Hi there!After earning my Marketing degree from Oklahoma State University and serving as Chief Editor of The Black Sheep Magazine, I made my way to Chicago, where I've combined creativity and strategy to make an impact. Over the years, I’ve worked with more than 30 comedians, musicians, and influencers, crafting graphic designs and marketing campaigns that boost brand awareness and fill seats for live performances.Professionally, I’ve spent the last four years as a recruiter in both staffing and RPO, as well as expanding my role into operations at Nextpoint. I partnered with clients like NBC Universal, ULTA, and UnitedHealth Group, successfully placing over 40 candidates in roles ranging from IT Data Architects to Warehouse Administrators. At Nextpoint, I streamlined recruiting workflows, created SOPs, and supported cross-department hiring for teams like Product, Legal, and Engineering. I also enhanced onboarding processes, managed IT operations for 90+ devices, and led initiatives like cyber security audits and hardware setup. Whether working in the fast-paced creative world or the dynamic tech industry, I excel at gathering detailed client requirements, delivering impactful results, and optimizing processes to support business growth.Beyond recruiting, I launched my own business, HammerCraft Studios, where I designed, marketed, and self-published Mercenaries of Gridaris, a board game that raised over $15,000 on Kickstarter. From creating every piece of artwork to coordinating manufacturing and fulfilling 300 customer orders, this experience sharpened my skills in project coordination, branding, and logistics.I’m an outgoing, self-driven professional with a passion for connecting with clients and making a meaningful difference in business operations. When I’m not working, you can find me performing comedy, painting, or walking my dog - Pickle Pants. Let’s connect!
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Operations ManagerNextpointChicago, Il, Us -
Chief Executive OfficerHammercraft Studios Jun 2023 - PresentDesigned, developed, tested, and self-published the board game Mercenaries of Gridaris, a project undertaken between roles at Horizontal and Nextpoint.Created all game elements independently, including character art, graphic design, copywriting, and packaging design.Conducted extensive playtesting to refine gameplay mechanics and ensure a balanced and engaging player experience.Successfully raised over $15,000 through a Kickstarter campaign by executing targeted marketing strategies, including social media campaigns, event planning (e.g., a launch party), and securing promotional coverage on platforms like Barstool Chicago.Collaborated with offshore manufacturers to finalize design files, select components and materials, and oversee the logistics of mass production and overseas shipping.Personally fulfilled 300 customer orders, managing all aspects of inventory, packing, and distribution, ensuring high-quality service and customer satisfaction. -
Operations ManagerNextpoint Sep 2023 - PresentChicago, Illinois, UsLead full-cycle recruiting for 29 SaaS-oriented roles, from sourcing and interviewing to onboarding and training, working cross-functionally across departments including Product, Legal, Product Support, Sales, Engineering, IT, and Marketing.Enhance operational efficiency by optimizing recruiting workflows utilizing Google Suite Applications, LinkedIn Recruiter, SeekOut Recruiter, and Hireology ATS to improve the candidate experience while streamlining onboarding processes.Support the expansion of operations and recruiting efforts in San Francisco and Canada, creating SOPs and ensuring seamless integration of remote new hire onboarding.Serve as IT administrator, setting up hardware/software, configuring Google Workspace, KnowBe4, ESET, conference room technology, and supporting day-to-day technical needs like procuring and installing omnidirectional WiFi.Solely manage IT operations by setting up conference rooms, managing the server room, facilitating company-wide meetings, and collaborating with external IT providers while maintaining equipment inventory of 90 laptops.Manage cyber security and annual SOC 2 audit. Connect Open APIs to coordinate background checks, phishing campaigns, and cyber security training programs for company-wide implementation.Serve as Executive Assistant to the CEO as well as remote employees, managing travel arrangements, meeting schedules, and organizing company-sponsored events to foster employee engagement.Maintain office operations by liaising with third-party vendors like cleaning companies, volunteer events, office designers, plant services, catering services, and IT support while coordinating logistics for marketing campaigns, including the distribution of promotional materials.
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Graphic Designer And Marketing CoordinatorFreelance Aug 2018 - Aug 2024Collaborated with three influencers, growing their combined following from 500,000 to over 780,000 through strategic marketing, coordination, and graphic design.Designed album covers, booklets, clothing, and branding materials while providing consultations on brand awareness, trajectory, and consistency.Executed multi-channel distribution strategies, including guerrilla marketing, physical posters, social media campaigns, and partnerships with clothing companies, driving over 200,000 new followers and 800,000 post views.Extensive experience creating engaging promotional materials for Chicago comedy shows, including posters, flyers, and digital assets that capture the unique tone of each performance.Skilled in collaborating with producers and performers to deliver visually impactful designs tailored to audience preferences, driving attendance and ticket sales.Proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining creativity, detail, and brand consistency for successful campaigns.
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Staffing RecruiterHorizontal Talent Jul 2021 - Jun 2023St Louis Park, Mn, UsGenerated $175,000 in spread revenue through a total of 22 placements in roles like QA, Front End Developers, Back End Developers, and IT Architects throughout the time here at companies such as NBC, ULTA Beauty, United Health Group, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.Managed 3-5 requisitions weekly, sourcing for these roles via talent search engines, applicant tracking systems, and job boards including Bullhorn, LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed, and BuiltIn.Utilized Boolean Search Strings to populate lists of the most fitting candidates who were in the market, formulated outreach, and conducted 25-30 prescreen calls weekly to gather information on the candidates’ expertise. Strong relationship-building and communication skills to foster productive partnerships with hiring managers, team members, and external stakeholders, enabling efficient coordination and collaboration throughout the recruitment process. -
Recruiter / Account ManagerBayard Advertising Sep 2020 - Jul 2021New York, New York, UsFacilitated weekly stand-ups to align client and recruiter goals, leading a team to complete 80 hires on a $40,000 account in three months.Developed a tracking process and SOP for recruiters and clients, ensuring clear visibility into hiring metrics and enabling data-driven performance improvements such as increase in weekly prescreens by ~40%. This led to a reduction of client’s cost per hire from $600 to $440.Scheduled and conducted 35-50 candidate interviews weekly after working with the client to open more interview slots on their end and optimizing the recruiting process on our end. -
ManagerPaper Source Sep 2020 - Mar 2021Chicago, Illinois, UsDuring the weekends, oversaw a staff of around 3-5 Sales Associates during the busiest retail time of the year while training incoming seasonal sales associates. Utilized the POS system in great detail- not only processing the sales transactions, but using it to relay financial information to corporate and to analyze the various markers we needed to hit for our monthly goal. Worked with 2 other managers to bring our shop to the second highest selling Paper Source in the Midwest by creating fantastic holiday decorations and creating a great customer experience -
RecruiterSwoon May 2020 - Sep 2020Chicago, Il, UsManaged 3+ new accounts daily across diverse industries, including oil and gas, entertainment, finance, and human resources, ensuring tailored recruiting solutions for each sector.Sourced high-quality candidates utilizing Boolean search strings, multiple job boards, and the ATS Bullhorn, resulting in a reduction in time-to-hire by 20%.Prepared selected candidates for interviews and facilitated onboarding, processing paperwork for 6+ hires monthly with 100% compliance accuracy. -
Professional RecruiterBayard Advertising Oct 2019 - Apr 2020New York, New York, UsManaged 4 high-profile accounts, conducting 10 prescreen daily and consistently achieving up to 140% of target goal.Leveraged Indeed's programmatic system to boost applicant flow and organized successful hiring events for key clients, enhancing talent acquisition strategies.Collaborated with hiring managers to align recruitment processes with client needs, providing actionable feedback to optimize recruiter performance and improve outcomes.
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Hospitality Manager, Logistics Associate, And Data Entry SpecialistBeacon Hill Jul 2018 - Oct 2019Boston, Ma, UsCreated a more efficient system for the ARO’s hospitality department throughout nine floors while managing the monthly inventory budget while handling external client issues involving hospitality, mailroom, and reception desk. Worked with the new database system to consolidate and streamline the massive amounts of information that was received from applicants applying to BCG. Corrected/cleaned hundreds of applications sent in to BCG to ensure applications were consistent with a model application. Met quota of applications well in advance of the October deadline. -
Chief Campus Editor InternshipThe Black Sheep Jul 2016 - Jan 2018Chicago, Illinois, UsLed content creation and distribution for The Black Sheep, achieving top website traffic across 55 campuses. Attracted top writing talent through innovative marketing, boosting applications and building a high-performing, diverse team.Executed strategies to maximize reach via social media, newsletters, and campus events. Managed and mentored writers, ensuring quality and fostering creativity, driving the magazine's success. -
Account ExecutivePocketmoney Coupons May 2017 - Aug 2017Duluth, Georgia, Us• Sold advertisement space to a variety of local businesses- primarily door to door.• Had extensive knowledge of the product to be able to handle any face to face client interaction. -
Support Staff And WaiterMexico Joe'S Jun 2016 - Jul 2016
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Food RunnerCorner Bakery Café Mar 2014 - Jul 2014
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Retail Sales AssociateVertigo Jul 2012 - Dec 2013
Sam Hammer Skills
Sam Hammer Education Details
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Oklahoma State UniversityMarketing/ Entrepreneurship -
The Second CityImprovisation
Frequently Asked Questions about Sam Hammer
What company does Sam Hammer work for?
Sam Hammer works for Nextpoint
What is Sam Hammer's role at the current company?
Sam Hammer's current role is Operations Manager.
What schools did Sam Hammer attend?
Sam Hammer attended Oklahoma State University, The Second City.
What skills is Sam Hammer known for?
Sam Hammer has skills like Leadership, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Project Management, Powerpoint, Social Media, Microsoft Excel, Research, Google Doubleclick, 3d Modeling, Business To Business.
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