Creative Agencies

I started my career in printing and prepress as a graphic designer, retoucher and production artist in Chicago, IL. After moving to Orange County, CA to work at Wunderman on the Taco Bell Account I got my first opportunity to lead a team. Over the years I improved my leadership skills and I excel at identifying, nurturing and developing talent.

I have evolved over the years and have now built and managed teams and workflow processes for all production disciplines as well as leading creative services and business operations. I have an entrepreneurial mentality with an ability to find creative ways to generate new revenue streams and grow profitability. I Designed and oversaw construction of 2,500 Sq Ft post production facility. I was able to grow that business an average of 14% YOY for 6 years. Once revenue was at capacity I created a $300K expansion plan. Revenue was nearly double in the first year from $3.3M to $6M.

Being the leader of several production studios has also led me to be heavily involved in IT, where I have driven innovation and cost savings. This also gives me a handle on the breadth and interconnectedness of all parts of the agency. This helps me to streamline internal processes with hardware and software solutions to support efficient production and delivery of great creative work.

Although I have been in a leadership role for sometime now, I am a working manager. I welcome the opportunity to role up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. It can sometimes be extremely therapeutic to get back to my roots. Noting keeps me more in-tune with the teams I am leading than actually being down in the trenches with them. It is something I pride myself on and look forward to continuing in the future.

Accomplishments
•  Scaled creative services team from 5 to 60 over 5 year period
•  Reversed post production P&L net profit from -98K to +400K within one year
•  Grew post revenue average 14% YOY for last 6 years
•  Decreased COGS from 25% to 15% of revenue
•  Designed tech & AV for social media listening room
•  Designed floor plan and oversaw construction of 2,500 Sq. Ft. post production studio
•  Created business plan for $300k expansion of post production facility
•  Nearly doubled revenue from $3.3M to $6M in first year after expansion
•  Oversaw operational due diligence on successful $240M M&A target. 
•  Created business plan to take post production facility from in house department to full scale production company spin off
•  Participated in the creation of multiple successful Super Bowl ads


year period
6/2009 - 11/2019	• Reversed post production P&L net profit from -98k to
• Lead a team of 60 - reporting departments: +400K within one year
Post Production/Print/Digital Studio   Content	• Grew post revenue average 14% YOY for last 6 years
Management   Project Management   Art Buying	• Decreased COGS from 25% to 15% of revenue
Print Production   Digital Asset Management   IT	• Designed tech & AV for social media listening room
• Close collaboration with Social Media, CRM, Digital	• Designed floor plan and oversaw construction
and Content Production teams to provide cost	of 2,500 Sq. Ft. post production studio
effective and efficient production and post	• Created business plan for $300K expansion of post
production solutions	production facility
• Developed and maintained production workflow	• Nearly doubled revenue from $3.3M to $6M in first
processes for digital, print, post production and	year after expansion
content production teams	• Oversaw operational due diligence on successful $240M
• Oversaw day to day operations, bidding and	M&A target.
scheduling for post production including editorial,	• Created business plan to take post production facility
motion graphics, flame, audio and color	from in-house profit center to full scale production
• Oversaw procurement of all print collateral,	company spin off
photography and CG assets	• Participated in the creation of multiple successful
• Maintained roster of freelance talent for all studios	Super Bowl ads
• Managed budget and time lines of multiple creative
production projects and teams simultaneously	PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
• Managed vendor contracts & negotiations	• Excellent leadership skills
• Managed and sourced developers for in-house web	• Great in high pressure situations
and app projects	• Desire to streamline internal processes to support
• Oversaw development of PSD and Sketch comps for	agency produced work in a creative environment
digital media pre production	• Proven record of forward thinking and ability to
• Oversaw creation and enforcement of	cultivate creativity and innovation
brand guidelines	• Outstanding communication and relationship building
• Directed and produced quarterly LiveStream for	skills with all levels of employees and clients
dealers and regions	• Cross-functional team management
• Oversaw leadership review of final creative	• Strong problem-solving skills and resourcefulness with
• Prepared materials for and participated in new	strong attention to detail
business presentations	• Attentive, diplomatic and intuitive in regards to
• Created staffing plans for new business on boarding	management and client needs
• Managed IT OpEx, CapEx & project budgets	• Seasoned veteran in all 3 production disciplines
• Sourced and implemented DAM system	(Print, Digital, Broadcast) as well as business operations
• Member of agency operations committee	• Excels at identifying, nurturing and developing talent
• Responsible for all reporting department P&L's	• Constantly striving to stay on the cutting edge of
• Created growth focused business plans	industry technology and trends
and proposals	• Strong creative eye with the ability to provide
constructive and positive feedback
SOFTWARE	• Entrepreneurial vision to help companies grow

EXPERT	OTHER SOFTWARE	EDUCATION
• Adobe CC	• Adobe XD

• Microsoft Office 365	• CSS3
• SmartSheet	FOLLOW
Past experience continued on next page	www.linkedin.com/in/nickmarello/
Executive   Post Production   Creative Production   Business Operations
nick.marello@gmail.com   949.289.3442   http://nickmarello.com


PAST EXPERIENCE

Vice President, Studio Operations/Creative Services

Associate Studio Director / Sr. Production Artist
1/2007 - 6/2009	6/2002 - 7/2005
•   Designed print workflow process	•   Managed department workflow
•   Maintain asset management data base/website	•   Delegated work to production artists
•   Tracked and managed studio profitability	•   Co-developed print AD database
•   Managed materials and staffing budgets	•   Re-sized and re-designed ads
•   Introduced studio into web media workflow to	•   Prepared materials for client presentations
raise profitability	•   Created commercial story boards
•   Lead development of web-based scoping, request and   •   Prepared estimates
reporting Tools	•   Coordinated agency switch to Mac OS X from OS 9
•   Re-sized And re-designed ads/mechanicals	•   Coordinated agency switch to Adobe CS from Quark
•   Photo retouching	•   Coordinated training for Adobe CS
•   Managed post production editor	•   Assisted creative team with technical questions
•   Key stakeholder in IT decision making

Studio Director

Franklin Park, IL / Irvine, CA
BBDO West - Los Angeles, CA	Production Artist / Agency Consultant / Pre Press Operator
Studio Director/Project Manager	6/1994 - 6/2002
7/2005 - 1/2007
•   Image retouching
•   Created production workflow process	•   Special effects imaging
•   Designed server architecture	•   Hires file assembly
•   Created data base for ad numbering system	•   Page layout
•   Maintained asset management web site	•   File Trapping
•   Re-sized And re-designed ads/mechanicals	•   Film/plate output
•   Designed and created TV art cards/end cards	•   Prepared and pre-flighted files
•   Prepared materials for client presentations	•   Managed press checks
•   Created commercial story boards	•   Consulted agency on printing and pre press needs
•   Assisted creative team with technical / IT help
•   Prepared estimates
•   Responsible for on site mac IT/help desk
•   Managed time lines of multiple projects

Studio Director/Project Manager

Find out detailed information about Nick Marello,  in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Nick Marello: in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Nick Marello

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