Brian West
Grapevine,TX
Summary
Experienced Graphic Production leader with over 36 years of experience in the graphics print industry . Excellent reputation for operational excellence, innovation, consistent output over multiple production locations, managing large, complex production teams, resolving problems and delivering exceptional customer service.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
VP of Graphics
Freeman Decorating Services
Grand Prairie , Texas
2010.04 - Current
- Responsible for the successful operation of 19 graphics production facilities across North America.
- Created a hub and spoke model with 5 regional super centers and 14 smaller branch operations facilities.
- 195 FT / PT employees.
- Fiduciary responsibilities include annual budgets, capital expenditures and monthly P&L reviews.
- Worked closely with major equipment manufacturers to help determine equipment purchases to increase productivity, lower production costs and improve overall delivery to the business.
- Total yearly production exceeded 20M sq. ft.
- Annual operating budget of $80M
- Maintained the highest level of quality control and customer service for the demanding trade show graphics industry. Supporting all Freeman events across North America.
- Instrumental in developing and implementing an internal tracking platform CP3 for graphics. The improved visibility for graphic approval, production, location and delivery status has an annual cost savings of $3M.
- Created KPI's specific to the graphic operations including sq. ft. per man hour, work order lead time, graphic type breakdown, sq. ft. produced by material type, rework percentage.
- Set annual employee performance goals tied specifically to the overall company goals with measurable outcomes.
- Introduced new products and services to help push the boundaries of trade show graphic offerings to help maintain Freeman as the industry leader.
Regional Director of Graphics
Freeman Decorating Services
Grand Prairie , TX
2007.06 - 2010.04
- Implemented a process for billing to events for graphic sq. ft. production using the internal purchase order system in SAP. This process gave us an immense amount of data on graphic production down to the individual event level.
- Developed a rate card for each material for a sq. ft. cost for production.
- Transitioned 19 Freeman internal graphic branch facilities to Corporate Graphic production plants. By creating individual stand alone cost centers we were able to have visibility to the true cost of graphics. Before this conversion, no branch graphics location had any data on graphics production or cost impact.
- Each Corporate Graphic location had to have it's own budget, P&L and CapEx.
- Trained each location on how to develop, maintain and understand a graphics budget, P&L statement and the CapEx process and procedures.
- Held individual branch presentations to discuss the impact of the new cost centers and how this would impact the branch graphics costs.
Graphics Manager
Freeman Decorating Services
Grand Prairie , TX
2005.10 - 2007.06
- Started the Grand Prairie graphics operation for Freeman.
- What began with 3 employees and a couple of small printers grew into the largest graphic production super center for Freeman.
- Grand Prairie became the hub for all graphic production across Freeman.
- I Introduced BannerTalk, an internal monthly communication highlighting new and exciting graphic products and procedures to help educate our internal sales teams.
- Grand Prairie is the test center for new equipment, print technology, materials and finishing techniques to ensure we maintain our industry leading graphic competitive edge.
Production Manager
GP Color
North Hollywood , CA
1992.03 - 2005.10
- Managed the day to day operations of a successful Los Angeles based digital print production facility.
- Began working in customer service then promoted into quality control manager, finishing manager, second shift supervisor and finally overall production manager.
- Supervised 45+ employees covering 2 shifts.
- Maintained the highest level of quality control for the very demanding entertainment / advertising industry.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Industrial Photography / Photo Lab Management
Brooks Institute of Photography
Santa Barbara, CA06.1985
Skills
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Creative Problem Solving
- Financial Acumen
- Exceptional Quality Control
- Customer Service
- Deadline Driven
Accomplishments
- Patent owner of FloorPrint by Freeman. A process for printing full scale detail set-up plans for installing large complex exhibits.
- The Bev Award. Only the second recipient to ever receive this prestigious Freeman award for sustainability efforts by an individual.
Timeline
VP of Graphics
Freeman Decorating Services
2010.04 - Current
Regional Director of Graphics
Freeman Decorating Services
2007.06 - 2010.04
Graphics Manager
Freeman Decorating Services
2005.10 - 2007.06
Production Manager
GP Color
1992.03 - 2005.10
Bachelor of Arts - Industrial Photography / Photo Lab Management
Brooks Institute of Photography