Creative and Marketing Executive ➥ Leveraging strategies that promote engagement through content, increase marketability, and profit margins.

Effective content creation, team leadership, and business strategy are at the core of a viable marketing plan for a business for its sustainable and continuous growth. What gets me exciting day in and day out is the opportunity to work with great people in a congenial environment, nurturing high-quality, high-integrity relationships that drive the business forward with transparency and trust.

My experience includes creative communications, marketing and storytelling, team management, omni-channel strategy & marketing, and more. I’ve served in critical, hands-on, and high-impact roles over the course of my career. These roles provided an opportunity to lead teams and initiatives that further organizational goals. 

I am described as a people-focused & empathetic leader, a master mentor, and results-driven with an eye on the big picture, someone who takes ownership and build a confident team with a winning culture. 

What do I contribute to the bottom line of each employer? Cross-functional partnerships and stakeholder buy-in through a focus on economic and financial benefits for each initiative. 

I have a natural talent for conversational selling of great products, ideas, and solutions. 

Notable Projects Include: 

• Post Supervisor, Editor, Animator for “Good Eats with Alton Brown”

• Developed post-production processes and workflow for Seasons 9-12 of “Good Eats”, 66 episodes, to the Food Network.

• Executive Producer/Producer “Foul Water Fiery Serpent” PBS

• Producer “Dark Forest, Black Fly” PBS

• Co-creator, Producer “Science Nation” National Science Foundation

Earlier Roles Include: 

Principal, Biscardi Creative Media (2001 – 2017) | Owner, Contemporary Living Network (2014 – 2016) | Partner, Creative Director, Acme Digital Design (1998 – 2001) | 

Awards & Honors:

Multiple Emmy, Peabody & Telly Awards. Author and trainer for Lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning. 

Key Experience Areas: Branding; Building Creative Teams and Agencies; Creative Strategy & Implementation; Original Content Development & Execution;  Communications;  SVOD Development;  UI, UX, CX, eCommerce Design; Live Experiential Events; Creative Services and Production Studio Management;  Video Production; Project Management including Workfront; Operations & Hiring;  Change Agent; Facility and Workflow design.

Key Technical Experience:  Producer, Director, Writer, Video Editor, Colorist, Animator, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro, 4k/UHD/HD Workflows, DSLR and Professional Cameras, Lighting, Workfront, Function Point, Showbiz Budgeting, NAS / SAN Design and Implementation, Digital Asset Management, Studio and Facility design.

If you think you have something I should hear about, use the Contact page to drop me a line.  You can read my Resume below and my LinkedIn Profile is here.

CAREER HISTORY

2021 - 2022 : CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, OUTDOOR MASTERCLASS/OUTDOOR365

Outdoor365 is a Multi-Channel, Subscription Video on Demand hybrid service (SVOD/AVOD/E-learning) startup. 

Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• Formulated different styles of content strategies to boost audience engagement levels that translates into company growth.

• Developed an innovative creative operation at a global level with a fully remote workflow to cater to large amount of original content every year.

• Crafted company org chart and immediate, short- & long-term staffing plans for the enterprise.

• Hired the core executive team to develop global infrastructure, organic content creation and financial/subscription modeling.

• Collaborated with executive team to design production and launch plan.

• Master mind of an initial go-to-market strategy and strategized creation of branding and campaign materials.

Work was stopped in May 2022 due to lack of investment funds.

2021 - 2021 : DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, HOLIDAY RETIREMENT.

Holiday Retirement is a privately held $1Billion owner and operator of independent senior living communities in the U.S. over 25000 residents. 

Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• Expanded creative services to deliver content and marketing deliverables. Laid out a map for in-house creative teams for video, copy, graphic, and social media management.  

• Re-branded content and marketing strategies to focus on what the facility has to offer i.e., holistic quality of life. The strategy covered multi-channel/modal video-centric storytelling, website copy, marketing, and sales.

• Designed and leveraged a marketing flywheel to galvanize brand recognition, top-of-funnel expansion, secure new clients, and drive referrals.

• Efficiently utilized content with videos augmenting written pieces, social content, and sales collateral allowing for faster turnaround and content from each project.

• Introduced the Holiday brand and developed other sources of original content series to grow audience.

2020 - 2021 : SVP of MARKETING, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TEXAS PRIDE TRAILERS. Texas Pride Trailers, a $100M company.

Manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trailers. 

Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• Created company’s first-ever in-house marketing and creative team. 

• Focused on enhancing brand strategy, marketing, authentic storytelling, and collaborations.

• Led recruitment from scratch to 11 FTEs in less than 4 months.

• Boosted sales by $4.6M in only 3 months by leveraging through an enhanced marketing strategy and targeted content for existing and new clients across multiple platforms.

• Initiated a Marketing Flywheel to assist customer support and retention to accelerate brand growth.

• Curated a “Netflix” user experience. Launched original series focused on storytelling and enhancing company’s image through value proposition.

2019 - 2020 : EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, HIGH ROAD CRAFT BRANDS. One of the fastest growing craft brand ice creams in America. A $50M CPG Company.

A luxury ice cream company. 

Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• Focused on brand storytelling, curated Content Marketing Strategy and roadmap across multiple channels including B2B, B2C and D2C to differentiate brand in a busy CPG industry.

• Leveraged new content strategy to drive a huge marketing rebrand of the company through new content strategy.

• Increased B2B engagement and followers on LinkedIn over 150%, page views went above 200%.

• Boosted video views over 900% - achieved through high quality storytelling, inbound requests, and accounts

• Utilized high-quality storytelling and improved inbound requests along with winning major US retailers.

• Redesigned and reimagined eCommerce platform supporting 4 consumer-facing brands, 1200% YoY increase in sales and 2000% increase in website traffic in the first month.

2018 -2019 : VICE-PRESIDENT OF ORIGINAL CONTENT, THE MULLINGS GROUP. TMG is consistently recognized as a global leading search firm in the medical device and life sciences industries.

Recruitment agency specializes in med care technology. Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• Built Dragonfly Stories, a nimble, in-house marketing agency focused on authentic storytelling to deliver original content across all touch points including video, digital, print, UX, experiential and live events.

• Developed marketing strategy and content roadmap to drive new B2B clients through a video-centric campaign showcasing company leadership and capabilities. Authentic story focused content resulted in increased inbound requests and new clients won.

• Hired the creative team and designed the digital infrastructure to support the increased emphasis on video and photographic storytelling.

2017 - 2018: CREATIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGIA-PACIFIC, Leading manufacturer of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, and building products with household name brands such as Brawny, Quilted Northern, and Dixie cups and tableware. A $21B CPG Company.

Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:

• As the first Creative Director for Georgia-Pacific, I brought a strategic and authentic storytelling narrative to company messaging and branding.

• Created a content roadmap of campaigns with authentic, cohesive messaging across all company and social channels including streaming video, website, social media and more.

• Daily management included oversight of multiple projects spanning video, social, animation, and live events along with creative and strategy meetings with GP leadership.

• Conceived and executed brand ‘moving the needle’ campaigns, including ‘Sustainability In Action,’ to counter and get ahead of negative environmental perceptions.

• Conceived and executed corporate ‘moving the needle’ campaign “We Are” docu-reality digital series to offset negative political affiliation and industry perceptions. “We Are” framed the brand story around Americana and the people who live and work in small towns across the US.

• Conceived and delivered the largest social audience for GP with “MLK 50 Remembrance.” This thought-provoking and difficult conversation, requested by the CEO of GP, framed around the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. positioned the company as a thought leader in racial and community disparity

• Conceived and delivered “Life of a Box” animated series demonstrating the science, development, and sustainability of GP’s corrugated box division in an entertaining way

• Worked closely with HR and GP Studios colleagues to develop and deliver GP’s first VR 360 project placing candidates in the middle of their potential jobs. This system helped identify potential concerns, such as fear of heights, early in the vetting process.

• Worked with GP Studios to improve the overall efficiency and quality of storytelling delivered from the internal creative agency.

• Worked directly with company brands such as Angel Soft, Mardi Gras and Dixie on authentic, original social and digital content.

2001 - 2018: CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER;  BISCARDI CREATIVE MEDIA, a national-award winning creative agency focused on quality storytelling for a global audience. 

Biscardi Creative Media was a national-award-winning creative agency focused on innovative storytelling for a global audience delivering projects to a demanding clientele.

Built and expanded the creative facility including design and infrastructure encompassing studio, video acquisition, animation, post-production, audio, and delivery. At its peak BCM operated in a 6000 sq ft studio with a 96TB media server, managed over 2PB of digital assets, delivering dozens of projects per month.

Created post-production workflow and provided post-production services for Seasons 9 – 12 of “Good Eats” for the Food Network meeting their exacting specifications and deadlines for broadcast delivery.

Co-Produced and provided full production services for Seasons 1 – 3 of “This American Land” for PBS meeting their exacting specifications and deadlines for broadcast delivery.

Co-Produced two global health documentaries in partnership with The Carter Center over 8 years with crews in Africa, South America and the U.S. Each was delivered to PBS meeting their exacting specifications for broadcast delivery.

Created the post-production workflow and provided full post-production services to “Arson Dogs” digital series by Victoria Stilwell / State Farm.

Co-Produced and delivered dozens of global health and human interest stories to ABC News, NBC News, Sky News and CNN meeting their exacting specifications for broadcast delivery.

Conceived, produced and animated a Halloween segment “Sesame Street” meeting their exacting specifications and deadlines for broadcast delivery. 

Created production workflow and served as Managing Producer of the digital series “Science Nation” for NSF for the first 10 years of the series.

Co-Produced and provided all post-production services for the global health documentary, “The Test” for Vestergaard-Frandsen raising awareness for AIDS testing in Africa.

Conceived and Produced an original science education series to engage elementary school students in the largest school district in Georgia. The series included modern animation and children's movie techniques to engage and entertain the students to foster memory retention.

Provided full creative and branding services to clients including Ping, Home Depot Racing, Heraeus, Kroger, The Carter Center, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and Science North.

Hired the full-time creative team encompassing post-production and management. Contracted video acquisition and audio through local freelancers. Managed up to 50 personnel on any given project.

I used my array of talents, including chef, as required for every project. I’m not one to sit on the sidelines, I like to roll up my sleeves and get dirty. 

2016 - 2018: CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR (freelance);  LYNDA.COM (LINKEDIN LEARNING), a leading online learning platform.

Contributing to the next generation of creative professionals and those who love the creative industry. For over 20 years I’ve been contributing articles and tutorials on video editing, animation, producing and writing, but now I’m turning to Video Budgeting and Video Producing.

Video Budgeting walks you through the full budgeting process from start to finish for a real project my creative agency produced. Featuring the software “Showbiz Budgeting” the course walks you through the mindsets, questions and formulas on how to figure out the right budget so you can get the job, but don’t lose money in the process. https://www.linkedin.com/learning/video-budgeting

Video Producing is a 101 for anyone who wonders what a Producer actually does. In today’s world there are many definitions for a Producer, but here I cover the basics of what a Producer typically does and is responsible for in Pre-Production, Producer and Post-Production. https://www.linkedin.com/learning/video-producing

Originally produced for lynda.com, these tutorials are now a part of LinkedIn Learning.

2014 - 2016: FOUNDER, PRESIDENT; CONTEMPORARY LIVING NETWORK, a Streaming Video On Demand (SVOD) service bringing actionable lifestyle edutainment to digital streaming.

Contemporary Living Network, Inc. was designed as a 4k (UHD) streaming video-on-demand service (SVOD) focused on positive lifestyle edutainment, with audience engagement and real life integration at its core. CLN would provide inspiration and the resources for the viewer to easily re-create their own, unique variations of what happens in our shows.

Think Netflix meets Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY, HGTV, Animal Planet with QVC. We call it, Life Worth Living.

- Led the development of the company pitch, business plan, and investor funding efforts.

- Executive Producer securing commitments from known broadcast and digital on-screen talent.

- Securing distribution of original programming through digital syndication.

- Development of original culinary and travel content in 4k UHD.

- Lead Producer, Director for "Ice Cream Nation," "Fork U," "Parties By Number."

Development of an asset management system designed to ingest multiple petabytes of data per year.

1998 - 2001: PARTNER, SENIOR PRODUCER; ACME DIGITAL DESIGN, a creative production company creating messaging and live events for clients including Kroger, North American Mission Board and Edwards Fine Foods.

Partner in this creative agency specializing in Script to Screen original content.  Credits include multiple Emmy and Telly award-winning projects.

Designed the creative facility including infrastructure encompassing insert stage, video acquisition, animation, post-production, audio, and delivery. 

Hired and supervised the creative team including video editors, videographers, animators and Producers. Directly supervised and led teams from 2 to 20+.

Creative Director and Producer overseeing many projects through from concept to delivery for clients including Kroger, North American Mission Board, PING and Edwards Fine Foods.

Animator for GPTV’s Emmy-award winning “Salsa” children’s series.

Conceived and delivered multiple historical milestone projects for Kroger Atlanta for internal and external marketing.

Conceived and produced multiple live stage events for Kroger. Each featuring over 2500 attendees at Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags over Georgia. 

Conceived and produced a multi-part public safety series in partnership with Duluth (GA) Police that was honored with a Gwinnett County (GA) safety award.

Editor and Animator for numerous children’s projects for the North American Mission Board.

Conceived and produced multilingual safety and training project for Edwards Fine Foods.

1995 - 1997: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATIVE MANAGER; FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO, one of the largest resort and casinos in the world.

Executive Producer and Creative Manager for one of the world’s largest casinos. Produced hundreds of omnichannel projects per year for all aspects of the casino including hospitality, marketing, communications, training, and live events for 15,000+ employees and millions of visitors.

Daily management included oversight of multiple projects spanning video, print, animation, radio and live events across multiple properties along with creative and strategy meetings with Foxwoods and Tribal leadership. 

Designed and oversaw the construction of new creative media facility encompassing graphics, video, audio and animation for increased efficiency and creative output.

Conceived and delivered original Brand and Marketing campaign “Come Play in our Woods” in just two weeks resulting in a 300%+ increase in bus tourism YoY.

Executive Producer for a 150-part video training series for Casino Dealers. The training was given a modular design making it easy to replace modules as changes occurred to casino rules.

Executive Producer for multi-part “Tour De Chefs” series spotlighting the more than 20 restaurants on the casino property and the executive chefs who maintained them.

Executive Producer for 4 in-room resort channels delivering 24-hour programming on gaming, entertainment, local scenery, and tribal history.

Hired all full-time and contract crews managing teams up to 40 for individual projects.

Developed a media asset management system to maintain and catalog all media assets.

1990 - 1995: VIDEO EDITOR, PRODUCER; CNN, a leader in global news and information.

Video Editor and Producer for a global audience working in an extremely high pressure 24 hour news cycle, particularly during the 1990 Gulf War, the 1992 Presidential Elections and the OJ Simpson Trial.

Editor for "Network Earth" from '93 to '95 and part of a CableAce and National Emmy Award winning team for a documentary on the Mississippi River floods of the early 90's. TBS/CNN

Nominated for “Editing in a Television Series” for the feature story, “La Doctura,” TBS/CNN.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• 2008 Telly Awards (5) : National recognition for achievements in Video Editing, Producing and Animation ("Good Eats" with Alton Brown)

• 2007 Peabody Award : National Recognition for my animation contribution to "Good Eats" with Alton Brown

• 2007 Telly Award "Good Eats" : National Recognition for my Animation work on "Good Eats" with Alton Brown

• 2007 Telly Award "This American Land" : National Recognition for my contribution of "This American Land" (PBS) as Producer, Editor.

• 2005 Aurora Award - Best of Show : National recognition for animation work on "Good Eats" with Alton Brown

• 2005 Aurora Awards : National Recognition for my Producing and Editorial work on a broadcast commercial for The Tennessean publication.

• 2002 Telly Awards (2) : National Recognition for my contributions to "Love Never Fails," Editor; "Finding Christ in Crises," Editor

• 2005 Telly Awards (2) : National recognition for my Producing, Editorial and motion graphics work on "Marriage" (NAMB) and "The Tennessean" broadcast commercial

• 2004 Aurora Awards Best of Show (2) : National Recognition as Best in Show in two categories: "Inner City Evangelism" Editor; "Off Center Dance Theatre" Producer, Director.

• 2004 Telly Awards (2) : National recognition for my contribution to: "Inner City Evangelism" Editor; "Powder River Basin" Editor.

• 2003 Telly Award : National Recognition for my contribution to "GMVT" (NAMB): Editor.

• 2000 SE Regional Emmy Awards : Southeastern Regional recognition as a contributor to "Salsa" (GPB); Animator

• 1999 SE Regional Emmy Awards (9) : Southeast Regional Recognition for contributing to "Salsa," (GPB), Animator

• 1996 Telly Awards (2) : National Recognition for my contribution to "An Architectural Interpretation of Foxwoods," Producer; "Tour de Chefs," Producer.

• 1993 National Emmy Award : National Recognition for my contribution to "Network Earth," (CNN/TBS) Editor, Producer

• 1994 NY Festivals Best Documentary : National Recognition for my contribution to "Guatemala, Rising from the Ruins," (CNN), Editor

• 1993 CableACE Award : National recognition as a contributor to "Network Earth" (CNN/TBS), Editor

COMMUNITY

Co-Founder, Atlanta Cutters.  2011 - 2015.  Creative Professionals User Group featuring regularly scheduled networking, educational and social events with industry professionals and companies.  Membership grew to almost 1000.

Board of Directors, Pilots-N-Paws. 2011 - 2013. Secretary for one of the largest animal rescue organizations in the United States.  Helped organize and coordinate annual Fly A Away events in addition to fundraising activities.

CreativeCOW.net, Contributor Author and Trainer. 1999 - Present.  The COW is a gathering place for millions of creatives each month offering the best selection of free training and advice on the web.  I have contributed over 26,000 posts and numerous articles, tutorials and product reviews.