Jeff Spence

Creative Marketing Manager | Project Development | Art Direction

Vilonia, Arkansas | 501-472-5088 | jspenceart@gmail.com

Portfolio: https://www.cluebuddycrew.com/jeff-spence-portfolio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-spence-0b39762a2

Professional Summary

Accomplished Creative Marketing Manager, designer, and illustrator with 27+ years of experience leading creative operations, brand development, and product design. I have demonstrated expertise in managing end-to-end projects, building client relationships, and overseeing teams in design, sales, and production. I am skilled in large-format UV printing, apparel branding, and product development. I co-authored and illustrated the children’s book Mark the Aardvark. I connect original creative thinking with practical production methods and marketing implementation.

Core Capabilities

Creative project leadership • Brand development • Art direction • Product development and prototyping • Visual problem solving • Client relationships • Sales coordination • Team leadership • Catalogs and packaging • Print and digital design • Original illustration • Large-format UV printing • Laser production • Production workflow development • Quality standards • Staff training

Software: Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator and Photoshop; Mimaki RasterLink 7; Epilog Job Manager.

Professional Experience

Creative Marketing Manager

Cache River Mill & MetalWorks / Cache River Creative Company
North Little Rock, Arkansas | May 2024–Present

  • Built Cache River’s creative operation from an initial Epilog laser setup, establishing its brand identity, product lines, pricing methods, customer materials, and production workflows.

  • Lead creative development from concept through illustration, material testing, prototyping, and finished production, resolving design and manufacturing requirements.

  • Designed and refined the dimensional mosaic production system now operated by a dedicated full-time employee, with repeatable methods used across multiple product designs.

  • Evaluate development approaches against cost, turnaround, setup, material handling, and production practicality; use testing and revisions to refine designs and methods.

  • Establish workflows, quality standards, and staff training for large-format UV printing and Epilog laser production within an operation that now uses four UV printers.

  • Create coordinated product photography, sales sheets, catalogs, packaging, social media content, and trade-show materials to present new offerings and support sales.

Designer and Illustrator

Self-Employed
Vilonia, Arkansas | 2017–Present

Develop original artwork, visual systems, and physical product concepts for commercial, educational, and publishing projects.

  • Co-created Clue Buddy Crew and Number Buddy Crew with Melissa Spence, developing original visual character systems for early reading and math. Character names, appearances, and actions provide clues to the sounds and concepts they represent.

  • Developed coordinated educational resources—including posters, cards, word-building materials, and reusable practice sheets—available to teachers as digital downloads through Teachers Pay Teachers.

  • Create original Arkansas-themed apparel graphics for Rock City Outfitters, translating subjects and concepts into designs for commercial apparel.

  • Created hundreds of original vector illustrations as a Getty Images contributor.

  • Co-authored and illustrated the children’s book Mark the Aardvark: Party in the Park.

  • Design and sculpt hand-carved product prototypes for Moss Stick Company, including walking sticks and fantasy staffs, carrying original concepts into physical form.

Art Director and Designer

Precision Screen Printing & Embroidery
Rose Bud, Arkansas | 2012–2017

  • Led creative development and marketing implementation for Arena Bum Clothing and Big Stick Clothing Company, carrying apparel brand projects from concept through design and production preparation.

  • Led design and sales teams, coordinating client requests, original artwork, and production requirements for screen printing and embroidery.

  • Combined illustration, layout, and production knowledge to develop designs suited to their intended application.

Art Director and Lead Designer

Drummond Printing / Drum-Line / Frazzled and Bedazzled
Stuttgart, Arkansas | 2006–2012

  • Led Drummond Printing’s marketing within the ASI/PPAI promotional-products market, developing coordinated marketing materials, website designs, catalogs, and sales materials.

  • Led product design, branding, and marketing implementation for Frazzled and Bedazzled stationery, developing its artwork, catalogs, website designs, and materials for presentation to boutique retailers.

  • Connected product development with commercial presentation across promotional products and stationery, coordinating creative work for business and consumer audiences.

Designer and Illustrator

Cision Studios
Conway, Arkansas | 2001–2006

  • Worked with companies to develop visual strategies, marketing materials, and original apparel designs, translating business ideas into coordinated creative work.

Graphic Designer and Web Designer

I C Studios
North Little Rock, Arkansas | 2000–2001

  • Developed graphic design and website concepts for studio projects.

Shirt Designer

Illustrated Sportswear
Conway, Arkansas | 1996–2000

  • Developed original vector apparel graphics for printing and embroidery, preparing designs for physical production.

Paste-Up Artist and Camera Operator

Shoppers News
Mabelvale, Arkansas | 1993–1996

  • Prepared publication layouts through paste-up and handled camera operation and film development for print production.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts
University of Central Arkansas | 1999

Awards

Recipient of three Arkansas ADDY Awards.