Charles Coatney: Creative Director in Long Beach, CA

Creative Director for Dickies Medical + Cherokee Uniforms Careismatic Brands Inc. | 2023 - 2024 Drove strategic brand transformation for two iconic healthcare uniform brands, leading comprehensive creative operations that delivered measurable business growth and enhanced market positioning. Key Achievements: • Brand Recognition Growth - Orchestrated 20+ strategic campaigns that revolutionized brand perception, achieving 30% increase in brand recognition across both Dickies Medical and Cherokee Uniforms • Budget Optimization Excellence - Delivered 25% cost reduction through strategic vendor negotiations and resource allocation while maintaining premium campaign quality and brand standards • High-Performance Team Leadership - Built and mentored 10+ member cross-functional creative team, successfully promoting top graphic designer to Jr Art Director within 12 months • Strategic Client Partnership - Forged lasting relationships through comprehensive needs analysis, translating business objectives into creative solutions that delivered quantifiable ROI • Operational Excellence - Established robust QA protocols and vendor partnerships ensuring 100% on-time delivery of marketing materials while exceeding brand quality standards

Golden Green, LLC dba Friend or Foe Apparel | 2021 - 2023 Spearheaded comprehensive brand transformation for emerging apparel company, building creative operations from the ground up while driving award-winning campaigns and measurable digital growth. Key Achievements: • Award-Winning Brand Development - Led complete brand transformation including website redesign, marketing materials, and social media strategy, culminating in "Best Classic Vintage Inspired Clothing Brand - USA" recognition from Lux Magazine 2023 • Digital Engagement Growth - Increased social media engagement by 50% across all platforms through integrated multi-channel strategy and compelling visual storytelling • Creative Operations Excellence - Built comprehensive creative operations system managing multi-platform digital and print campaigns while achieving 100% on-time project delivery • Brand Positioning Leadership - Successfully positioned Friend or Foe Apparel in competitive vintage-inspired market, establishing distinctive brand identity that resonated with target demographics • Quality & Efficiency Standards - Maintained premium creative standards while streamlining workflows, demonstrating ability to scale creative operations in fast-paced startup environment

Creative Director / Design Manager G Fashion | 2020 - 2021 Drove strategic creative operations and revenue innovation for fashion retailer, optimizing workflows while launching premium customer programs and developing high-performance creative teams. Key Achievements: • Operational Transformation - Delivered 40% productivity improvement through strategic workflow optimization and streamlined design processes • Revenue Stream Innovation - Launched G-Clubs exclusive membership subscription, generating new premium revenue channel and increasing customer retention • Data-Driven Growth - Enhanced customer loyalty metrics through competitive market analysis and strategic brand positioning initiatives • Team Development Leadership - Mentored and coached creative talent, improving team performance and building scalable design capabilities

Creative Director Brighton Collectibles | 2016 - 2020 Led strategic creative operations for established collectibles brand, delivering systematic marketing excellence while strengthening brand architecture and market positioning across diverse product portfolios. Key Achievements: • High-Volume Campaign Excellence - Directed creative production organization delivering 50+ integrated marketing campaigns annually through systematic frameworks that ensured consistent brand performance and competitive market presence • Brand Identity Development - Created comprehensive brand guidelines, documentation, and fashion lookbooks that established cohesive visual identity across multiple product categories • Market Positioning Leadership - Strengthened competitive positioning through strategic brand architecture development, enhancing brand recognition and customer engagement • Creative Operations Management - Built scalable creative excellence frameworks that maintained quality standards while managing high-volume campaign production in fast-paced retail environment

Sr. Art Director Tillys Clothing | 2010 - 2016 Spearheaded comprehensive brand transformations and integrated creative strategies for multi-brand fashion retailer, leading cross-functional teams to deliver market-defining visual narratives and strengthen competitive positioning. Key Achievements: • Brand Transformation Success - Led complete RSQ Jeans repositioning initiative, directing 5+ team members through strategic visual identity development that delivered renewed brand relevance and increased market share • Multi-Brand Creative Leadership - Orchestrated integrated art direction strategy for Tilly's, TLC, and private label portfolio, managing 10+ photographers, stylists, and production specialists across multiple platforms • Visual Narrative Excellence - Delivered cohesive creative campaigns that elevated brand perception and strengthened market positioning through strategic visual storytelling and brand consistency • Cross-Functional Team Management - Successfully coordinated large creative teams and production specialists, ensuring seamless execution of complex multi-brand campaigns and strategic brand initiatives