Starting Up Customer

George Ray Dake

Garland, TX 972-***-**** *****@*******.*** linkedin.com/in/ray-dake-61b6a913/

Director of Marketing

Accomplished leader with extensive history of effectively managing all aspects of marketing for organizations in the sign and construction industries. Adept at developing and implementing robust marketing strategies that significantly elevate revenues and facilitate rapid organizational growth. Proven ability to hire, train, lead, and mentor dedicated, high-performance teams. Demonstrated talent for streamlining operations, increasing productivity, and adding efficiency by creating and instilling process improvements. Record of effectively leading complex projects and programs. Recognized by customers, colleagues, and organizational leaders as insightful, resourceful problem-solver with exceptional relationship-building, collaboration, and communication skills.

Areas of Expertise

B2B Marketing Strategic Planning Campaign Leadership Market Analysis Project Management & Tracking Program Development & Management Business Development Team Leadership & Training Negotiation Customer Relationship Management Art Direction Regulatory Compliance Cost Reduction Subcontractor Management M&A Process Improvement Change Management Vendor Relations Business Management

Selected Professional Highlights

Leveraged $10K in seed capital to grow Paradise Signs, Inc. to $3M annual gross within 18 months and gain industry reputation as a viable full-service sign manufacturing company; earned and maintained the trust of well-known national customer companies.

Awarded twice for overall multi-use of sign fabrication in 1994 and for most creative sign in 1995 by Sign of the Times.

Played key role in $9M merger of Turner Sign Systems with Paradise Signs, which simplified use of subcontractors nationwide.

Professional Experience

Turner Sign Systems Grand Prairie, TX 2016 2022

$18M national company that provides designs, fabricates, and installs signage to both small and large business customers; serves as main prime supplier to several national, muti-location companies.

Director of Marketing

Lead all aspects of marketing to facilitate the sale of signs to both existing and new customers; contribute to 11% annual increase in revenues.

Maintain relationships with customers to identify their needs and develop solutions.

Oversee the creation of art, obtain customer approval, and transform all art into proposals.

Ensure sign compliance with city codes and obtain approval for permits and from property owners.

Work with support staff to track and monitor all projects; provide daily and weekly project reporting to customers.

Coordinate weekly production meetings to update delivery timelines and communicate to project managers and customers.

Collaborate with project managers and staff to generate information for surveys on customer sites, which facilitates the generation of proposals and contracts.

Generate new business ($1M in three years) and expand market awareness by attending trade shows and industry conventions.

Key Accomplishments:

Ensured that all team members conformed to established project processes by creating, implementing, and enforcing compliance with an internal guideline document.

Improved employee satisfaction and productivity by eliminating micromanagement and instilling a culture of equality and appreciation.

Established a bi-weekly one-on-one meeting with each salesperson to generate new business.

Defined Paid Time Off (PTO) guidelines for employees.

Paradise Signs, Inc. Dallas, TX 2005 2016

$3M startup national sign company providing turnkey property identification from lease to installation of signage.

Founder / President

Drove all aspects of starting up company, including hiring, training, and leading a staff of 12 employees, including six full-time project managers.

Introduced company to market by traveling locally and nationwide and participating in industry shows.

Established relationships with vendors and negotiated terms of payment for projects.

Implemented a pre-production flowchart and reviewed with staff to ensure seamless project execution.

Key Accomplishments:

Ensured on-time payments to all employees, subcontractors, vendors, taxes, 401K, and company share by establishing five separate bank accounts.

Set up a safe harbor 401K program that contributed 3% to employees not participating in 401K.

A-erO Tech Graphics Balch Springs, TX 1996 2004

National fully licensed electrical sign company.

Director of Marketing

Oversaw all aspects and functions of companys marketing efforts; managed a team of six.

Maintained strong customer relationships by conducting meetings and conference calls on a daily and weekly basis.

Ensured all project timelines were met by working closely with Production Department.

Traveled to customer job sites to inspect progress of construction and provide updates to customers.

Coordinated weekly meetings with support staff to optimize communications regarding all projects.

Key Accomplishments:

Promoted market awareness of company by traveling to industry and customer shows; increased business with major client by 95% (~$1.5M per year).

Decreased companys wholesale work percentage from 80% to less than 5%; increased profit by ~40%.

Resolved issue regarding late payments to subcontractors; ensured consistent, on-time payments.

Reduced debt to bank from $1.5M to zero within 15 months; leveraged additional profits to construct two new buildings and add one new crane truck and two bucket trucks.

Replaced underperforming employees while maintaining continuity of operations.

Convinced company owner to stop withholding payments to vendors and employees, which improved company reputation.

Education

Bachelor of Arts Business Management, Marketing & Related Support Services

University of Missouri at St. Louis

Memberships

International Sign Association (ISA) - Member

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