Executive-level operational oversight, P&L management and strategic steering accountability across all daily Letter Shop operations within this high-volume/fast-paced print production facility. Provide leadership and direction to a team of seven director-level direct reports overseeing 280 employees across multiple departments (Letter Shop, Binding, Digital Print, Building Maintenance and Quality). Recruit, interview, hire, train and develop staff; regularly evaluate employee performance levels, identifying areas in need of improvement and implementing corrective measures.Maintain a core focus on ensuring the timely production and distribution of all direct mail materials. Evaluate project quotes and compare against cost of production to ensure consistent profitability. Collaborate closely with sales personnel to ensure that the Letter Shop has the manufacturing capability to fulfill the packages being sold to customers. Ensure the highest levels of safety and cleanliness throughout facility at all times. Verify operational compliance with corporate mission and strategic vision; define enhancement areas and launch continuous improvement benchmarks/best practice solutions to achieve goals. Assess daily operations, analyze options and implement solutions to streamline costs and increase efficiency.

Held direct operational, production, quality, staff, on-time shipping and customer service responsibility for all Solo Mail (direct mail) operations. Managed a team of up to 95 employees. Oversaw production, in-/out-bound materials, scheduling, inventory, purchasing, staff training, client relations, capacity planning, reporting and all aspects of machine maintenance and quality control. Controlled budgets for staffing and negotiated contracts. Estimated and led full life cycle production through fulfillment. Maintained and controlled compliance standards.Conducted daily quality and safety audits and led process improvements and team building strategies to improve output, quality, safety, cost controls, waste and labor utilization. Personally orchestrated the configuration and integration of mission-critical inventory data within the Printstream business management system, which was instrumental in the first stages of moving towards an enterprise-wide standardized business management platform. Recipient of the 2009 Publisher’s Team Award for significant achievements in multiple categories:Orchestrated the launch of a co-branded midweek package to more than 3.2 million homes.Produced more than 40 million inserts on a weekly basis.Successfully maintained household level targeting goals despite ever-increasing volumes. Generated more than $20.1M in revenue in 2009, as well as millions of dollars in additional cash flow.Earned the 2009 Tribune Direct SuperValu Team Award for personal contributions to the organization’s record-breaking year in terms of revenue and cash flow. Earned the 2008 Tribune Direct Red Plum Trib Local Values Team Award for the provision of best-in-class direct marketing services. Transitioned the CTC/VCI midweek program from a complicated initiative to a routine mailing.Winner of the 2007 Tribune Direct Team Award, as well as the 2006 Tribune Direct E2E Team Award.

Accountable for the complex planning and configuration of Letter Shop Solo Mail production runs with primary emphasis on maintaining optimal efficiency in order to meet extremely rigid in-home delivery deadlines. Generated daily reports detailing employee productivity, equipment reliability, set asides and waste.Obtained certification in Mail Piece Design in 2006.Recipient of the 2004 Special Achievement Award.

Oversaw all day-to-day operations within the Letter Shop. Recruited, hired, trained and mentored a staff of up to 85 people, encompassing supervisors and administrative personnel. Actively monitored production performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness, reliability and speed. Defined and implemented enhancement strategies to increase operational efficiency and productivity, as well as eliminate machine downtime and excess expenses without comprising quality. Ensured operational compliance with mandated corporate policies and procedures, as well as the enforcement of safety regulations.

Held full oversight responsibility for full cycle production planning and control, as well as debugging and testing for multiple production lines to ensure compliance with set production schedules within a fast-paced environment. Directed all areas of safety, quality, productivity and process improvements, as well as cross-training, task delegation, evaluation and discipline of up to 30 production associates. Planned and directed production and labor to meet schedules; coordinated objectives to set priorities; facilitated daily staff meetings. Maintained an efficient work flow through frequent communication with interdepartmental personnel throughout the facility to effectively coordinate operations in line with schedule restraints.

Scope of responsibility included the safe and proper execution of maintenance operations within the Letter Shop in an effort to facilitate optimum effectiveness of all materials produced. Ensured the correct functionality of all equipment and top quality production to meet customer expectations and organizational standards.