Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
OperationsManager
Mary McClain

Mary McClain

Shaker Heights,OH

Summary

Visionary Creative Executive with 20+ years’ experience leading design and product development teams in the consumer products industry. Inspirational organizational leader with a history of building positive corporate culture through championing diversity initiatives and a people-first leadership style.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

Executive Director, Greeting Card Design

American Greetings
09.2004 - Current

Executive creative leader of the company’s largest product category, accounting for more than 800 million in annual revenue.

  • Visionary leadership of new product innovation efforts resulting in 500+ new product concepts and 5,000+ published products per year.
  • 12 US Design Patents, 1 US Utility Patent.
  • Experience presenting to high-profile buyers from Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco.
  • Executive Sponsor: African American Employee Resource Network, Relative & Inclusive Content Council, and The Happy Vibe Employee Resource Network
  • Four-Time Chairman’s Award Grand Winner: Innovation, Teamwork, and Product Excellence.
  • Creative Business Lead for SAP Enterprise Redesign Project with a focus on workflow design and organizational change management.

Marketing Director

The C. R. Gibson Company
03.2000 - 08.2004
  • Directed product development for stationery and gift lines tailored for mass retailers including Target, Walmart, Costco, and Office Depot, overseeing art direction, product specifications, pricing, P&L, and sales presentations.
  • Directed trade show participation, maximizing exposure for company products and services.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative product launches and promotions.

Education

Master of Science - Diversity Leadership Change Management

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
05-2026

Certificate - Advanced Design Thinking

IDEO-U
05-2021

Certificate - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Cornell University
05-2018

Certificate - Leadership Deep Dive - Executive Training

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH

Bachelor of Science - Individualized Major Program

Indiana University
Bloomington

Skills

    Creative Visioning & Directing

    Innovation Process Facilitation

    Creative Problem Solving

    Product Lifecycle Management

    New Product Introduction

    Workflow Management

    Team Building

    Content and Talent Acquisition

    Inclusive Leadership

    DEIB Advocate

Timeline

Executive Director, Greeting Card Design

American Greetings
09.2004 - Current

Marketing Director

The C. R. Gibson Company
03.2000 - 08.2004

Master of Science - Diversity Leadership Change Management

Cleveland State University

Certificate - Advanced Design Thinking

IDEO-U

Certificate - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Cornell University

Certificate - Leadership Deep Dive - Executive Training

Case Western Reserve University

Bachelor of Science - Individualized Major Program

Indiana University
Mary McClain