David Howell
Saint Joseph, MI | (612) 618-7175 | davidhowellproducer@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/
Senior Integrated & Broadcast Producer | Senior Content Producer | Senior Creative Producer
Creative, detail-oriented, and versatile professional with a proven record of leading end-to-end production processes across diverse mediums. Expertise spans broadcast, content creation, and creative production, consistently delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget. Adept at managing cross-functional teams, collaborating with stakeholders, and optimizing internal and external resources. Adept at overseeing the creative process, from conception to execution, while proactively addressing challenges. Excels in fostering strong relationships with stakeholders and best-in-class vendors.
- Produced and won the Minnesota Department of Health’s Teen Anti-Tobacco Campaign pitch, Target Market, producing all the TV spots and radio spots over two years. Addressed inner-city criticisms by finding and mentoring a talented 16-year-old, resulting in the authentic and award-winning “Corner Store Diseases” radio spot.
- Produced the acclaimed “The Nose Knows” Pillsbury Doughboy commercial on a $60K budget, earning Adweek’s Best Holiday Brand Spot in 2011.
- Successfully raised $30K+ with the premiere of “All in the Circle” for Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light in 2017, showcasing a commitment to both creativity and philanthropy in the fight against climate change.
- Produced national TV campaigns for Burger King Kids, creating 14 tie-in spots annually with film and TV studios, including collaborations with Transformers and The Simpsons creators and securing assets for the international team.
Core Competencies
Championing Innovative Creative Ideas | End-to-End Production Coordination | Integrated Campaign Management | Client Relationship & Recognition | Cost Consultation & Optimization | Strategic Insights Delivery | Studio Management CRAFT Model Innovation | Rapid & Cost-Effective Production Strategies | International TV Campaign Integration Talent and Equipment Procurement | Celebrities | International Production | Tabletop/Food | Custom Music Music Search | Music Licensing | Mentoring | SAG Talent | Non-Union Talent Negotiations | Storytelling | Special Effects Stunts | Crowds | Choreography | 3D Animation | Character Development | Cel Animation | Tagging | Babies | Animals
Professional Experience
2017 – Present
Freelance Senior Integrated Producer/Cost Consultant – Remote
Coordinated end-to-end production processes for renowned agencies, including Thread Connected Content, Martin Williams, Carmichael Lynch, and Marketing Architects. Orchestrated seamless collaboration between creative teams, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality integrated campaigns for clients such as General Mills, Honey Nut Cheerios, Annie’s, Big G, Chex, Cheerios, Pillsbury, Nature Valley, Cargill, Honeysuckle White, Shadybrook Farms, Castlewood Reserve, 3M, Filtrete, Scotch-Brite, Starkey, Kubota, Phillips 66, 76, Conoco, Nectar, Aetna, Allina, and Syngenta.
- Managed productions for Driver Studios and Mighty Production Services, optimizing efficiency while delivering exceptional results using women and minority owned businesses.
- Fostered strong relationships with diverse clientele, providing strategic production insights and delivering projects aligned with their brand vision and objectives while integrating best practices from previous experience.
- Navigated the complexities of cost consultation for USAA and their vendor Publicis, leveraging production expertise to ensure optimal project outcomes and enhance financial efficiencies.
Freelance Project 2019
“Buzzcoin” Honey Nut Cheerios Campaign
Orchestrated Honey Nut Cheerios “Buzzcoin” Campaign and executed the campaign within an 8-week timeframe from concepts to delivery for $650K including producer and creative time.
- Coordinated three separate celebrity shoot days, featuring Rob Gronkowski, Michael B. Jordan, and Lucy Hale in Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles respectively. We had two hours with each celebrity to capture all assets.
- TV spots included unique “Buzz” 3D animation, 3D Backgrounds and special effects, including 1-:15, and 1-:06 variations for each celebrity.
- Created an additional :15 animated TV spot featuring unique “Buzz” 3D animation and backgrounds.
- Delivered a total of 88 final assets, encompassing seven TV spots, YouTube videos, premium online videos, 36 infeed social videos, 20 website game content videos, eight animated GIFs, a new HNC mnemonic, and 3 radio spots.
2000 – 2017
Executive Producer
Campbell Mithun/MITHUN/McCann – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Started as an Associate Producer, rose to Producer and then Executive Producer while mentoring new producers, interns, account teams and creatives. Created, revised, and implemented best practices for General Mills and Burger King. Pioneered the CRAFT model that optimized tier 2 and tier 3 production, managing studios, creative ideas and creatives without an account team and implementing strategies for rapid, cost-effective and memorable productions.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with agency personnel, clients, and vendors to attain all set objectives within schedule and budget and to make impressive and interesting advertising.
- Associate Produced the Kmart Celebrity Campaign with Rosie O’Donnell and Penny Marshall, producing a total of 8 Kmart Celebrity spots over 3 years with Star Wars and Sesame Street tie-ins.
- Produced the Target Market Teen Anti-Smoking campaign involving Minnesota teenagers as clients, earning multiple National Golden Marble Kids Marketing awards, and reducing teen smoking by 11%.
- Executive Producer on the General Mills Account for 7 years managing yearly budgets and schedules for 10 GMI brands and producing many of the commercials.
- Utilized international production destinations when creatively and fiscally appropriate.
- Executive Producer for Burger King Kids: reviewed past performance, drove accountability, and forecasted events to manage an average yearly budget of $3.6M. Produced 18 tie-in spots annually with film and toy franchises, including collaborations with Transformers, Star Trek, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Spiderman, The Hulk and The Simpsons.
1994 – 1998
Earlier Professional Experience
Production Manager – Freelance
Telecine Assistant – Crash & Sue’s
Director & Editor – Promotivision
- Played a vital role in the commercial bidding process for production companies, securing key talent and equipment for television commercials, ensuring smooth production operations.
- Demonstrated versatility by actively participating in various production roles, including Project Manager (PM), Production Coordinator (PC), Production Assistant (PA), Grip, Prop Stylist, and Location Scout.
- Served as the Director, Videographer, and Editor for industrial marketing and training videos, overseeing the entire production process from conceptualization to final edit.
- Created visual elements through collaborative editing, coloring and graphics work for notable clients such as Prince, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and traditional cel animation for GMAC Smartlease.
Education
BA in Communication
Minor in Marketing
GPA: 3.24/4.0
Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo, MI
Courses: Cinematography Course – Cranbrook School of Arts • Radio & Television Production Course – Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts
Advertising Awards
The Show – Gold – Nectar “Sleep Like a Baby (2019) ▪ Adweek – Best Holiday Brand Spot 2011 – Pillsbury “Nose Knows” (2011) ▪ New York Festivals – Gold – Chex “Senate Hearing” :30 (2004) ▪ Golden Marble Award – Best Overall Campaign Gold – Target Market “Postings/Muhammad/Light Up” (2001) ▪ Telly Award – Best Use of Music – H&R Block “Opportunity” – Leo Kottke “Mona Ray” (2000) ▪ Golden Marble Award – Best Overall Radio Gold – Target Market “Smoke” :30 – BoneNation featuring Trama (2000) ▪ Golden Marble Award – Best Public Service Announcement Gold – Target Market “Thank You” :30 (2000)
Community Engagement
Tonka Toy Documentary-Producer (2021 to Present) ▪ All in the Circle Documentary-Producer (2015) ▪ Petsagainstpipelines.com – Creator (2014) ▪ MN350 Climate Activist – Filmmaker (2013) ▪ Board Member for the Illusion Theater (2000 to 2004) ▪ United Way Volunteer (1998 to 2013) ▪ Volunteer Driver and Tutor with Project Success (1998 to 2002)
References
References available upon request.