one-hundred thousand dollars by ganging projects and working with volume discounts from vendors. The customer base ranged from retail, to corporate, to non-profit, and includes dozens of city, state and local facilities. Below is a sampling of our tristate regional clients:

Simon Malls (including Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Mall, Smithaven Mall)

Westfield Malls (including Sunrise Mall & South Shore Mall)

Huntington Learning Centers (Five boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey)

Multiple state municipalities and tourist departments

Suffolk County Community College

SUNY Old Westbury College

Suffolk County Water Authority

East Wind Inn & Resort

A complete reference package is available upon request, including over one-hundred regional and national design awards.

September 2008 to January 2010 – Cablevision, Melville, NY

Sr. Art Director – Newsday Media Group

Working in the Newsday Media Group, I was exposed to mass-media projects, online promotions, printing & publishing as well as website development and enhancements.

Worked with the Creative Services Group to help develop strategy, artwork and branding for multiple publishing projects via promotion, direct mail and print advertising. Obtained over twenty-five new customers.

Assisted in evaluating penetration possibilities of the brand, including direct mail, web and broadcast.

Redesigned several pages of their websites adding color, Flash elements and navigation ease.

Learned with Java script and HTML coding when applicable and necessary March 1998 to September 2008 - Canon U.S.A., New Hyde Park, NY

Creative Services Manager – Service Marketing Group Managed staff of four. Worked hands-on with all the product marketing groups, creating branding and strategic avenues for sales revenue. I was able to create strategic formulas for new product exposure via the web and printed materials. From market research to demographics to photo shoots to execution of campaign programs, all projects started and ended at my desk. I created and coordinated the schedule, budget and execution of all dealer and customer related materials. Managed the printing budget of over two million dollars annually for entire division. Saved an average of one- hundred thousand dollars annually by carefully ganging jobs together for cost reductions. Printing, Packaging & Photo Shoots:

Via aggressive pricing, research and gang-run printing jobs, saved company approx. $110,000 annually.

Regularly attended new product photo shoots for cameras and printers, including shoots with Maria Sharipova and other tennis celebrities. Assisted is creative direction and execution.

Designed & created all printed materials for the entire dealer network. Savings by creating work in-house averaged $20,000-$30,000 per quarter.

Maintained all printing budgets (approx. two million annually)

Structured the outlines for Branding Strategies & promotional marketing events

Designed & created Product Brochures & Sales Kit Packaging for the sale of equipment & software

Produced technical documentation CD’s & Product Packaging for extended warranty program. Saved approx. $250,000 annually in printing costs by creating electronic versions.

Produced all materials for trade shows, seminars & conferences, including brochures & signage Web-site Creation & Multi-Media Experience:

Worked extensively with various product marketing groups to create on-line marketing campaigns and incentives for the dealers to purchase programs, including Training programs, Warranty programs, etc.

Created Video presentations for dealer meetings and trade show display

Creative execution and production of web pages, consisting of spotlights, marketing promotions and interactive strategies for the dealer network of over 14,000 users. Increased views and subscriptions by approx. 27%

Personally developed and delegated creation of web templates, banners, animation and color schemes for multiple websites to keep the dealers informed and give them the opportunity to respond, purchase or download information regarding the servicing of the product. Increased hits by 23%.

Daily expert use of Dreamweaver, Flash and After Effects for creation of pages and animations. Saved approx. $35,000 annually by creating in-house graphics and templates.

Managed the monitoring of Web Trends, web tracking software to keep track of hits, views and downloads. Information was used to determine areas that needed more exposure and areas that were not producing the optimum results.

Experience with Java scripting and HTML coding when applicable and necessary Production Manager/Art Director for Lord & Taylor, New York for 10 years. Produced all ads, circulars, catalogs and direct mail for all 52 stores. Managed store opening promotions and dealt with 35 national newspapers and magazines. Education:

Farmingdale State University - AAS Degree - Major concentration in Advertising - Minor in Economics Syracuse University - BFA Degree - Major concentration in Advertising/Public Relations - Minor in Economics Computer Literacy

Web and Print Creation: Adobe Create Cloud: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, After Effects & Dreamweaver Microsoft Programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Created over one-hundred presentations including animation. Honors and Awards

Over 90 graphic design awards have been awarded for my work. This is combined between The Long Island Advertising Club (BOLI Awards) and the American Graphic Design Awards. All awards viewable on request.

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