Karen Kaplan
Highland Park,IL
Summary
Innovative, creative and strategic leadership professional with extensive experience in branding, package design, and cultivating and sustaining client relationships.
Significant expertise in strategic brand management; client management acting as trusted partner to clients demonstrating deep understanding of their markets; maintaining long-term business relationships, including project oversight, identifying, diagnosing, and problem solving.
Lead teams to be collaborative, engaged and dedicated to achieve sustainable results with drive, flexibility, and positive attitude.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President
Damen Jackson, Forge Brandworks
07.2018 - Current
- Manage and direct strategic growth, brand strategy and packaging design business for clients including Galderma, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Heartland RV, Azteca Foods, Stepan and The Cradle.
- Lead team on new packaging design for Galderma's Differin Acne Patches resulting in best new product introduction in 5 years.
- Managed team on brand transformation of Heartland Recreational Vehicles including identity design, brand platform, messaging and marketing materials increasing revenue over 20% and maximizing marketing efforts.
- Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams through development of annual performance reviews, team affirmations and appropriate training and support.
- Led cross-functional teams for successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
- Cultivated strong relationships with key clients by promoting collaboration, offering comprehensive solutions and building long-term success stories.
- Partnered with leadership to develop new division targeting small to medium-sized businesses in helping them to meet their greatest potential through strategic brand development.
Account Director
Bluedog Design
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Manage and direct design business of over $2M of annual business for clients including Apio, Beech-Nut, Evans Gayton Foods, General Mills, Majans, and Ocean Spray
- Growth of largest account by 100% in 1 year.
- Managed introduction of over 32 new product SKU launch for Beech-Nut in 2017.
- Innovative, consumer-needs driven structure design and graphics for Baby Cereal Canisters, and graphic design for first-ever ready-to-eat Baby Cereal Pouch.
- New product line of Toddler Snacks including graphic design, photography, structure design and full production artwork rollout.
- Managed structure design of innovative packaging for single-serve salad based on consumer insights for Eat Smart Salad Shake-Ups; Apio won significant industry innovation award, obtained design patent on package and strong sales at major accounts with very positive consumer acceptance.
- Managed design rollout for redesign of Ocean Spray Craisins that encompassed consumer insights learning, channel strategy, photography, several product segments, dual language packaging and created improved ways of working for production rollout of over 100 SKUs.
- Managed strategy, naming, brand mark and design rollout for beer labels and cartons for Barrel + Beam in Marquette, MI.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Marketing
Indiana University
Bloomington, INSkills
- Strategic Planning
- Brand Development & Management
- Client Relationship Building
- Team Management & Culture Building
- Business Development
Associations & Interests
- Vistage – Key Leadership member since 2022
- Highrise Networking – Chicago member 2020, Co-Chair since 2021
- Tourette's Syndrome Association – fundraising committee
- MMRF Research, member – fundraising
- Not for Profit band, charity fundraising
- Cooking, travel, reading and exercise
Timeline
Vice President
Damen Jackson, Forge Brandworks
07.2018 - Current
Account Director
Bluedog Design
01.2015 - 01.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Business Marketing
Indiana University
Similar Profiles
Mansi SukhadiaMansi Sukhadia
Sales & Marketing Intern at Gallons Premium Water (Sygnia Brandworks LLP.)Sales & Marketing Intern at Gallons Premium Water (Sygnia Brandworks LLP.)
Anna GünterAnna Günter
Sales Project Manager at Brandworks Baltics OÜSales Project Manager at Brandworks Baltics OÜ
MARIAN DUMITRIUMARIAN DUMITRIU
Electrician technician at DAMEN MANGALIAElectrician technician at DAMEN MANGALIA