Duane Lyken Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

* Strategic Planning: Developing and implementing strategic plans to drive the business forward, including setting goals, targets, and budgets.* Operational Oversight: Managing day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient workflows, scheduling photography sessions, and coordinating with schools and staff.* Team Leadership: Leading a team of photographers, editors, and administrative staff, fostering a positive work environment, and ensuring proper training and development.* Client Relations: Building and maintaining relationships with schools, understanding their needs, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.* Financial Management: Monitoring financial performance, controlling costs, and optimizing revenue streams while ensuring profitability.* Innovation and Adaptation: Staying updated with photography trends, technological advancements, and educational requirements to continuously improve services.* Quality Assurance: Overseeing the editing and production processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality photographs to clients.As the Managing Director I play a vital role in not only managing the business operations but also in fostering creativity, maintaining high standards of service, and building lasting relationships with educational institutions.

New York City Metropolitan Area

ResponsibilitiesFinancial Oversight:- Oversees the development and implementation of the organization's financial policies and procedures.Reviews and approves the annual budget in collaboration with the executive director and finance committee.- Monitors the organization's financial performance against the budget and provides regular reports to the Board.- Ensures compliance with all financial reporting requirements, including tax filings and audits.- Protects the organization's assets by ensuring proper controls and safeguards are in place.Board Leadership:- Serves in decision making as a part of the Executive Board of Directors and actively participates in board meetings.- Chairs the Finance Committee and oversees its activities.- Provides financial expertise and guidance to the Board.- Communicates complex financial information in a clear and understandable manner to the Board.Relationship Building:- Collaborates with the executive director, finance staff, and auditors to ensure effective financial management.- Builds strong relationships with donors, funders, and other external stakeholders.Risk Management:- Identifies and assesses financial risks and develops strategies to mitigate them.- Ensures adequate insurance coverage is in place to protect the organization's assets.

* Identifies newsworthy events, stories, or subjects to cover. * Conducts research and investigates stories to gather accurate information. * Develops contacts and maintains relationships within the community to access events and stories. * Writes captions, descriptions, and sometimes articles to accompany the visual content. * Travels to various locations both domestic and abroad, often on short notice, to cover news events, including but not limited to politics, sports, disasters, conflicts, and human interest stories. * Works in challenging and dynamic environments to capture moments as they unfold. * Adapts to different lighting, weather, and physical conditions while ensuring the delivery of high-quality images.* Ethical Standards: * Adheres to ethical standards and guidelines in journalism, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in storytelling. * Respects privacy and obtains necessary permissions when photographing individuals or sensitive situations.* Deadline Management: * Works under tight deadlines to deliver images promptly for publication or broadcasting. * Edits and processes photographs quickly without compromising quality.* Equipment Maintenance: * Maintains and cares for equipment to ensure functionality and quality of images.* Collaboration and Communication: * Collaborates with reporters, editors, and other media professionals to produce comprehensive stories. * Communicates effectively to convey the narrative and context of the images captured.* Safety Measures: * Prioritizes personal safety and security while working in potentially hazardous situations, such as conflict zones or natural disasters.* Keeping Up with Trends: * Stays updated with current events, technological advancements in photography, and trends in visual storytelling.

New York City Metropolitan Area

Portrait / Commercial / Editorial* Comprehensive experience in capturing dynamic and compelling visual narratives across various industries. * Proficient in utilizing advanced photographic techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to deliver high-quality images that align with clients' brand identities and marketing objectives. * Adept at collaborating with diverse teams, including art directors, stylists, and clients, to execute projects that exceed expectations and drive impactful visual storytelling. * Proven ability to adapt to varying project scopes and environments, ensuring exceptional results while adhering to strict timelines and budgets.* Business Operations: Manage the day-to-day operations, overseeing scheduling, client interactions, and administrative tasks. This includes managing finances, contracts, and maintaining a professional online presence.* Team Management: Hiring, training, and supervising photographers, editors, and administrative staff.* Creative Direction: Provide creative direction and guidance to photographers, setting the tone for the company's style and ensuring consistency in the work produced.* Client Relations: Building and maintaining client relationships. Conduct consultations, negotiations, and ensure client satisfaction throughout their projects.* Marketing and Sales: Developing marketing strategies to attract new clients and retain existing ones. Identify target markets, market trends, advertising, and networking within the industry.* Technology and Innovation: Staying updated with the latest photography trends, techniques, and equipment. Invest in new technology to improve the quality of services.* Problem-Solving: From equipment malfunctions to client concerns, troubleshooting and resolving issues that arise within the company.As the owner of a photography company a balance of artistic creativity with strong business acumen is necessary to ensure the company thrives in a competitive industry.