Maureen Buxton Email & Phone Number

Framingham, Massachusetts, United States

Creative LeadershipCurrently oversee an innovative multi-disciplinary in-house agency, that handles both creative strategy and brand development, as well as executional support across the organization. My team consists of about 30+ designers, writers, production artists, videographers, animators, editors, and UX/UI specialists. My focus areas in addition to team oversightCompany Branding & GuidelinesImprove Creative Culture & Cross Functional partnershipsCreative Strategy & ImplementationPMO Partnership & Workflow implementationExecutive & Sales Enablement PresentationsAgency structure & resource planningCo-lead the RFP and implementation of enterprise-level solutions Vendor ManagementBudget Management

Framingham, Ma

Partnered with cross functional teams to develop branded creative campaigns and assets, across a range of mediums and audiences. Worked to establish an overarching process and organizational structure that supports marketing goals. Lead the creative strategy and implementation of our e-commerce monthly and seasonal promotional campaigns. Established a brand book that ties our messaging together with look and feel. Established a weekly creative session to connect creatives from across the org - building stronger bonds amongst peers despite WFH/pandemic crisis. Worked to build/strengthen cross functional team relationships as the organization was experiencing rapid growth and change (throughout pandemic)

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

Principal Creative director: directed wide range of creative deliverables. Clientele ranging from small business, to global megabrands and IPOs such as: Siemens, Ziploc, Sephora, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Princess, Disney/Pixar, Hasbro, SpinMaster, TjX. Account Management: Direct client/customer relationships, established clear SLAs and SOWs; lead brand strategy and creative innovation workshops with client stakeholders, lead discussions during regular account status and performance reviews/updatesResponsible for Business Growth: Accountable for agency growth from a billings perspective as well as capabilities. (KPI: yoy billings increase, & yoy OC). In my final year, yoy billings of the design group increased over 375%Oversee Budget Management: overseeing the balance sheets for AP/AR, as well as general operating costs in quickbooks. Worked with owners to establish annual targets and report on results quarterlyOversee Recruiting/Hiring/Vendor Management: Writing and maintaining job descriptions and job postings, as well as talent scouting and hiring of FTEs and contractors, approving timesheets.Lead Building PM function (staff & tools): Built project management function, as well as lead the RFP and implementation process for workflow tool for PM and Sales. Stakeholder: HR decision-making worked with owners to establish benefits overview, salaries, bonus structure, culture expectations, etc. Rewrote and implemented a performance-based Profit-Sharing program.

Providence, Ri

Co Creative director: directed wide range of creative deliverable. Clientele ranging from small business, to global megabrands and IPOs such as: Siemens, Ziploc, Sephora, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Princess, Disney/Pixar, Hasbro, SpinMaster, TjX. Lead agency rebrand: Lead the initiative to reinvent the brand look and feel to be more inclusive of our blended agency groups Lead Website rebuild & content development: procured and worked with an outside agency to redesign, restructure and reboot website. New IA, new content, new messaging, new branding, updated samples and reels, searchability and analytics. Account Management: Direct client/customer relationships, established clear SLAs and SOWs; lead brand strategy and creative innovation workshops with client stakeholders, lead discussions during regular account status and performance reviews/updates

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

People Leader: worked with individuals to enable their best work and eliminate roadblocks, offer direction and inspiration.Lead product line creative governance/volume management: Responsible for initial creative exploration/alignment/implementation, as well as full rollout of waves of merchandise over time, ensuring graphic consistency of execution across various agencies, freelancers, printersMaintaining licensor partnerships: Built up strong creative collaboration with licensed partners and creative leads at brands such as Lucasfilm, Marvel, Disney Princess… etc. Vendor Management: agencies and freelancers that contribute executional work to projects – illustration, photography, etc. Responsible for Task & Resource Management: Accountable for day-to-day project management of self and freelancers.Helped lead workflow development: As company strove to capture a complete picture of workloads and time to market, I worked with cross-functional leads in toy and game, to establish a common workflow vernacular as well as pre-determined SLA. Responsible for helping implement this across the gaming categoryProject Budgeting/SOW& SLAs: Establishing budget/SOW/SLAs for external agency support. Quality user experience: a blend of expertise, requiring a deeper understanding of buyer/end user, and was a chance to be involved in copious testing and learning.Key Achievements: Lead a team responsible for facilitating a y/o/y increase in revenue of +43%.Successfully directed creative work with major licensed relationships with Disney, Marvel, Star Wars & YoKai brands.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

Art Director responsible for conceptualization and execution of brand vision across package, event space design, signage, and presentations for several key toy brands. Lead product line creative governance/volume management: Was not only responsible for initial creative exploration/alignment/implementation, but also the full rollout of waves of merchandise over time, ensuring graphic consistency of execution across various agencies, freelancers, printersVendor Management: agencies and freelancers that contribute executional work to projects – illustration, photography, etc. Directed illustration as well as product and lifestyle photography with internal and external studios, overseeing casting, styling, and necessary storytelling. Responsible for Task & Resource Management: Accountable for day-to-day project management of self and freelancers. No PM software in use, so this was manual tracking/recording using self-built Gantt charts and spreadsheets with pivot tables and all sorts of data capture and reporting.Collaborated with cross-functional partners as well as licensors to align the creative vision and prioritize design, consistency, budget and schedules.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

Sr Designer responsible for conceptualization and execution of brand vision across package, event space design, signage, and presentations for several key toy brands. Directed illustration as well as product and lifestyle photography with internal and external studios, overseeing casting, styling, and necessary storytelling. Collaborated with cross-functional partners as well as licensors to align the creative vision and prioritize design, consistency, budget and schedules.Key Achievements:Lead the successful re-brand and relaunch of Beyblade (a key licensed brand) as well as Kre-O (a Lego-challenger brand). Received a company award in 2012 acknowledging outstanding effort in the Kre-O re-brand and merchandising guide development.Successfully completed business development courses in Leadership, Presentation, Communication & Conflict resolution.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

Responsible for conceptualization and execution of brand vision across package, event space design, signage. Directed illustration as well as product and lifestyle photography with internal and external studios, overseeing casting, styling, and necessary storytelling. Collaborated with cross-functional partners as well as licensors to align the creative vision and prioritize design, consistency, budget and schedules.

Pawtucket, Ri

Stepped into an in-house agency experience to leverage my storytelling for a unique consumer audience. Packaging Design and Production based on established brand guidelines. Lead product and lifestyle photography shoots for multiple Playskool products. Time & Task Management: Manual tracking/recording using self-built Gantt charts and spreadsheets with pivot tables and all sorts of data capture and reporting.

Concord, Massachusetts, United States

Increased R&R and reported into Creative Director & Studio Manager. Campaign concepting: Worked alongside leaders and peers to develop innovative lifestyle brand ad concepts for several global/iconic brands such as Coach, Keds and wrangler. Onsite photoshoot direction:Built out campaign shoot production plans and executional guidelines for both lifestyle and product photography.

Concord, Massachusetts, United States

Pre-production & Mechanicals: Build various formats of supplied artwork production-ready and resolve any artwork issues that arise during productionAgency collateral design, produce, publish agency promotional assets for new business pitches and customer appreciation.Key Art Photography processing and retouching: image retouching, clipping paths and additional image manipulation to meet client goals.Trend, Industry, and competitive research: Understanding what's going on in consumer lifestyle brand market, facilitating research for creative team leads, helping distil into creative approach. Photography research: endless hours researching and filing through books and magazines for the perfect visual approach to sell an idea. Hundreds of hours tagging, scanning, retouching creative support for the pitch process. Craftsmanship: Responsible for preparing final, press-ready files based on supplied specifications for several types of printingCross Functional Collaboration: worked closely with art directors, designers, account managers, production leads and developersCampaign pitches: Work to support Design & Creative directors through the concept and design stages of campaign work. Shoot planning: Worked under the creative director to provide direction for location scouts, wardrobe, producers, client and creative leads to ensure a unified execution of the campaign vision.

• Provide unique and innovative approach to brand development and identity systems. • Develop creative direction, custom logo and architecture artwork, brand guides, layouts, as well as prepress and production capabilities.• Color and interior design consulting and execution

Woburn, Ma

Lead creative (boutique sized team): Design Concepting & Creative Development of logos, books, collateral, signage, apparel for a multitude of local and national clientele. Hands on designer for all areas and clientele.Managed End to end Campaigns: Majority of clientele were local and national political campaigns, where I worked alongside campaign managers end to end with their communications and promotions. Creative and copywriting/refinement support, understanding of their base & growth audiences and the pain points they need to address, QA, production oversight, data management for distribution lists & shipping/postal support. Responsible for Sales/Customer service: Pricing/SOW conversations directly with customers. Had to understand their goals, budget, timing expectations etc. Built Sales Collateral: Designed and built company’s first full catalogue for self promotion in 30 years. Facilitated Growth/Scale: worked with owners to scope and invest in new equipment and software to enhance quality and efficiency of the workflow.Responsible for QA Print execution: Learned the in & out of print production on offset, screen and digital presses. Everything from film output to creating plates & screens, and all the steps in between. Data merge/management: Responsible for handling mailing list data and setting up digital variable press files for production, ensuring that the right people were getting the right creative. This expanded beyond names/addresses, and went in to full variable creative printing, and management of assets for output.

Southbridge, Massachusetts, United States

Direct Care staff worker for adults and children with disabilities. Provided 1:1 support with onsite job duties and/or activities.

Bachelor Of Fine Arts (Bfa), Dual Major: Graphic Design & Animation, Summa Cum Laude

Aside from earning Dual BFA in Graphic Arts and Electronic Imaging... Worked in the Mac lab, helping design students learn design programs.

Undergraduate Hs Diploma With 4 Year Focus On Art Program

Varsity softball (3 years), Theatre Group, Art I-IV, Full Time Nanny, Deans List (multiple)