Billie Yuzwa
Powell,OH
Summary
Proven Project Manager with 25+ years of experience in managing creative projects from beginning to end, to include packaging, POP, photography, direct mail, email, and more. Easily develops rapport with individuals at all levels to build teams and long lasting professional relationships. Efficiently resolves issues and manages timelines for multiple projects simultaneously under very tight deadlines. Well trusted by clients, coworkers and vendors. Dedicated professional focused on results.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Creative Project Manager
American Freight Appliances & Furniture
01.2023 - Current
- Manage and mentor a team of creatives, including designers, a copywriter, a videographer and a photographer
- Oversee production of creative assets for print, digital, photography, email, video
- PM and direct all photography and video shoots
- Manage and approve all creative projects including digital, social media, web, print, POS, direct mail, training, outdoor, TV, radio
- Nominated by senior leadership and CMO to participate in the FRLA (Future Ready Leadership Academy)
- Implemented and managed RFP process for new PM system, WRIKE as well as a new preferred print vendor
- Trained company on WRIKE
- Administrate WRIKE for entire company
- Recipient of 7 awards for exemplifying the company core values - Teamwork x 2, Value Obsessed, Culture Champion, Fun and We Win x 2
- Onboarded and own relationship with a new creative agency
- PM the complete rebranding project and executed all the in-store POS and fixtures for 350+ stores
- PM and implemented the on-line print on demand system for store signage
- Serve on the St
- Jude and work/life balance committees
- Collaborate with all departments and levels, including C suite executives
Creative Packaging Project Manager
Scott's Miracle-Gro
02.2021 - 05.2022
- Project managed creative packaging for Miracle-Gro and Bonnie Plants, including successfully launching new and secondary packaging, adaptive/line extensions, reformulations, new products and display units
- Successfully launched new products including: Miracle-Gro Garden to Go, Plant Rescue, Spring Ahead, Surprise Soil, Bonnie Plants Seeds (new to category), Foodie Fresh, Harvest Select soils and plant food
- Main point of contact, all communication flowed between myself and the agency, with accountability for project execution
- Managed, onboarded, and mentored internal team of project managers and contractors
- First person to be hired on a new team and role, onboarding and working 100% remotely
- Responsible for providing status updates in weekly cross functional meetings to include R&D, legal, Pckg
- Engineers, Mfg., Brand, Regulatory, Procurement, etc
- Developed and managed timelines and budgets
- Obtained and reviewed SOW/quotes
- Led kick off meetings with agencies, meeting recaps and next steps
- Identified process issues and recommended improvements to team members and management
- Developed an SOP and checklist for brand to use to submit packaging projects
- Collaborated with cross functional teams to review creative, communicate refinements and manage scope creep and changes
- Documented project history in Project Management (PM) software using Workflow by Design
- Pinpointed and managed project issues/risks
- Routed creative in ERA (PM software) to obtain all necessary approvals before art was released to production team
- Identified critical project milestones, issues and risks, and timely communication to team and leadership
- Sourced, vetted and managed vendors needed to accomplish project goals
- Verified quality of deliverables and conformance to specifications before submitting to brand and creatives
Account Manager
BAESMAN PRINTING
04.2018 - 11.2020
- Managed 80+ accounts totaling over $3.5M in sales
- Worked closely with high profile clients such as Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, PINK, Marzetti and Stanley Steemer
- Managed and 'owned' multiple projects from start to finish in a fast paced deadline-driven environment
- Created and implemented new workflow processes
- Managed costs, schedules and resources while adhering to client's budgets and deadlines
- Developed standard operating procedures for the account management team to improve processes and efficiency
- Grew high-value accounts through daily communication, effective customer solutions and excellent customer service to increase revenue
- Inspected proofs and gave direction on color correction and retouching prior to sending to client
Creative Production Coordinator
Stanley Steemer
04.2016 - 04.2018
- Managed projects from start to finish with internal/external customers, regional locations, franchises, and outside agencies in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
- Managed all creative projects including direct mail, print, email, TV, digital, radio, video and social projects as they flowed through the marketing department
- Managed timelines and budgets for all creative projects
- Managed day-to-day traffic of projects through departments
- Assigned projects to balance workload among designers
- Conducted project status meetings each morning with design team to assess work load
- Managed the competitive bidding process; negotiated pricing, terms and delivery
- Organized project kick off meetings and contributed to brainstorming meetings
- Communicated printing specifications to vendors
- Reviewed proofs for color and quality
- Attended press checks
- Planned logistics for photo and video shoots
Substitute Special Ed. Teacher's Aide
Education Service Center Of Central Ohio
09.2011 - 04.2016
- Used behavior modeling and specialized teaching techniques to share and reinforce social skills
- Supported student's individual educational plans through personalized assistance, as well as small groups
- Worked with some of the districts most challenging children and adults with behavior issues, special needs, ADHD, ED, and LD
Digital Asset Mgr./Studio Stylist – Consultant
AMERICAN SIGNATURE FURNITURE
09.2006 - 09.2011
- Project managed all in-house and on-location studio shoots from start to finish
- Served as a photo stylist for the in-house photography studio
- Directed traffic flow of the in-house photography studio
- Purchasing and managing the props for the in-house studio
- Managed the photography database management system, assigning meta-tag information for thousands of products shots
- Gave direction for color correction and retouching for all photography
Business Owner
OWNER BEAU'S CHICKEN, LLC
09.2000 - 09.2006
- Personal entrepreneurial start up project
- Created packaging program for new-to-market frozen chicken brand sold in Trinidad/Tobago
- Worked with vendors and legal to ensure packaging met all requirements
- Evaluated suppliers by assessing quality, timelines, pricing, and compliance of deliveries to maintain tight cost controls and maximize efficiency
- Managed costs and schedules while adhering to budgets while keeping pace with dynamic business needs, factoring in production and consumer demands
Print Production Manager
BORDEN FOODS CORPORATION
03.1999 - 09.2000
- Returned as a contractor to the same position I held at Borden in 1998
Print Production Manager
BATES USA
09.1998 - 03.1999
- Managed domestic and international POS materials for Wendy's Corporate and franchise accounts from start to finish in a fast paced deadline-driven environment
- Developed teams of subject matter experts to help identify project challenges, resources, while setting realistic timelines and checkpoints, in order to meet key milestones and exceed clients expectations
- Researched and developed POP image program which enabled Wendy's International operations to print ads locally at a significantly lower cost while ensuring continuity in quality
- Managed competitive bidding process, costs, schedules and resources while adhering to client's budgets and deadlines
- Anticipated challenges and provide guidance /direction to help develop practical solutions to complex problems
- Inspected proofs and gave direction on color correction and retouching prior to sending to client
- Performed press checks
- Collaborated with all levels of management to obtain approvals and ensure projects met clients' standards
- Established color standards for Wendy's International
- Developed quotes for photography shoots for both domestic and international printing projects
Sales Promotion Production Manager
BORDEN FOODS CORPORATION
09.1996 - 09.1998
- Managed projects for multiple brands from start to finish in a fast paced deadline-driven environment
- Brands: Cracker Jack, Classico Pasta Sauce, Creamette Pasta, Eagle Brand, Elmer's Glue, RealLemon, and more
- (including POS/POP, packaging, non-permanent displays, direct mail and collateral sales materials.)
- Built teams of subject matter experts to help identify project scope, challenges, resources, while setting realistic timelines and checkpoints, in order to meet key milestones
- Managed competitive bidding process; critically selected vendors; prepared estimates; purchased materials and services; negotiated pricing, terms, and delivery while adhering to brand's budgets and deadlines
- Communicate specs to printers and photographers, reviewed proofs for color and quality, attend press checks, and directed product photo shoots
- Work with all levels of management and legal to obtain approvals and ensure projects met company standards
PRINT BUYER
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE
03.1995 - 08.1996
- Managed print projects from start to finish in a fast paced deadline-driven environment
- Conducted competitive bidding process, budgets, production process, timelines, reviewing and trafficking of proofs
- Critically selected vendors; prepared estimates; purchased materials and services; negotiated pricing, terms, and delivery while adhering to brand's budgets and deadlines
- Interfaced with Marketing Department, copywriters and graphic artists regarding layout and design; coordinated production; set production standards; performed press checks, and final quality inspections
- Communicate specs to printers, reviewed proofs for color and quality, attended press checks
- Work with all levels of management to obtain approvals and ensure projects meet company standards
Print Production Coordinator
THE LIMITED, INC, STRUCTURE
01.1995 - 03.1996
- Coordinated the competitive bidding process and production of promotional, POS and direct mail projects while adhering to timelines and budgets in an extremely face paced environment with tight deadlines
- Sourced vendors, procured paper, custom inks, printing and other materials
- Worked with the creative team during the conceptual process, trafficked proofs through departments to obtain approvals; worked closely with vendors to establish production time lines; traveled to attend press checks
- Adhered to legal and merchandising standards
- Coordinated projects for more than 500 stores nationwide
- Earned the Pillar Award from The Limited Inc
- As a team member of the National Underwear Model Search team
- Awarded for creativity, dedication and teamwork
Education
Project Management - Coursework in Project Management
Ohio Dominican University
Columbus, OHSecondary Education - Graphics
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OHGraphics - General Education and graphics coursework
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OHTransitioining From Coworker To Manager - Management
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH01.2022
Skills
- Workflow By Design
- WRIKE
- Google Suite
- SAP
- Microsoft Excel
- Outlook
- Word
- Teams
- Kodak InSite proofing system
- Hagan Monarch
- Adobe Acrobat
- Project Management
- Timelines
- Budgeting
- Verbal Communication
- Written Communication
- Multitasking
- Procedure Development
- Collaboration
- Account Management
- Vendor Relations
- Mac Experience
- PC Experience
- Color Design
- Design Standards
- Brand Guidelines
Timeline
Creative Project Manager
American Freight Appliances & Furniture
01.2023 - Current
Creative Packaging Project Manager
Scott's Miracle-Gro
02.2021 - 05.2022
Account Manager
BAESMAN PRINTING
04.2018 - 11.2020
Creative Production Coordinator
Stanley Steemer
04.2016 - 04.2018
Substitute Special Ed. Teacher's Aide
Education Service Center Of Central Ohio
09.2011 - 04.2016
Digital Asset Mgr./Studio Stylist – Consultant
AMERICAN SIGNATURE FURNITURE
09.2006 - 09.2011
Business Owner
OWNER BEAU'S CHICKEN, LLC
09.2000 - 09.2006
Print Production Manager
BORDEN FOODS CORPORATION
03.1999 - 09.2000
Print Production Manager
BATES USA
09.1998 - 03.1999
Sales Promotion Production Manager
BORDEN FOODS CORPORATION
09.1996 - 09.1998
PRINT BUYER
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE
03.1995 - 08.1996
Print Production Coordinator
THE LIMITED, INC, STRUCTURE
01.1995 - 03.1996
Secondary Education - Graphics
The Ohio State University
Graphics - General Education and graphics coursework
Columbus State Community College
Transitioining From Coworker To Manager - Management
University of Dayton
Project Management - Coursework in Project Management
Ohio Dominican University
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