CRAIG D. SWANSON

Cedar Rapids, IA 319-***-**** acvo8f@r.postjobfree.com

SENIOR OPERATIONS / PRODUCTION MANAGER

Process Optimization / Production Planning / Multi-Site / Productivity / Cost Reduction

Project Management / Quality / Database Management / Vendor Relations / Team Development

Designed and reengineered processes, uncovering cost savings opportunities and resolving demanding production operations challenges. Crafted operating improvement plans invaluable when technical, logistical and economic pressures threatened to increase costs, inhibit productivity and lessen product competitiveness. Skilled in:

Maximizing productivity

Overhauling ineffective methods

Extracting maximum return on every dollar

Creating team buy-in and support for critical initiatives

Turning operational metrics into production leadership benchmarks

Establishing profitability despite competitive, economic and organizational obstacles

BA Psychology, Eastern Illinois University.

Key Achievements

Cut hibü’s data costs by $7M. The cost of acquiring data for directory products had been increasing. Researched alternative data vendors. Reduced costs by $3.5M a year. Lowered data expenses by an additional $1M / year by automating all remaining manual work. At the conclusion of contract, once again secured agreement with a new vendor, providing an even more robust database, and shaving another $2.5M from hibü’s data costs.

Strengthened data quality. Certified Marketing Representatives were concerned with the accuracy of hibü’s courtesy listings of customer information under Yellow Pages headings. Established national listings maintenance team to create and maintain a courtesy listings database that exceeded quality standards. Additional staffing costs were more than offset by expanded national sales due to this quality improvement.

Ensured quality of data from suppliers. McLeodUSA Publishing Company’s fast growth outpaced its ability to monitor and assure quality of data purchased from telephone companies. Validated missing and erroneous data. Dropped major error events involving large amounts of missing data from five to six annually down to zero.

Assured consistent realization of quality goals during complex operational integration. Acquisition of Consolidated Communications Directories by McLeodUSA created need for additional directory production capacity. Ensured that productivity and quality metrics met or exceeded rigorous standards.

Adjusted production time allocations, minimizing missed deadlines. Directory print jobs, large or small, were allotted the same 45-day production windows. Large projects routinely “stole” project time from smaller jobs, and both types were missing deadlines. Defined project needs to more appropriately plan for and commit to deadlines. Cut printing delays by 50% the first year while providing more time for Sales to add revenue for each directory.

Career Summary

Senior Manager - Data Acquisition and Cleansing, hibü (formerly Yellowbook), 2002 to 2015. Sourced, data tested, and managed data vendors for both print and digital products with this directories publisher. Negotiated vendor and directory publication contracts. Reduced overall data costs by $7M+. Ensured that data sourcing and quality supported business requirements. Directed team of 15.

Senior Manager - Database Research Analysis, McLeodUSA Publishing Company (acquired by Yellowbook), 2000 to 2002. Developed listings management system. As leader of Universal Database Project, instituted system improvements, and rewrote production, sales support and customer service processes. Led listing procurement team of 26 in contracting for purchase of publishable listings at advantageous prices. Controlled $10M budget.

Senior Manager - White and Yellow Page Production, McLeodUSA Publishing Company, 1997 to 2000. Planned and managed scalable production of telephone directories for flexibility during both peak and low production demand periods. Elevated productivity and quality standards from acceptable to outstanding. Participated in development of new remote production facility startup. Improved on-time delivery statistics to over 99%. Headed team of 65.

Prior: Senior Manager - Directory Production at Consolidated Communications Directories. Market Support Manager and Unit Manager with Allstate Insurance Company.