To whom it may Concern,
It is my pleasure and honor to recommend Doug Schmeltzer. Doug came to Latitude ready to take on the helm of our productive Studio Department. His title was Associate Director of Studio. Doug played a key role in managing a high volume of projects ranging from small to large and complex within the fast-paced retail world that was mostly Latitude’s workload at the time. Brands like adidas, PUMA, Reebok, New Balance, Asics as well as retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker and Champs to name a few.
Doug helped us get our file, workload, color management and estimation processes up to best practice all while keeping up with our current workload. He did this collaboratively meeting with cross functional team members to assess what was working and not to develop a more streamlined approach.
He also gave our Studio Team a stronger sense of a department where he set up weekly meetings as a team and with each team member to listen and engage on topics from technical to cultural.
Doug’s hands-on, collaborative approach helped our teams succeed more often while managing pitfalls and errors more expeditiously. His calm, relaxed demeanor created assurance with the team in the midst of chaos and confusion during parts of days or weeks. He never had a “hovering effect” which I appreciated yet rather trusted his colleagues to get the job done through expectation setting and guidance.
Doug’s highly technical knowledge and skill set gave our teams way more confidence considering how critical each project was in terms of asset management, file building, quality assurance, prototyping and delivery.
Please consider Doug for a position on your team. He is a steady hand with deep, technical know-how. He will enhance your team through his hard work and dedication to whatever task that might be.
Please feel free to contact me directly at 612 867-9461 with any additional context and clarification.
Best,
Jason Strong /// Executive Creative Director — Latitude
Jason Strong is a highly accomplished Designer and Executive Creative Director at Latitude, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s creative vision and strategic direction. With his exceptional design skills and strategic leadership abilities, Jason has spearheaded the establishment of Latitude’s creative department and successfully repositioned the agency as a leading creative force.
Early in his career, Jason had the privilege of working at Duffy Worldwide, a globally renowned design firm. During his time there, he honed his craft by learning from industry experts and absorbing invaluable knowledge. Recognizing the transformative power of design, Jason developed a deep understanding of how it can create desire and forge stronger connections between businesses and their customers. He firmly believes that every detail matters when crafting a compelling story that truly stands out and makes a difference.
Driven by a passion for digital innovation, Jason joined space150 as their 11th employee. In this role, he led numerous digital projects for prominent clients such as Target, Macy’s, and General Mills. His expertise in digital design extended to developing engaging social media campaigns and pioneering experiences for American Eagle. Jason also made significant contributions to the design of Discovery Channel’s Cosmeo, a groundbreaking homework help tool for students. Notably, he led DQ’s development of “The Deeqs,” a youth and family program, and orchestrated national product-centric campaigns for the Mini Blizzard and the Blizzard 25th Party Tour.
As the Executive Creative Director at Latitude, Jason is entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the agency’s creative team to deliver work that is authentic, expressive, and evocative. He brings together exceptional talent and cultivates an environment of extraordinary craftsmanship, consistently elevating businesses and helping them connect meaningfully with their audiences. However, Jason’s motivation extends beyond professional success. He is driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on the world through business. From the very beginning, Latitude has committed to investing 50% of its profits to support individuals living in the developing world, who struggle to survive on less than two dollars a day. Jason finds immense fulfillment in seeing his personal values mirrored in Latitude’s mission to add value to life, foster meaningful connections, and effect positive change through the transformative power of design.
