Darlene Bland Email and Phone Number

I am an individual that has successfully managed continual global business process improvements and change to create operational excellence. I have conducted activities concerned with development, application, and maintenance of quality standards for manufacturing processes, materials, and products. I have managed color and color approvals with maintaining customer service to approximately 250 designers. I have ensured the development and implementation of foundational quality systems. Experienced in the social expression of consumer products.I am seeking a new position building on my past experiences, and willing to learn new skills. Please contact me via LinkedIn or at DarleneBland@roadrunner.com

Creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products, including greeting cards, party goods, gift-wrap, electronic greetings, and character licensing. Color Management Technical Professional (2005 to 2018)Managed color, and Research and Developed (R&D) finishing processes for Creative and Manufacturing throughout American Greeting’s global business units.• Developed and documented new ICC color standards within the organization, which aligned color standards between the up-front designers, print, and finishing production areas.• Implemented color printing profiles throughout the organization, which improved customer satisfaction and final look of the product.• Managed color and maintenance for 20 Epson printers for approximately 250 designers.• Collaborated with many different leadership levels to implement cost-improvement projects, that saved up to 500K annually on merchandising card products.• Researched and developed new processes for social expression products, which allowed the merchandise to keep up with current trends.• Provided technical expertise and training to Creative, and Manufacturing on color-related processes, color imaging of files, and finishing process.• Improved product quality by resolving, and communicating supply-chain issues related to paper, finishing, color, printing, and file construction. • Provided paper-related information with SAP that was used to determine costs and developments for products.

Quality Database Professional (2003 to 2005)Worked with management, designers, and global manufacturing to improve product quality.• Resolved quality issues in a timely manner to complete the supply chain correction-cycle. Corrected files and returned them to production within 24 hours to meet delivery dates.• Investigated quality-related issues including digital files, mainframe systems, and digital asset management system to significantly reduce error rates and scrapped inventory.• Tagged metadata in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat PDFs files with company related automations that helped with the digital flow of file production.

Collaborated with management and Creative to improve and set standards within the company allowing a seamless flow of production files from Creative to Manufacturing.• Developed a new searchable PDF manual that contained documented standard operating procedures allowing users to readily find related subject material for file preparation and manufacturing information.• Collaborated with Creative, Manufacturing, and ISD on quality improvement processes and cost savings through the reduction of manual labor allowing for greater automation.• Collaborated with Creative, Manufacturing, and ISD on quality improvement processes and cost savings through the reduction of manual labor allowing for greater automation.

AMERICAN GREETINGS.COMProduction Creative Coordinator / Production Layout Artist (1998 to 2000)Collaborated with creative directors from the planning stage through the production of web-based online greetings, entertainment, and creative print products for e-commerce social media.• Developed new products for e-commerce digital greeting cards in conjunction with creative directors and coordinated production work of eight outside freelancers.• Designed, and optimized files using Adobe Photoshop, Image Ready, Freehand, and Flash allowing web-based greeting cards to be uploaded for purchase.

Collaborated with creative directors from the planning stage through the production of web-based online greetings, entertainment, and creative print products for e-commerce social media.• Developed new products for e-commerce digital greeting cards in conjunction with creative directors and coordinated production work for eight outside freelancers.• Designed, and optimized files using Adobe Photoshop, Image Ready, Freehand, and Flash this then allowed for web-based greeting cards to be upload for purchase.