Creative/Marketing Director

KATHY DIETIKER

**** ********** ***** ***** • ELBURN, IL • 630-***-**** • **********@*****.***

Forward-thinking, enthusiastic, growth-oriented leader with extensive experience in ideation, innovation and implementation of relevant marketing and creative strategies that successfully achieve strategic objectives and goals in highly competitive environments.

PROFILE

• 20+ years experience in marketing/communications, advertising, brand development, packaging, retail

merchandising, web initiatives, product development and POP; 18 years supervising a creative staff of up to 20

• Brand savvy leader with a proven track record of developing and executing on target marketing strategies.

• 15 years experience working on major license programs including Disney, Warner Bros., Precious Moments,

Nascar, Mary Engelbreit and John Deere

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRECIOUS MOMENTS, INC. - Director of Marketing Communications - 2007 to 2009

Delivered creative solutions as part of the team that revamped branding, retail partnerships and merchandising gaining market share and achieving EBITDA of 23% in the first year.

Successfully built in-house creative service team and developed new vendor resources that resulted in reducing overall catalog costs by 50%.

Developed successful advertising, sales collateral, merchandising statements and effective product that lead to becoming the Hallmark vendor of the year in “06 and ’07.

Spearheaded creative for the Precious Girls Club launch, restaging the brand in a high potential new market.

• Responsible for Brand communication to leverage brand efforts and generate sales across channels

• Managed overall operation of wholesale marketing department and directed design,

photography and final production of all catalogs, sell sheets, retail packaging, merchandising,

POP, advertising campaigns, signage, corporate presentations, web banners, ads and emails

• Spearheaded and executed marketing strategies and related marketing initiatives

• Tracked and monitored competitive trends, identified new product opportunities and collaborated

with product development team to manage new product concept introduction process

• Supervised and managed creative direction and production of 50,000 member Consumer Loyalty

program including annual membership kit, quarterly magazines and all collateral material

• Oversaw design direction for corporate showrooms and trade shows

• Managed overall direction of art studio including production of style guides for licensing

and art direction for product development

HARP ADVERTISING & INTERACTIVE – Creative Director & Account Executive – 2004 to 2007

Successfully cultivated and managed $1 M dollar account increasing billings by 100%

Significantly increased agency expertise in catalog, packaging and retail merchandising initiatives

• Developed, directed and managed marketing strategies and initiatives for the following clients:

illy Caffe North America, Barilla, Danone Waters, Precious Moments, Condor Airlines,

Bekin Van Lines, Ty Inc. and SMT Golf

• Directed and managed the creative, production and implementation of advertising

campaigns, web marketing initiatives, catalogs, merchandising systems, packaging,

point of purchase, videos, newsletters and direct mail campaigns

• Worked with client and internal team to understand objectives and translate into

design solutions working within budgetary parameters

ENESCO GROUP INC. – Senior Account Executive of Creative Services – 1999 to 2004

Through innovative thinking, motivational style, coupled with team–oriented attitude reduced catalog photography expenses by over 60% - a $430k savings.

Lead the creative services team to 98% on-time delivery of all projects while faced with shifts in marketing/ corporate plans all the while maintaining a target or below target budget.

Networked, negotiated and built an incredible partnership with product and marketing counterparts producing successful creative solutions resulting in increased sales in the marketplace. Nominated for employee of the year

• Developed and implemented visual strategies for the Precious Moments Brand, Hillman Properties,

Enesco Home & Garden Brand teams and the Card and Gift Channel

• Spearheaded and executed creative innovative solutions for catalogs, ads, collateral, packaging and

point of purchase; developed budgets for all

• Managed and creative directed staff of 5 designers, 2 account managers and 4 freelance designers

• Communicated and provided creative direction to overseas vendors regarding packaging and point of

purchase displays; developed project plans and negotiated with U.S. vendors for proper execution and

budget approval of services

CARON INTERNATIONAL – Director of Creative Services – 1993 to 1999

• Established an in-house creative department responsible for all advertising, packaging,

point of purchase and communication materials

• Developed new product lines from product to packaging

• Instrumental in increasing craft kit market share from 25% to 90%

• Developed licensing product lines with Disney, Warner Bros. and Nascar

• Developed and presented color and trend presentations to major accounts

• Directed design and layout of trade show booths

• Responsible for R & D budget which included product development, packaging,

advertising and communication materials

BALCOM VETILLO & DIETIKER – President – 1990-1993

• Established a successful and highly creative advertising agency with billings of $800k

• Responsible for creative direction and development for the following clients: Kmart Corporation,

City of Aurora, DEKALB Genetics, Harvestor, Counselor Borg, Hammond Suzuki, Caron International

• Developed national advertising campaigns, packaging, catalogs, signage, pops, videos and corporate

Identities for consumer products, municipalities, agricultural, and trade

• Organized and directed extensive photo shoots

EDUCATION

B.A. in Graphic Design/Communications – Northern Illinois University

Masters work in Photography – Northern Illinois University

KATHY DIETIKER • **********@*****.***

Contact this candidate