Karen Beard
San Francisco,CA
Summary
A dynamic and endlessly curious systems thinker, driven by the pursuit of improvement. Experienced and highly tactical with a keen eye for detail. Passionate about tracking, reporting, and optimizing creative processes and programs to set teams up for success.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Production
KiwiCo
04.2022 - Current
- Overhauled collateral, packaging, and PDP photography processes, created a new RACI for maximum efficiency and implemented it with cross-functional teams, saving over 1,500 internal hours annually
- Created and implemented SMM video process with cross-functional teams, saving 1,040 internal hours annually
- Implemented a Digital Asset Management System (DAM), created processes, and trained cross-functional teams
- Optimized and implemented post-production processes to better manage feedback, revisions, and delivery
- Created report to track creative production budget
- Lead three person Photo/Video Production Team
- Built a roster of external creative resources; photographers, stylists, retouchers, videographers and video editors
- Helped create a new Photographer contract
- Partnered with the VP of Creative to create and implement Photo/Video Style Guidelines.
- Internal resource management for Photo/Video Production Team
- Ensure delivery of photo and video assets on time and to spec to stakeholders company-wide
Senior Manager, Creative Operations
Callisto Media
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Revamped Production Design and Design processes, separating responsibilities, bumping internal design capacity up by 20%
- Thoughtfully overhauled Illustrator sourcing platform and process to increase diversity by 30%
- Informed, implemented, and troubleshot end-to-end production schedules, driving towards seamless hand-offs of multiple deliverables
- Owned creative production budget and reconciliation, for over 1,000 titles per year
- Onboarded and maintained roster of over 250 external creative resources
- Created a flexible photographer scheduling process in response to shifting internal priorities
- Oversaw eleven person Production Design Team
- Lead a four person Creative Operations Team
- Internal resource management for Creative Production, 75 person Design team, and Production Design team.
- Point person for contracts, rights, and usage.
Art Production Manager
Callisto Media
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Developed a reporting system to track creative production KPIs
- Created first Art Production process documentation
- Created intranet HUB for creative production process and documentation
- Helped to implement a new DAM system to track, archive, and leverage owned assets
- Created a cross-functional resource for vetted Illustrators to streamline sourcing, saving 1,200 internal hours annually
- Created and implemented first capacity tracking system to manage internal resources, company-wide
- Onboarded and maintained roster of over 250 external creative resources
- Built and lead a three person Art Production Operations Team
- Helped create new Photographer and Illustrator contracts
Art Producer
Callisto Media
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Built the custom photography program under budget restraints and process limitations from the ground up
- Created a retainer program for custom photography that reduced costs and ensured availability
- Produced and oversaw all logistical details for 10 to 12 photoshoots remotely and on-set per month
- Created shoot briefs and shot lists in collaboration with Art Director and Editor
- Provided art direction to photographers, in cooperation with Art Director and Editor
- Researched, tracked, and purchased stock photography for multiple titles simultaneously
- Commissioned, negotiated, and secured rights to custom illustrations
Founder + Director
Shestock
01.2011 - 01.2017
- Built first female-centric stock photo agency from inception through multi-channel distribution
- Created process from image ingestion through distribution, sales, and royalty tracking
- Recruited and managed relationships with 100+ women photographers worldwide
- Licensed content to Apple, Clorox, and AECOM, among others
- Featured in Toronto Star, Huffington Post, Adobe's blog, and others.
Photographer
Self-employeed
12.1998 - 01.2011
- Created images on assignment for clients that included: National Historic Trust, New Castle Beer, New York Times Sunday Magazine, Sony Music and Random House
- Featured in Communication Arts multiple times, Photo District News, and others
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Photography
Art Center College of Design
California, CA12.1997
Skills
- Creative Operations
- Creative Production
- Process Improvement
- Process Documentation
- Manage Creative Budgets
- Team Leader
Timeline
Senior Manager, Production
KiwiCo
04.2022 - Current
Senior Manager, Creative Operations
Callisto Media
01.2021 - 04.2022
Art Production Manager
Callisto Media
01.2019 - 01.2021
Art Producer
Callisto Media
01.2017 - 01.2019
Founder + Director
Shestock
01.2011 - 01.2017
Photographer
Self-employeed
12.1998 - 01.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Photography
Art Center College of Design
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