MY NAME IS MICHAEL

 

Brooklyn, NY.

I'm now a Chai Wallah, a seller of chai teas.
Being an entrepreneur and having started three previous successful businesses I took the opportunity and challenge to develop and launch some new artisanal food products. Under my guidance, the company has been growing steadily in sales and brand awareness since the official launch in January 2014.

• Brand development, strategy, and implementation
• Formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products
• Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures, and other promotional material.
• Write advertising copy for use by all media to promote the sale of products
• Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, newsletters and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
• Art direction and design for all touch points, packaging, logos,  websites and collateral material.
• Develop pricing strategies
• Business development, Identifying new sales outlets and partners.

New York, NY

Interspectacular was launched in 2003 as a motion design boutique with the influential and award-winning rebrand of Comedy Central and quickly evolved into something entirely unique. It became part boutique agency specializing in humorous storytelling and part viral/underground character animation lab. For 10 years I ran the business as well as directed, selected, curated and led teams on campaigns for leading brands delivering quirky narrative and design solutions.
The right tool for the right project has always been my philosophy. Having deep relationships within the illustration and subculture arts communities I would frequently tap into them for innovative collaborative solutions.

• Developed budgets, negotiated contracts and quotes to ensure projects were completed within financial constraints while ensuring a studio profit margin between 35-45%.
• Leveraged in-depth knowledge of production methods, motion graphics, character animation, music, and sound design.
• Managed writers, artists, designers and project managers with a hands-on approach in order to successfully accomplish daily work and special projects.
• Trained and mentored creatives, monitored and directed performance in key areas.
• Combined video, animation, audio and motion graphics to effectively convey each story.
• produced, directed network redesigns, advertising, show packages, and film titles.
• Met with clients to discuss their project goals and articulated specific objectives to the creative team.

New York, NY

Became a creative director and partner in my first mid-size design studio.

• Oversaw and managed all creative aspects of the studio leading our creative teams to award-winning solutions
• Brought in significant new business through great work and great relationships to increase billings to 2.25 million.
• Assembled, led and managed creative teams for television and advertising campaigns, Network packages, Short film projects.
• Met client needs and accomplished creative visions by overseeing strategic, focused campaigns.
• Designed, story-boarded and animated projects
• Worked closely with publicists and developed company brand, marketing strategies and campaigns.
• Discovered, trained and mentored creative staff and developed new talent