skills

  • Senior Industrial Designer with extensive product development experience; directing and coordinating projects ranging from concept to design to graphic applications for the food industry, specialty retail, toy and premium industry, consumer packaging, and point of purchase.

  • Environmental and Display Development / Trade Show Design and Execution.

  • Sourcing, Vendor Relations, and Budgeting.

  • Team Coordination / Mentorship, Needs Assessment, Process Optimization, and Quality Assurance.

  • Expert on MAC and PC with Microsoft skills for data entry and other necessary day to day office requirements.

  • Adobe Creative Suite including: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Solidworks, Esko Proprietary Software.

  • Prototype Development and Modelmaking / Client Presentations / Strategic Marketing and Sales.

  • Initiate all aspects of the product and graphic design process; from 3D rendering and modeling, securing bids, final production work, recommending graphic application techniques, to reviewing final material and color selection studies.

EXPERIENCE

Tyson Foods - Manager Industrial Design - July 2023 to Present

Tyson Foods - Senior Industrial Designer - October 2021 to July 2023

Tyson Foods - Industrial Designer - March 2018 to October 2021

  • Responsible for organizing, planning, managing and executing innovative packaging solutions across the Tyson organization with special emphasis on highly visible innovation projects in the Retail, Club, and Foodservice business.

  • Work as a cross functional resource with project teams to conceptualize, develop, investigate and recommend new packaging ideas, materials, forms, function, processes and equipment, and develop new packaging platforms to support product innovation to bring assigned projects to a successful conclusion.

  • Collaborate with Package Engineers to develop package specifications, validate prototypes, provide design and technical support to Product Development, Business Units, Supply Chain, and Procurement. Leverage suppliers to help define and spec materials and processes used in fabrication and assembly.

  • Support Supply Chain and Business Unit function in manufacturing of packages that meet customer and consumer expectation for character, cost, quality, and retain the design intent of the brand that lead to opportunity for innovation, growth, intellectual property and profitability.

  • Participate in programs requiring direct contact with consumers through qualitative research including home visits, ethnographies, and focus groups to creatively apply consumer insights into innovative design solutions across a multitude of packaging formats.

  • Responsible for assuring all projects are seen through to completion including documentation and protection of intellectual property. Manage multiple design projects and/or programs simultaneously.

  • Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with operations/divisional management and external customers.

UPS - Operations Supervisor - August 2017 to March 2018

  • Managed, planed, scheduled, and organized employees at distribution center.

  • Prepared and implemented action plans to ensure that all employees achieved planned productivity, maximum output, accuracy, and efficiency at all times.

  • Prepared and managed safety procedures in accordance with Company, OSHA, and DOT guidelines.

  • Meet or exceeded all established standards for accuracy and productivity.

  • Ensured that all department and/or corporate policies and procedures were communicated, understood, and adhered to.

  • Established and promoted a positive, team-oriented work environment emphasizing employee involvement, pro-active communication, inter-departmental cooperation, and continual improvement on all levels.

  • Made sure that all department employees received specific and detailed orientation, skills and safety training, appropriate materials and information, regular evaluations, and pro-active coaching to support their continued development.

  • Monitored and analyzed all opportunities to cut costs and improve efficiencies.

Zachary Ltd. - Buyer / Office Manager / Visual Display - 2015 to July 2017

  • Identified design trends, reviewed and analyzed special reports, summarized information.

  • Sourced and executed purchase orders, master agreements and other purchase transactions from independent artists and established manufactures for a small specialty wholesaler to achieve cost, schedule, and quality goals.

  • Developed and implemented office operations and procedures; including project planning, inventory and supplier management.

  • Achieved financial objectives by analyzing variances, evaluated expenditures, material forecasting, project planning and inventory control.

  • Maintained office staff by orientating, training, coaching, supporting, scheduling, dispute and performance negotiation.

  • Used and manipulated attractive sales displays throughout wholesale floor plans that engaged customers and boosted sales activity.

Tweet Tweet Home - Principal/Designer - 2009 to 2015

  • Oversaw all aspects of operations for this organization creating contemporary birdhouses, bird feeders, and related product lines sold worldwide in specialty retail and catalog outlets.

  • Designed products to be 100% recyclable, coordinated manufacturing in Asia with domestic distribution.

  • Created packaging to ship and display as efficient flat-packs, yet be visually intriguing across sales channels.

  • Lead product development, design, and marketing of these unique products.

  • Negotiated licensing agreements, rep group sales, and inventory distribution (including EDI).

  • Administered budgets, conducted estimating, optimized scheduling, directed freelance artists, and utilized creative/problem solving skills to develop successful concepts into sought-after, sell-able products.

  • Successfully grew product sales on average 250% yearly over 5 years.

Greggo Magnets, Inc. - Owner/Designer - 1996 to 2009

  • Leveraged background in graphic and industrial design launching Greggo Magnets, Inc.: a gift line manufactured overseas and sold via sales reps in the United States and licensing agreements throughout Europe.

  • Designed sales support, including: catalogs, trade show booths, packaging, and customized products.

  • Established and grew concept, growing line to over 60 products.

 Gregory Sargent Design - Freelance - 1986 to 1996

  • Freelance Art Director Point of Sales / In Store Marketing / Hard Lines - Target.

  • Freelance designer packaging and graphics - Midwest of Cannon Falls.

  • Freelance graphic designer - Rollerblade USA.

  • Freelance graphic designer - Tonka Toys / Mattel Toys / Fisher Price Toys..

EDUCATION:

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY - Bachelor of Industrial Design - Graduated with Honors

  • Secondary emphasis in Packaging & Graphics

University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN - General Design: Interior Design, Textile, and Jewelry Design

Ripon College, Ripon, WI - Liberal Arts Studies: Emphasis in Architecture