14 Cambridge Drive, Wolcott, CT 06716 | 203.879.3152 | hlucas02@snet.net
Creative Director with brand development and team optimizing expertise. With a diverse set of skills acquired from agency, publishing, and corporate environments, I’m confident that I can achieve any goal. I'm a creative, efficient, articulate team leader and problem solver with a passion to build profitable connections between brands and customers through cohesive campaigns I create marketing campaigns, develop strategy, analyze campaigns, manage social media, maintain budgets, source product, manage/mentor my team, work with vendors, and anything else needed to succeed.
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Turned a team of doers into achievers with training and empowerment. Increased team workload capacity by over 280%
with processes and efficiencies, developed a vision for the brand, and executed it with excellence across all channels. -
Helped build skincare brand from 2 products to 12 in two years, increasing annual sales from $6m to $20m/yr.
Directed, managed, analyzed, implemented, and strategically planned all creative assets. -
Led a small team that created 80+ books/premiums per quarter on time and under budget. Made substantial
process/workflow improvements that increased product quality and reduced production time. -
Created antiaging cosmetic brand from concept though production. Developed brand strategies, created branding
and packaging design, directed product formula development, conducted surveys and marketing research.
Media Horizons, Norwalk, CT (Marketing Agency) August 2021-July 2023
Creative Director: Successfully supported clients like Visionworks, Brooke+Whittle, Jitterbug, Lifeline, Journey, Bankwell, and Cubii to help them not only meet, but exceed their goals in print, digital and video content. In partnering with clients, we were able to thoroughly grasp and understand the brand to develop perfectly-aligned creative solutions to grow clients’ businesses and add to their bottom lines. Expanded team structure, defined processes, found efficiencies, and expanded our skillsets to be as nimble as possible, and increased and project capacity by 50%.
Really Good Stuff, Shelton, CT (Innovative Solutions for Classrooms) 2018-2021
Creative Director: I’ve led a great team of as many as 13 full time employees and 6 freelancers. We’ve elevated and expanded all the creative content pivotal for brand growth. I’ve re ned processes and found ef ciencies to allow for massive growth in team capabilities, resulting in a production increase of over 60% in just one year with signi cant decreases in consulting costs. I’ve led the evolution of our brand identity through visual imagery, messaging, design, animation, and videos. Since my inception of the video team - hundreds of videos in several different styles have been created to further develop brand personality and support brand growth. I’ve also led New Product Development- nding process ef ciencies, inspiring creativity, and empowering innovation.
Boozt Cosmetics, New Brunswick, NJ (Antiaging Cosmetics Brand) 2016-2017
Creative Director: I developed branding, packaging, and marketing strategies; conducted market analysis, research, and focus groups; and created surveys and mock-ups for presentations. I led and reviewed product formulations, managed vendors to produce finished product within timelines, and developed social media and marketing plans for product launch.
DermaSilk Brands, New Brunswick, NJ (Antiaging Skincare) 2014-2016
Creative Director: Developed and executed marketing plans which included email campaigns, promotions, videos, partnerships, facebook ads, giveaways, store discounts, samplings, in uencers, and print opportunities. Reduced packaging costs, researched and developed new products, and signi cantly increased social media activity. Cmpaign analysis showed that a digital campaign increased website sales by 400%.
Biotech Corporation, Glastonbury, CT (Antiaging Skincare) 2011-2013
Art Director: Led the art department that built the DermaSilk skincare brand from 2 products to 12 products. Strategized, managed, and directed all creative content including packaging, website, social media, email campaigns, videos, commercials, tradeshow booths, brochures, and national advertising. Tracked and analyzed campaigns, managed schedules, and developed marketing/advertising calendar. Helped to grow brand from $6m/year to $20m/year.
The GRI Marketing Group, Trumbull, CT 2008-2009
Art Director: Designed direct mail packages, space ads, digital newsletters/marketing, and websites for clients such as CondeNast, Forbes, PDN and Newsweek Magazines. Redesigned company website. Developed an archiving system that shortened le retrieval time by 50%.
Scholastic Inc., Direct Marketing Division, Danbury, CT 2000-2008
Art Director, Creative Services: Designed direct mail packages,co-ops, freerides, space ads, FSI’s, landing pages, email campaigns, e-spots, and banners (both static and animated). Developed PowerPoint presentations and directed photoshoots.
Coordinator/Art Director, Product Development Developed 80+ books, premiums, and calendars per quarter under tight deadlines, including concepting, product and logo design, creation of art, hi-res art retouching, and production. Trained and managed in-house freelancers, art directed packagers, coordinated book production schedules, and worked with licensors. Raised quality and lowered costs by developing SOP guidelines.
Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign); Skills in Powerpoint, MS Office, Lightroom, animation, website design
Education: Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT: BA Graphic Design/ Special Studies-Art
Continued Education: Direct Marketing Program at WCSU, Dreamweaver and Flash Training