Sara Mcdaniel Email & Phone Number

Mountain View, California, United States

• RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Assist Google's Photo Lead in managing projects and workflows; developing a plan-of-action for ~100 jobs a year, scoping against current workload and team resources.
• Built and implemented official, defined reporting tools & metrics for the first time in Photo Studio's history.
• Key player during the implementation of a project-management tool for Google's Devices & Services group. I influenced Photo Studio to become the first team to implement the system -- recognizing it as a much-needed.
• Advocate for consistent, small process improvements by regularly analyzing workplace data: recognizing what works, and identifying future problems / common blockers before they arise.
• Monitor daily operations of in-house photo, retouching, and 3D teams, working closely with producers and cross-functional stakeholders to stay on track with production and reviews.

Mountain View, California

I'm an experienced, published writer with a Bachelors from the top journalism school in the country. My work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S. I'm also a multidisciplinary senior graphic designer with more than a decade of experience at publications. Together, these skills make me a one-stop shop for clients who need someone to create an annual.

Durham, North Carolina

• Set creative strategy, execution, and rollout of 40-50 projects a year, including a magazine, books, digital media, ad campaigns, events, and unique project launches including collaborations with the NCAA College World.
• Lead daily operations of in-house design & production team. Source, hire, and art-direct a diverse group of freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers.
• Serve as design & production leader on cross-functional teams that include marketing, editorial, and sales. Primary point of contact for all workflow and deadlines.
• Maintain strict standards from start to finish to ensure well-crafted design: creating best-practices and style guides, setting efficient workflow, reporting on progress, and conducting reviews after project is complete.
• Cultivate stakeholder relationships with printers, USPS, and distributors around the country to ensure specs and deadlines are met.
• Developed and monitored annual budget of over $1 million. Responsible for cost-forecasting, gathering bids, contracts, purchasing, and tracking distribution.

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Was recruited to the company by the Assistant Design Editor.
• Met with editors and photographers to plan projects.
• Responsible for art direction and execution of two weekly sections and an entertainment tabloid.
• Participated in the conceptualization and development of projects with a rotating staff of writers and editors, and collaborated with photographers in the studio to execute the work.
• Sourced or commissioned materials including photos, illustrations and multimedia for projects while on daily deadline.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

• Was recruited to the company by the Design Director.
• Led five-person department during a yearlong period without a department head, including managing production workflow and employee schedules.
• Created and chaired a committee to set communication strategies and standard operating procedures in design departments company-wide.
• Acted as a liaison between management and the department.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Generated story ideas and wrote investigative news stories, human-interest features and reviews.
• Interviewed politicians, community leaders, and experts in various local industries for relevant news articles.
• Assisted in design and production of the state’s largest newsweekly, in addition to writing a weekly column on the media.