Mike Nihart Email & Phone Number

Saint Paul, Mn, Us

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Us

Marketing and Sales1) Develop pricing strategies2) Identify, develop, and evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.3) Evaluate the financial aspects such as budgets, expenditures, and return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.4) Formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products and services, working with advertising managers.5) Negotiate contracts with vendors and networks and developing strategies.6) Leading the concept and development of all creative design efforts. Accomplishments:Reducing the overall marketing budget from 18% to 10% while still growing the overall companies profit. Restructuring sales commission to help the overall P&L for the company. Implemented tracking to see which source of advertising brought in leads that turned to sales. With this was able to determine which sources to keepOperations: Improve the operational systems, processes and policies in support of organizations mission -- specifically, support better management reporting, information flow and management, business process and organizational planning.1) Manage and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Support Services , through improvements to each function. 2) Play a significant role in long-term planning, including an initiative geared toward operational excellence.3) Oversee overall financial management and planning. 4)Regular meetings with Owner and President around fiscal planning.5) Supervise and coach 17 office staff on a weekly basis.Accomplishments:Restructured the process for new client files reducing overall timelines for installation. In 8 years grew overall sales from 6 million to 11 million a 46 percent growth while also improving overall P&L from 30 percent to 45 percent.

Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Us

Responsible for directing a design team in the development of innovative creative covering a wide range of print materials for Fingerhut, Gettington and other direct mail initiatives. Assign and review the work of the print design staff from concept stages through production. Maintain a broad view of the assigned area of responsibility to keep consistency with all brand communications.Major Areas of Accountability:• Leading the concept development, production and presentation of all creative design efforts for print communications • Presenting cohesive and persuasive rationales for all creative materials developed • Supporting Marketing and Merchandising print communication initiatives • Leading brainstorming and design meetings pertaining to creative concepts, improvements, and processes• Ensuring that the quality of creative is upheld, maintaining consistently high standards for output • Collaborating with department Creative Director/Interactive to ensure brand cohesion between direct mail and web channels• Managing relationships with freelance designers and external agencies to support creative when neededPrimary Duties:• Make decisions on a daily basis that ensures creative quality and brand consistency • Assure that timely and informative communication takes place between the creative team and internal partners • Manage outside resources including Ad Agencies, Photographers, and Freelance support when needed • Support in department production planning and budget development/adherance • Drive for constant improvements on design and development processes

Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Creative Design Group, this includes mentoring Art Directors as well as Designers including quarterly and yearly reviews. I am also responsible for hiring of all new talent within the creative team and fitting their talents within our group. I make sure design coming from the creative group is relevant to the market and branding is followed. I still work on High profile pieces, making sure that marketing has viable options and work with marketing to insure ROI is met.Responsible for yearly budgeting for the design group to include new hardware, software and salaries.Accomplishments· Implemented a in house video team to take on video that was being outsourced to support all three business units resulting in a $500,000 dollar savings· Work closely with all three business units of Patterson Companies, INC to bring them into the data management system so marketing can use the material provided for print and web promotions· Work with our digital team and our IS department to create a new Ecommerce site that will be responsible for over 2 billion dollars in sales

Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Creative Design Group, this includes mentoring Art Directors as well as designers including quarterly and yearly reviews. I also made sure design coming from the creative group is relevant to the market and branding is followed. I still worked on High profile pieces, making sure that marketing has viable options and work with marketing to insure ROI is met.Accomplishments· Suggested and implemented a web design team within the creative group which would all us to have better control of branding as well as be more cost effective· Implemented a pdf workflow that cut our paper cost by over $120,000 a year· Implemented a three-team structure to divide the work more efficiently among the creative group. The group now consists of a promotions, digital and publications team

Responsible for working on a variety of projects from web design to print and provide design work as well as coordinate the writing and production and administrative work for complex marketing communications· Ensured format styles, graphic standards and accuracy standards were met· Conduct photo shoots to provide advertizing photos· Main contact with Marketing and product manages gathering information as it relates to the project· Manage project deadlines with designers following my lead on complex jobs· Work with print buyers to achieve technical accuracy

Responsible for working on a variety of projects from web design to print and provide design work following the Art Director or Creative Directors advice· Ensured format styles, graphic standards and accuracy standards were met· Manage personal project workload to meet deadlines