Professional Experience

Vice President Sales and Development, 2000 - present

DON SCOTT ASSOCIATES INC., Colden, New York USA

(Don Scott Associates is a publishing, licensing and product development concern focusing on the toy industry)

Responsible for broad range of development in toy and publishing industries. Consultant in production, manufacturing, graphics automation, design, and art production. Direct sales to international distributors. Manager of new product development in conjunction with outside artists, machinists, engineers, graphic designers and internal resources. Ability to recognize and incorporate marketing opportunities into product lines of separate, often competitive international producers.

New business cultivation, license negotiation and acquisition of character and entertainment properties. Developed and licensed multi-award winning concepts and implemented development cost reductions and productivity increases. Created and directed promotional arm to exploit synergies with core clients: package and catalog design, copy, art creation, scripted graphic workflows (turnkey solutions to complex and repetitive design tasks), brand development and promotion (web design, creative services, blogging, social networking).

Highlights and accomplishments:

• Won more than 20 industry awards in past 2 years

• Aggressive streamlining and cost reduction through implementation of soft prototyping

• Licensed more than 15 new lines in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, South America, and Asia

• Five-fold expansion of development categories

• Directed 400% increase in licensed output with reductions in net development and technology costs

• Conceptualized, prototyped and presented for license more than 50 new products

• Half million dollar program planned and implemented in less than 2 months for World Cup soccer promotion

• Development of international sales, consulting, and license acquisition as new business functions

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, 1995-1999

PROJECT MANAGER, 1990-1994

IT MANAGER/PROGRAMMER, 1986-1989

BUFFALO GAMES, INC., Buffalo, New York, USA

(Buffalo Games markets jigsaw puzzles and game categories to a broad base of gift, chain, specialty and mass accounts)

Seasoned under fire in a broad range of business functions at all levels. Rapidly advanced from part-time programmer at entrepreneurial startup to upper level manager of industry-leading corporation. Varied duties included payroll processing, network administration, software maintenance and modification, database maintenance, tax filing and reporting, budgeting, and trade show management. Proactively assumed product development role. Integrated shipping and receiving with sales and invoicing with proprietary programs. Authored report and processing modules for commissions, royalties, direct-to-consumer sales, and internal sales metrics. Relentlessly automated and streamlined business processes. Designed graphics lab, innovative POP displays, prototyping systems, and style manuals.

Recruited and trained top talent to assume high level, long-term positions. Directed package production and concept development, proactively sourced license of key new products. Assumed direct responsibility for quality assurance, press approvals, development of procedures manuals, modernization of prototyping and graphics production. Led sales team in international trade show presence, including setup, sales staff training, production of trade graphics, signage and corporate identity. Nurtured cross-functional teams in high growth, high pressure environment. Sought and secured role as corporate spokesman and media representative. A highly regarded strategist and trainer in IT, graphic design, and business communications. 

Highlights and accomplishments:

• Acquired key personnel from personal network: National Sales Manager, IT Manager, Production Supervisor, Graphic Artists, Licensing Director and Office Manager.

• Implemented multi-user VisionPoint (SBT) accounting system

• Development of direct interface between accounting system and EDI invoicing, ASN, and purchase orders

• Hired and trained award winning graphic team

• Directed jigsaw puzzle line to #1 in North America in mass and gift markets

• Transitioned product line from gift to mass market and annual sales increase from $2 million to $6 million

• Sourced and secured innovative concept license, to comprise over 75% of sales

• Produced and directed all corporate identity, package cross-sell, web copy

• Propped, styled and directed package photography

• Directed development of multiple-award-winning board game

• Managed packaging and development of 6 lines with sales exceeding one million units each

• Directed and mentored systems and sales team leads

• Advanced skills in Adobe CS and MS Office

Notable Industry Awards and Honors

Jigsaw Puzzles: 2 Broad Patents pertaining to jigsaw puzzle technology • 3 “Dr Toy” awards for jigsaws in 2007 • Games Magazine Puzzle of the year runner up for the X Puzzles in 2003 • Games Magazine Puzzle of the Year for Lost in a Jigsaw in 1998 • Spiel des Jahres award for 3D Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle in 1994 • As d'Or for the Talking Jigsaw Puzzle in 1994

Luck of the Draw Game (2006): Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold • Scholastic & Child Magazine top pick • 2 “Dr Toy” Awards • Adding Wisdom Award • Canadian Toy Testing Council Children's Choice and *** (highest rating)

Parenting for high Potential Magazine recommended • National Parenting Center Seal of Approval • iParenting Media Award • 2 “Major Fun” Awards • Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year • Feature in Better Homes and Gardens and Family Fun Magazine • About.com 10 best games of 2007

Education

1989 - 1991 SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY - Computer Science and English