1. Experienced in project management and driving design production for enterprise level and global corporate branding
initiatives for manufactured consumer packaged products. Adept at defining and implementing team assignments
within stringent project timelines, allocating both on-staff and outsourced creative talent. Relationship-builder, moti-
vator and manager for small or large teams focused on graphic design, printing, photography, video, and digital asset
management groups. Highly skilled in major Mac design software.
GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN SKILL SETS
CAREER
SUMMARY
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
E. & J. GALLO WINERY – MODESTO, CA
Creative Services, Production Manager JULY 2013–Present
Oversees the execution of Packaging, POS, Comping and Photo Retouching on a daily basis. Acts as a subject matter
resource for Production and Design team members. Manages seven reports comprising, POS specs/proofing, photo-
retouching for all Gallo projects, and in-house Comp Team for packaging and POS prototyping, Personally reviews all
packaging mechanical files & proofs, comping projects, and attends press checks when needed. Acts as a backup for
POS specs creation, proofing, and file posting notifications,
• Manages functions of pre-press, comp, and contract employees to develop production pieces that meet industry
and organizational standards.
• Works with external vendors and internal organizations to insure quality and timely printing of packaging and
Point of Sale materials.
• Oversees the execution of packaging specifications and final output, ensuring accurate, error free, and legally
approved mechanical artwork meets all deadlines and costs parameters.
• Responsible for setting all job specifications, approving all pre-press color outputs, and maintaining quality
assurance for packaging/ POS comps for wine and spirit projects.
• Core member of enterprise-wide team for Digital Asset Management system overhaul.
• Led feasibility research into 3D Printing software and printers.
COMMONWEALTH (McCANN + GOODBY, SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS – DETROIT),
Studio Manager, Production Arts OCT 1, 2012–JUNE 2013
Studio Manager for 11 in-house production designers working on all Chevrolet Global print and online advertising,
catalogs, point-of-sale, presentations and displays. Acting as liaison with Account Executives, Operations Managers,
Print schedulers, color retouch houses and micro-hubs in several other countries who are responsible for English and
non-English campaign translations and re-purposing from our mechanicals. Commonwealth/McCann as of April 1.
• Partnered with IT and Operations to create an automated workflow and Digital Asset Management system.
• Created in-house guidelines detailing how best to work with Production studio for the Creative Team and Account
Executives to make our work order communications more complete as well as streamlining and improving workflow.
• Large-scale project management
– Strategic planning
– Design conceptualization
– Talent sourcing
– Team-building
– Task assignments
– Timeline development
– Milestone attainment
– Budget allocation
– Direct internal charge-backs
– Senior management reporting
• Global marketplace
• Brand identity
• Creative direction
• Digital asset management
• Design/Production
– Packaging
– Advertising
– Marketing
– Environmental
– Printing processes
– Photography
– Video production
MICHAEL RAY
4012 Corte Bella, Modesto, CA 95356
209.499.0439 CELL
mikeray@bluegrass.net
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michae1ray

2. BROWN-FORMAN BEVERAGES
BF Design/Global Marketing, Production Design Manager 2006–2012
Project manager for 11 in-house designers and outsourced freelance talent, assigned and managed design pro-
duction for packaging design, advertising/marketing design, point-of-sale, advertising repurposing, environmental
design, and strategic global design planning for all spirit and wine brands. Responsibilities included establishing
timelines, tracking and reporting progress, while maintaining expenditures within budget. Served as communica-
tion liaison for product owners, production teams and print providers. Fulfilled role of Art Director and Designer on
projects, when needed.
• Partnered with Global Tequila Group and Global Whiskeys Group to manage all packaging and identity projects.
• Successfully led design production studio team responsible for major package designs for el Jimador, Herradura,
Antiguo, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Early Times flavors, and related product launches.
• Assigned and tracked annual average of 4,000 design projects including those for Jack Daniel’s, Gentleman
Jack, Southern Comfort, Korbel, Finlandia, Fetzer, Bonterra, Canadian Mist and other global brands.
• Liaison with Design, in-house Beverage Packaging Group and brand management.
• Core committee member for enterprise-wide projects for Digital Asset Management
• Became a Project Manager with the Global Production Project Management Office at Brown-Forman managing
additional non-design projects. Experienced in Microsoft Office Project.
BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION,
Global Marketing/Corporate Communications Senior Design Manager 1993–2006
Project managed 14-person corporate graphic design, video, photography, and in-house printing department with
yearly internal charge-back billings of $3M, saving $3 to $4M annually in outsourcing expenditures. Lead designer
and art director for Brown-Forman Corporation and worked on all B-F spirit and wine brands. Hired, managed, and
trained design team members. Skilled in Mac OS design software and Microsoft Office programs.
• Proposed and initiated advertising and out-of-home repurposing and fulfillment in-house to replace outside firms,
saving $600K in first year.
• Championed digital asset management and print on demand systems starting in 1999; worked on committees to
research, test, quote, and eventually implement both, saving B-F over $8 million to-date.
• Established charge-back system with all B-F clients paying an hourly rate plus expenses for all work, while bidding
against outside design and printing firms to save costs and increase efficiency and insure adherence to brand
identity standards.
• Converted analog-based video area and wet photography studio to all digital areas to keep pace with technology.
Handled all departmental budgeting, billing, tracking, reports and presentation to senior management.
ADGROUP, INC.
Design Director 1992–1993
Solo designer and account executive handling graphic design, illustration, cartooning, advertising and print buying
for a variety of clients including Humana, Inc., Capital Holding Company (later Providian/Aegon), Presbyterian Church
USA, The Cobb Group, Kentuckiana Girl Scouts Council, and Peace Education Council. Subcontracted with several
Louisville-based advertising agency and design firms.
UMI/DATA COURIER – A BELL+HOWELL COMPANY
Graphic Design Supervisor/Marketing, Advertising & Communications 1988–1992
Organized and managed a three-person design department for an online and CD-ROM database search firm.
Designed all marketing and training literature, including yearly manuals and quarterly newsletters. Created identity
packages, visual images for new product lines including library-based CD-ROM jukeboxes. Illustrated all editorial
and training materials. Developed creative concepts for ad campaigns and marketing projects, with additional
responsibility for yearly budget forecasting. Served as copy editor and proofreader.
MICHAEL RAY
PAGE 2
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
continued

3. UMI/DATA COURIER – CONTINUED
• Introduced desktop publishing and technical manual workflow two years earlier than forecast, saving company $45K
in typesetting fees within the first year alone.
• Designed and illustrated multiple-award winning publications for the search industry.
• Design Management Institute (DMI) at the Massachusetts College of Art – Boston 2006-2012
• American Advertising Federation of Louisville, 1997 to present; member Board of Directors 1997-1999
(including design & production of nationally award-winning Communiqué monthly newsletter 1997)
• Jefferson Community and Technical College Board of Directors/Design, 2001 to present
• Louisville Graphic Design Association 1995-2010
• American In-house Design Award from Graphic Design USA – New York. 2007
• Silver Louie Awards from American Advertising Federation of Louisville 1999, 1996, 1984
• International Association of Business Communicators and Public Relations Society of America, Landmarks of Excel-
lence Awards: First Place for “Special Projects” category, 2002; Merit, 1998 and 1999; Honorable Mention, 1997,
1996, 1993 (three separate categories), 1991, 19990, and 1989 (two separate categories)
• Brown-Forman, President’s Choice Award, 2004; Teamwork Award 1994
• Information Industry Association (Washington D.C.) IMMY Awards: Marketing Achievement Awards (two separate
categories) 1989
• Society for Technical Communication Award of Excellence 1990, 1988
• University of Louisville, 102 credit hours coursework toward Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology
• Gallo University, Gallo Management Fundamentals/Manager Series (7 courses)
• Brown-Forman Project Management
• Microsoft Project training
• Brown-Forman Effective Management Course (by nomination), graduate
• Brown-Forman and Bell & Howell Quality Action and Quality Leadership courses
• Seminars and courses in leadership, marketing, software, design, management
• Technical seminars from Owens-Illinois for glass structure design and manufacturing
• Certified Color Management Professional – G7– International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEA), 2015
VIEW ONLINE: http://www.slideshare.net/Michae1Ray/mike-ray-design-portfolio
DOWNLOAD: https://www.hightail.com/download/bXBZWGJDSWVUME9FTmNUQw
MICHAEL RAY
PAGE 3
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERSHIPS
HONORS &
AWARDS
EDUCATION
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATION
DESIGN
PORTFOLIO