James Breest
Visual Marketing & Signage at it's Best
Spring Grove,IL
Summary
James Breest is a highly motivated individual, that has a passion to provide the Customers with the best possible product/services- on budget and on time. Has the ability to quickly establish a good rapport with the customers by carefully listening to their needs/desires. James' core competencies include manufacturing process improvement, purchasing negotiation, graphic design, customer relationship management, problem solving, vendor sourcing, logistics, and quality control. I am passionate about finding innovative and cost-effective ways to create extraordinary displays that turn heads and generate results. I am also committed to building long-term relationships with my partners, customers, and team members, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Specializing in cost Efficiency for Manufacturing of Raw goods & Labor Cost just comes natural to any entrepreneur. While executing the simplistic Field executions our industry has available. AND Using products designed to flow through the print shop everyone is happy at the end. Guaranteeing the best Choices to complete any task is what every task deserves from day one.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
5911
5911
years of post-secondary education
Quote
"Don't wait for the sign! Extraordinary Signs turn heads, not blend in."
Work History
General Manager of Operations
Float The Fox
Wilmot
03.2025 - Current
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws and regulations related to operations management.
- Worked closely with local & county officials acquiring permits and licensing.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors for goods or services needed by the organization.
- Provided strategic direction to staff members in order to maximize productivity.
- Established quality assurance processes to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Established training programs for new employees, including orientation and onboarding activities.
- Monitored inventory levels, placing orders as necessary to maintain adequate supplies.
- Recruited, hired, and trained new staff members according to organizational standards.
- Established extensive processes and roles for flawless execution of daily operations for future years to come.
Co-Founder
Extraordinary Displays Inc.
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
09.2019 - 01.2025
- Company Overview: Innovative Visual Marketing Solutions
- Sales - Customer Acquisition - Concept & Design - Brand Marketing
- Event Marketing - Real Estate Marketing - Advertising - Print Design
- Lead Generation - Marketing Consulting - Project Management - Ad Design
- Mobile Marketing - Storefront Visual Marketing - Grand Opening - Anniversaries
- Trade Show Displays (Design - Manufacture - Rentals & Sales)
- Innovative Visual Marketing Solutions
Estimator & Procurement
MLE, Inc. OF Stratus
Elmhurst, Illinois
04.2011 - 12.2022
- Estimator at MLE for all RFP's or national Rollouts pertaining to Manufacturing and Fabrication.
- We had 6 to 12 national brand customers. (Chase Bank- Bank Of America- Starbucks- Huntington Bank Allstate Insurance- Lifetime Fitness- US Bank- Barnes and Noble- Party City- Chicago Cubs)
Production/Fabrication Manager -
MLE Inc.
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
04.2011 - 12.2022
- Over 10 years was instrumental in building a highly proficient Fabrication shop.
- Driven by project based growth of equipment and staff.
- Running day to day operations.
- Managed a staff of 35+ employees.
- Proficient in all equipment operating along with repairs and maintenance.
- Each process started with myself, training team members on each aspect as we built the processes.
- Roll to Roll Printing Department- Fine art Printing & Fabrication (Starbucks art & Corporate Offices)
- Added Rotor CNC Machines- Laser CNC machines- Full Polishing and buffing department- Flame Polishing Department- ADA Signage Fabrication- Full Paint Fabrication.
Consultant
MLE Inc.
Elk Grove Village, IL
02.2011 - 03.2011
- MLE at this time was a warehouse and installation company.
- Consulted on equipment needed to Manufacture & Print Vinyl Graphics
Co-Founder
Lajit Graphics
Fox Lake, Illinois
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Sales - Customer Acquisition - Concept & Design - Manufacturing/Operations/Staff Trainer
- Signage- Storefront Windows- Vehicle Wraps & Graphics- Boat Wraps & Graphics- Screen Printing
Owner Operator
After the Fact-ory Custom De-Signs
Fox Lake, Illinois
01.2000 - 01.2005
- Sales - Customer Acquisition - Concept & Design - Owner/Operator of a Mobile Graphics company specializing in Auto & Marine Graphics on the spot.
- 3 to 6 Employees on average.
- With my office being Mobile- Business concept was simple! Same day Service- We'd Pull up to Project-Design Clients Concepts- Executed all within hours
Field Sales/Installer
Auto Artistry
Palatine, Illinois
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Sales - Customer Acquisition - Concept & Design - Automotive Aftermarket installer on-site at Dealerships.
- Ground Effects, Spoilers, Sunroofs, Interior Accents, Graphics, Pinstriping.
- Auto Body Shop Repairs Aftermarket Products Matching custom designs damaged.
- Vinyl and Hand painted striping
Portfolio
Custom Table - Direct Printed Grass
Education
Auto Cad -
Mchenry Collage
Crystal Lake, ILRoosevelt University
Chicago, ILBlack Hawk College
Rock Island, ILPortfolio (Photos of Work over the years)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CdzAkDeezyF6uvF18
Skills
- Operations Management
- Wide Format Printing
- Print Production Management
- Microsoft Office
- Purchasing
- Inventory Management
- Equipment Maintenance
- Manufacturing Operations Management
- Purchase Management
- Product Development
- Print Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Process Improvement
- Management
- Quality Control
- Process Scheduler
- Project Planning
- CNC Operation
- Leadership
- Product Knowledge
- Graphic Design
- Laser Cutting
- Quality Assurance
- Purchasing Negotiation
- Adobe
- Microsoft Excel
- Word
- Office suite
- Outlook
- Photoshop
- Estimates Sign
- Onyx
- Flexisign
- SignLab
- SignLab Laser
- AutoCAD
- Fiery FX
- Rastec
- ADA Sign Braille
Timeline
General Manager of Operations
Float The Fox
03.2025 - Current
Co-Founder
Extraordinary Displays Inc.
09.2019 - 01.2025
Estimator & Procurement
MLE, Inc. OF Stratus
04.2011 - 12.2022
Production/Fabrication Manager -
MLE Inc.
04.2011 - 12.2022
Consultant
MLE Inc.
02.2011 - 03.2011
Co-Founder
Lajit Graphics
01.2005 - 01.2011
Owner Operator
After the Fact-ory Custom De-Signs
01.2000 - 01.2005
Field Sales/Installer
Auto Artistry
01.1999 - 01.2000
Auto Cad -
Mchenry Collage
Roosevelt University
Black Hawk College
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