Lead creative strategy for Unique Petz Brand, Coleman Brand, Best Friends Animal Society and Private Label. Ensure efficient project management, owning end to end creative production process, from brief to final delivery. Manage while meeting deadlines, and assigning duties to each team member. Oversee cross-functional teams: Product Design, Package Design and Product Development. Work closely with leadership to execute sales and marketing initiatives.

Maria Weatherspool is owner and founder of Em Studio, a small design studio that creates a range of visual and innovative designs. She has been in the industry as a Graphic Designer and Art Director successfully for over 20 years. She has worked as Senior Art Director at Pentech Internationl creating strong licensed products and packaging designs, while collaborating with Marketing on new product development. Maria was also Creative Director at FAB/ Starpoint launching their New Stationery Division, creating strong and innovative license designs. Maria has designed products and packaging for Children’s’ licensed and private label products, which include: product design, package design, product development, line development, trends, and the production coordination with overseas vendors. Some of her biggest clients have been Disney, Fisher-Price, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Mattel, Coca Cola and a many other well renowned brands. At Em Studio, Maria continues to design and develop for children’s products, stationery products, along with medical marketing collateral, corporate identity, branding and web graphics. Her emphasize is on license design, package design, branding, trend research, product development, marketing materials, and digital design. Having received her BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY and completing the Social Media Essentials Program at New Jersey Institute of Technology Maria has arrived at strong foresight for visual communication.The Big Idea Factory, Inc. MSA Management / Medical MarketingRegent Baby Products Corp., NYOmega Heat Transfer NJStarpoint / Division of FAB NYC

•Design and Direction of major license properties for Pentech Studio: Star Wars: Episode I, Barbie, Mickey Unlimited, Coca-Cola and NHL.• Oversee Jr. Designers/ Freelance Artists / Photoshoots• Meet with Major Licensors for new concepts and direction.

Design and Direction of Children's Accessories - Bags and Hats.• Directed full-time and freelance designers and illustrators.• Design Direction of accessories for license properties: Sesame Street, Mickey & Co. and Baby Mickey & Co.• Catalog Design / Oversee photography.• International travel to the Orient for sourcing, shopping the market and sample approvals. ie: Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Philippines and Bangkok.

Design and Directed specialty gift wrap, alternative packaging and visual merchandising for large retail chains such as: Macy's, Dayton Hudson, Harry & David, Carter Hawley Hale, etc.• Directed in-house and freelance designer and illustrators.• Responsible for Special Request and Budgets• Design of Store displays and booth designs for trade shows.