Candace Walters Email and Phone Number

Grateful leader of the talented Design and Graphics SME's that support our brands across the US, Canada and LATAM. We support a business environment where brands can achieve their strategic goals through effective brand design and executional excellence.

Starting at Miller in 2004 as on-site consultant, I supported the newly formed New Product Development group. When Miller and Coors formed their joint venture I was hired full time and my responsibilities grew to include craft and national brands.As the business has evolved under Molson Coors my responsibilities now include Brand Design Management of Coors and Miller brands, driving packaging and brand identity development and implementation, design strategy for consumer research, print, POS, out-of-home, merchandise, digital, stadium and destination design. In addition to brand responsibilities, I am team lead for Design and Graphics Production teams. I manage a talented groups of professionals, leveraging individual strengths to successfully deliver in a fast, lean environment.Responsibilities- Packaging and brand ID development including Coors Light, Miller Lite, Miller 64, Innovation- Brand World process implementation across portfolio of brands.- Critical Thinking ambassador, teaching, utilizing and promoting methodologies.- Guidance on creative briefs and consumer research methodologies- Agency relationship management, ensuring brand vision and objectives translate into successful creative solutions.- Establishment of team process improvements based on industry best practices to drive efficiency and effectiveness- Cross-functional collaboration with Field Marketing, production graphics, project management, R&D, Sales and suppliers.- Development and implementation of training created to elevate Design acumen across Marketing.Accomplishments - Brand World process architect, establishing structure and best practices for brand application across all consumer materials.- Leading a team of subject matter experts that deliver value to the company every day- Drove development of brand identity, packaging and Brand World for Miller 64 relaunch, improving volume trends (STR volume change +7 vs PY) based on packaging alone.

I'm pleased to have the position of the Chicago Chapter President of Disabilities United BRG at Molson Coors. My experience with multiple family members with disabilities pushed me to know more and to DO more for this underserved community of humans.

I joined the Design Partners team to provide support as agency of record for the Kraft Pizza business, including concept development, design and project management for innovations, promotions and line extensions. Brands included DiGiorno, Jack’s and Tombstone.

I started working at Kraft as a Designer, new to corporate culture and process, and very quickly had exposure to numerous national brands. It was fast, diverse and exciting to have line of sight to the brand objectives that informed design solutions for brands like Velveeta, Cheez Whiz and Bulls-Eye Barbecue sauce. I was promoted to Senior Designer and my responsibilities extended to include design work on Post cereal, salad dressing and cheese division brands.Within a few years I was promoted to Design Manager, managing the internal design resource with three direct reports. I became involved in packaging strategies, art direction, financial tracking and people development. I worked with my team to become the go-to creative resource for a variety of brands, providing creative solutions for the Kraft Pizza Co. as an addition to the brand teams we supported.I welcomed every opportunity to expand my skill set while at Kraft, whether it be photo art direction, people management or understanding design applied to a range of substrates. The breadth of experience provided invaluable lessons to broaden my skill sets as a Design Manager.