Kevin Yatarola

Professional Experience

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR - DVD and CD MANUFACTURING (11/99 - PRESENT)
PALM ENTERTAINMENT (NEW YORK CITY, NY)
(Palm Pictures / Manga Entertainment / Quango / Palm Audio / Res)

• Manage production for major independent multi-media company, encompassing 300+ catalog titles and up to 50+ new release SKUs per year, with ancillary promotional audio/video items
• Provide structure and scheduling for all US commercial/promotional manufacturing: supervision of deliverable items, weekly schedules and updates, chair weekly status meetings, and report status to management
• Preproduction: Work with Creative/A&R departments on material deliveries, including package design & review, output of print film/proofs, and generating production masters
• Liaison between Creative Dept. and outside vendors for initiating new packaging concepts/designs, preparing and testing prototypes, generating templates, and reviewing files prior to output (technical requirements & proofreading)
• Manufacturing: Coordinate with suppliers to maintain company quality standards and meet necessary deadlines, including establishing internal QC procedures and (for DVD) supervising independent testing
• Review competitive pricing for contract renewal and provide estimates for production and packaging budgets
• Generate and deliver production materials for international offices and licensees
• Distribution through WEA (2000 - 2004) and UMVD (beginning September 2004)
• Supervise 1 or 2 person staff to meet above obligations and miscellaneous responsibilities: print inventory control, internal CD-R copying and distribution, package text proofreading, audio/video services for non-music departments (hotels/publishing), and other duties

PRODUCTION MANAGER / DIRECT MARKETING MANAGER (7/94 - 11/99)
GREEN LINNET RECORDS (DANBURY, CT)
(Green Linnet Records / Xenophile Records)

• Manage new release production from concept through finished product for indie label (30 releases/year)
• Develop Direct Marketing strategies: forecast and implement annual Direct Mail budget, including list management, creating promotional campaigns, including supervision catalog creation, printing, and fulfillment
  
  ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER (8/86 - 7/94)
  READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION (PLEASANTVILLE, NY)
  
• Responsible for day-to-day operations, manufacturing, and fulfillment of music product
• Primary contact with manufacturing suppliers for music product: SONY Special Products, BMG Direct Marketing, CEMA, Queens Litho, Ivy Hill, DADC, and many others
• Financial planning for Music Department, including forecasting and reconciliation of manufacturing and royalty (mechanical and licensing) budgets
• Develop and implement annual department objectives, with periodic review and update
• Supervision, training, and development of two person staff
  
  PLANT OPERATIONS MANAGER (9/81 - 8/86)
  CASSETTE PRODUCTIONS, INC. (HILLSDALE, NJ)
  
  PRODUCTION MANAGER (9/76 - 9/81)
  MMO MUSIC GROUP, INC. (NEW YORK CITY)
  (Music Minus One Records / Inner City Records)
  

Awards & Affiliations

- Grammy Award Nominee as producer, category of Best Historical Album (1981)

- Voting member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

- Musician photography website

Unique Business & Communication Skills

- Design experience in Mac: PhotoShop, Quark, and Dreamweaver (website design)
- Extensive organizational skills with an emphasis on time management, scheduling, and process flow
- Training and experience in Statistical Process Control/Process Improvement

Education

BA IN LIBERAL ARTS - Art History and Music History Emphasis
Graduated Cum Laude, State University of New York, Potsdam

References

Available upon request