Sourcing Manager

M. DAVIS CRESS

***-** **

TH

Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Ph.: 718-***-****; Email: *******@***.***

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

DIRECT MAIL & PRINT PRODUCION SOURCING MANAGER

Print Production Cost Reduction Schedule Reduction Vendor Relations Creative Consulting Strategic Planning Collaboration Financial Control and Reporting Principled Leadership Experienced manager with a track record developing production strategies in support of marketing goals for complex print campaigns and large volume mailings in a testing environment. Tactical expertise to improve and streamline complex programs / processes, while beating cost control objectives and raising marketing efficiencies. Leadership skills with ability to envision future contingencies, drive ongoing enhancements, promote working partnerships, and motivate staff for optimum corporate growth.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Accomplished strategist, negotiator, organizer, and facilitator. Mentor and team builder. Keen understanding of complex production workflows. Strong cost management solution analysis and presentation. Solid knowledge of in-line mail packages, web, sheetfed, flexo, digital printing; database management, imaging, lettershop, postal service. Work well under pressure. SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Developed multiple front-end / SQL with back-end server Microsoft Access based applications. Apps captured all print buying activity and vendor sourcing metrics for reporting to Taylor Communications and Staples senior management.

• Slashed in-line mail package print cost 35%, saving $5M annually over 7 years for BMG Columbia House. Sourced in-line printers for successful customer acquisition mail program and delivered superior printed product, while cutting rollout cost from

$70/M to $45/M.

• Created Leveraged Vendor Purchasing Program for BMG CH, cutting costs $1M annually. Developed annual contract purchasing specifications. Researched vendors for RFPs. Evaluated proposals and awarded vendors with annual printing of promotional material(s). Resulting Rate Card reduced costs and streamlined estimates while ensuring timely quality production.

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• Fostered international Bertlesmann collaboration and achieved significant cost savings. During cutbacks, lead autonomous consumer packaged goods divisions (BMG Entertainment, Bookspan, CDNow, Random House, and European Book Clubs) to leverage paper purchasing.

• Saved $1M annually in direct mail costs for AOL with unique price policy. New consumer rate plan resulted in overtaxed server capacity. AOL significantly reduced new customer mail solicitations; reduced mail volumes should have increased CPM. Instead, negotiated vendor pricing lower than the higher volume programs, saving $1M annually.

• Conceived integrated AOL internet workflow system to improve production efficiencies. Recruited as turnaround manager, developed web-based interface system to streamline direct mail production, increase project accuracy, document project instructions, and promote interdepartmental teamwork. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Skills PC or Apple, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Office, MS Access, FileMaker Pro, SAP, Baan, Procure, and more. High comfort level learning new software applications.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP - New York, NY 01/2016 – 07/2020 Acquired wholly-owned subsidiary Staples Print Solutions; a national brokerage operation, specializing in print, direct mail production, and forms management. Senior print Sourcing Analyst for Taylor's largest account, Staples. Sourced vendors for Staples Advantage online print product ordering programs for large, national healthcare providers. STAPLES PRINT SOLUTIONS (SPS) - New York, NY 01/2009 – 07/2016 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Staples "that was easy" - SPS is a national brokerage operation, specializing in print, direct mail production, and forms management. Tri-State Print Sourcing Group Manager

Hired from consultant contract position to Tri-State Print Group Manager with five direct reports in the New York office. The position shares bottom line responsibility with the sales group for a

$15 million regional print brokerage profit center. This is a hands-on print, direct mail production manager position responsible for establishing team performance metrics, mentoring, and performance evaluations - 2012 winner of the Staples "Inspired Excellence Award." Revamped the department's antiquated manual paper based process to a metric enriched electronic data base work flow system based on Microsoft Access programming. SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT - New York, NY 01/2005 - 01/2009 Consultant to major NY based agencies and corporations. Consultant Contractor

Performed print and direct mail production management audit for The Horah Group client ALM. Supervised a range of special marketing projects for Showtime Networks. Provided retail collateral branding press approvals for TBWA \ Tequila client Sprint Nextel. Managed print and P a g e 3

direct mail projects for major accounts resulting from the Staples $4 billion acquisition of Corporate Express.

BMG COLUMBIA HOUSE - New York, NY 01/1997 - 01/2005 The world's largest direct-to-consumer packaged goods distributor of music and movies. Senior Director, Marketing Operations

Promoted from Production Manager within six months. Saved company $45M over 8 years. Standardized policies to manage $60M annual budget for a range of complex, large volume print and direct mail programs. Streamlined production times, improved print quality, reduced complexity, and accelerated in-home delivery. Introduced new mail preparation methods to improve early campaign result reads for test and control panels. Responsible for fulfillment, packaged inserts, print ads, FSIs, onserts, etc. Implemented innovation and technology changes in print, paper, inventory management, logistics, postage, mail tracking and preparation, among others. Wrote quarterly management appraisals and financial reports for corporate budget control. Recruited, supervised, mentored and evaluated seven print buyers, three logistical managers, and Digital Studio of fourteen. Over 800 million pieces mailed annually. AMERICA ONLINE - Dulles, VA 1996 - 1997

Global Internet services and media company operated by Time Warner. Director, Print & Direct Mail Production

Hired as department turnaround manager. Restructured department. Developed web-based interface system to streamline production, increase project accuracy, document project instructions, and promote interdepartmental teamwork. Introduced innovative web offset printing technology for board stock packaging that reduced costs and expedited CD disk mailings. Negotiated vendor pricing reduction, saving over $1M per annum even as AOL slashed marketing program budgets. Managed staff of twelve and budget of $35M. Mailed about 500 million acquisition packages annually.

G2 DIRECT & DIGITAL - New York, NY 1995 - 1996

Multi-channel communications partner of $1 billion Grey Global leader. Director, Print & Direct Mail Production

Awarded recognition from FTD for introducing technology that improved graphic reproduction of floral product catalogs. Awarded recognition from JPMorgan Chase for seamlessly managing complex Chase Bankcards customer acquisition programs of 100 panels, 700 million pieces annually; included direct mail, collateral, branch signage, brochures, print ads and statement inserts.

CMB DIRECT MARKETING, INC. - New Rochelle, NY 1985 - 1995 Self-owned direct marketing agency specializing in direct mail and print campaigns. Principal, Account Supervisor

Founded agency and conceived strategies to acquire, supervise and develop client relationships. Managed creative processes; edited copy and evaluated graphic design. Developed and presented direct marketing programs and multi-channel advertising campaigns. Managed forecasting of revenues and expenses, budgeting and financial controls, capital investment and banking relationships. Supervised staff of twelve to twenty. Acquired accounts: Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, Republic National Bank, E.F. Hutton, Axe-Houghton, Metromedia, among others. Twice awarded outstanding Citibank DM agency by John Reed, Chairman, for service excellence.

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CITIBANK, N.A. - Melville, NY 1983 - 1985

Consumer, corporate banking arm of Citigroup, one of the world's largest financial services firms.

Marketing Product Manager

Responsible for credit related product and services via Citibank's retail banking division. Developed and managed advertising and direct mail programs to support retail sales of first and second mortgages, overdraft checking, and revolving checking lines of credit. Introduced demographic list enhancement and regression analysis to improve targeting of Equity Source Account mail programs. Front-end response improved by 600% while back-end lead-to- conversion doubled from highly pre-qualified lists. EDUCATION CERTIFICATION

MBA, Finance, BS, Marketing, New York University, Stern School of Business PPPC Certification, Print Communications Professionals International ENDORSEMENTS

a highly capable print and direct mail Team Leader...intelligent, resourceful, dependable, and detail oriented...focus on improving production processes...resolved issues well before they became formidable problems." April 21, 2009

Gary Gresham, Senior VP & General Manager Operations Managed Davis indirectly at BMG Columbia House

a remarkable ability to leverage volume purchases and realize dramatic cost savings...brings a sharp focus to workflow processes and problem-solving contingency plans, resulting in dependable, seamless, and efficient execution of campaigns, time and again." April 30, 2009

Michael Moroney, Senior VP, Creative and Content Managed Davis at BMG Columbia House

a remarkable ability to provide creative thinking from a production perspective to enhance our marketing efforts. Whether it was cost savings, cutting time out of the schedule to allow for quicker turn-around, or finding the right partner to execute new and innovative creative concepts, Davis provided the expertise and leadership to accomplish our marketing objectives." May 15, 2009

John Sandklev, Senior Director, Marketing

Worked with Davis at BMG Columbia House

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