Management System

Robert (Bob) Bruno

203-***-**** *********@*****.*** Maple Grove, MN 55311 www.linkedIn.com/in/bobbruno12

Drive savings and increase profits. A multi-faceted creative thinker who blends strategic sourcing, procurement and vendor management experience with project management savvy. Change management specialist who identifies and achieves efficiencies through internal process improvements.

Demonstrated Experience and Highlights

Project lead to start up a new $5.5MM internal creative services and print production team including a print & digital production and procurement departments. Worked with internal clients to sell the benefits of the new department then followed-up by creating budgets, timelines, off-boarded former vendors, negotiated contracts with new vendors, started up new photo studio and electronic publishing system, hired 35 FTE’s and 20 seasonal contractors.

Created processes and strategically sourced a network of digital and offset printers to integrate intelligent data-driven marketing with personalized 1:1 direct mail resulting in a significant lift in response.

Worked with marketing teams and business units to direct the design, sourcing and implementation of a new photo studio and Digital Asset Management system, initiated new workflows and processes for higher quality, faster response and reduced cycle time. Communicated progress to Sr. leadership and internal clients through a series of daily/weekly meetings and group updates at both Lillian Vernon and Bluestem Brands.

Project lead to start up a new internal pre-press department, created the budget and ROI, sourced and purchased new equipment, implemented new workflows and processes, hired staff.

As project lead, started up a new internal creative agency at Micro Warehouse, converted the existing publishing group into a quick turn-around project centered team.

Led the creative project teams in re-branding Micro Warehouse, Lillian Vernon and Bluestem Brands.

Worked with a global team and internal clients to restructure European print production operations and saved $400K in one year by sourcing and negotiating new print and paper contracts with European vendors.

Chronological Experience

Creative and Marketing Consultant 2015 - present

LBR Communications, Maple Grove, MN

Sr. Procurement Manager, Indirect Strategic Sourcing

Ecolab – Star Staffing, St. Paul, MN 2014

Developed and managed the cost savings and procurement strategies for the Ecolab internal legal department.

Strategic sourcing and procurement lead for all MarComm strategies and global creative solutions including market research and agency relationships.

Lead the sourcing and procurement of the implementation for an internal Digital Asset Management system.

Solely responsible for creating a corporate print and paper purchasing strategy.

Negotiated a new global business card strategy for corporate brand consistency.

Director of Proposal Production

UnitedHealthcare – Community & State, Minnetonka, MN 2013

Updated and documented all internal processes and workflows resulting in reduced cycle time for proposal production.

Developed new processes for creative briefs, new proposal graphs and graphic elements, created graphic libraries, revised C&S SharePoint workflows which created a more consistent UHC branded proposal.

Consultant for Print Operations & Data Management

Enterprise Content Solutions, Bloomington, MN 2011 - 2012

Created processes to integrate intelligent data-driven marketing with personalized 1:1 direct mail resulting in a minimum of a 10% lift in response.

Strategically sourced a national network of digital and commercial printers to manage print procurement for Fortune 500 clients including General Mills, Ecolab, T-Mobile, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Best Buy and others.

Chronological Experience (continued)

Vice President of Creative & Print Services

Bluestem Brands (FKA - Fingerhut Direct Marketing, Inc.), Eden Prairie, MN 2008 - 2010

Saved $1.5MM by starting up an internal 35-member digital and print creative team with 6 direct reports.

Managed a $93MM print and creative production budget that included negotiating creative, print and paper contracts. Negotiated a new paper contract saving more than $2MM (10% of the paper budget) in one year.

Led a team responsible for the creative strategy and execution of all Bluestem Brands advertising materials.

Directed the design and implementation of a new photo studio and Digital Asset Management system, initiated new workflows and processes for higher quality, faster response and reduced cycle time.

Founder & Publisher of Verdant Hills Magazine and 360 of Graphic Design

LBR Communications, LLC, Southbury, CT 2004 - 2008

Directed all advertising sales, conceptual design of the publication and website, ad design, list management, printing and distribution of the magazine.

Created 360 of Graphic Design specializing in marketing creative and print production to support Verdant Hills Magazine, the new Best Buy for Business catalog program, Perkin Elmer (CT), American Van and Equipment (NJ) and MNA (ad agency in CT).

Vice President of Creative & Print Services

Lillian Vernon Corporation, White Plains, NY 2004 – 2006

Recruited to re-engineer the internal creative team and integrate new technology and processes.

Led a staff of 30 including 5 direct reports in creative strategy and execution, operations and print procurement.

Reduced production cycle times by 50% saving more than 20% of the creative budget by successfully implementing a new Digital Asset Management system, an internal pre-press team and an internal photo studio.

Streamlined creative processes and reduced head count saving an additional $1MM in 1 year.

Managed a $60MM print production budget, reduced paper costs by 5% by sourcing and negotiating with new vendors.

Group Director of Print Production, Publishing & Creative Services

Micro Warehouse, Inc., Norwalk, CT 1994 - 2003

Managed a $120MM print and creative budget and a staff of 40 FTE’s in creative operations, strategic sourcing and procurement and print production functions for all North American-based publications that included catalogs, trade advertising, direct mail and internal projects.

Successfully created savings of more than $7MM (25% of the paper budget) in one year by sourcing a new paper vendor and developing a new paper stock for the catalog programs.

Produced savings of more than $6.5MM (15% of the print budget) in one year by sourcing and utilizing new print technologies and press formats.

Completely restructured European production operations. Achieved savings of $400K in one year by sourcing and negotiating new print and paper contracts with European vendors.

Volunteering & mentoring

Founder of the St. Joseph the Worker Job Transition & Networking Group 2014 - present

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Maple Grove, MN

Lead weekly transition and networking meeting. Coach and mentor members of the group.

Coach and mentor members of the group.

Lead a group of marketing volunteers to increase brand awareness and promote more activities at SJTW to help drive more revenue for the church.

Education

Kean University, B.S. in Economics (Candidate)

Queensboro Community College, A.A.S. in Marketing

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