Steven j. knezevich

brand manager, social media Director

Profile

Brand Identity, Social Media and Networking, Strategic Marketing and Planning, Licensing, CoMarketing, Cross Platform Business Development, Graphic Design, Web Development, Online Community Management, PR Messaging and Marketing

Work Experience

Rockstar Games/Take-2 Interactive

Brand Manager

2001-2009


Managed and led a global teams in driving sales of multi-console product launches of multiplatform gaming titles. Created and executed worldwide integrated marketing plans valued upwards of $200m in 8 years. Spearheaded pans that built franchise awareness and sold through more than 100 million units to date. Drove team members in creation of campaign objectives, brand identity framework, strategy and product positioning and retail, public relations and digital strategy. Contributed to profit and loss, forecasting and budgeting for titles.

Created co-promotions that generated new awareness for integrated consumer marketing by maximizing in-game ad placements, partnerships and revenue. Established the company as a leader in the interactive space by promoting a competitive presence in emerging technologies like YouTube, Facebook and MySpace. Aided the conceptualization of an online game portal for stat tracking, video sharing, community participation and tagging of in-game music available for purchase on Amazon.

Worked closely with internal departments and external partners to ensure all marketing efforts were consistent with the brand identity and delivered according to deadline, process and quality standards. Established brand co-promotion partnerships and provided consultation and research for the optimization of media placement. Engineered Sharepoint workflow management and built Artesia Digital Asset Management metadata solution for archival needs.

Titles included Grand Theft Auto franchise, Midnight Club franchise, The Warriors, Max Payne franchise, Bully, and Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis.

Examples:

The Warriors: "Gangs of New York" 1, 2, 3

GTA: San Andreas: "Hood Life" 1, 2 and "Good Life" 1, 2

The Cinefamily

Sponsorship Coordinator

2009-2010

Ongoing maintenance and establishment of co-marketing and branding opportunities for Los Angeles non-profit repertory cinema. Actively seeking new corporate, arts and grant sponsors partners for festivals, special events and title sponsorships. Responsible for monetizing partnerships and establishing equity in trade with creative director to assure initiatives are in place and well positioned for maximum saturation and effect.

X-Large, Mfg. LLC

Web Producer / Design & Production

1999 - 2000 / 1993 - 1996

Established first e-commerce enabled launch of company website, increasing sales revenues exponentially each month. Helped to oversee inventory control, order processing, customer service, returns, and merchant bank verification maintenance. Designed sales materials and advertising for seasonal clothing line and accessories. Assisted in the design and manufacture of projects from outside clients (Capitol Records, Polydor, etc.).

Viva-Radio.com / American Apparel

Online Marketing / Business Development Consultant

2007-2008

Provided business development, marketing and operations consulting for worldwide independent apparel retailer involved in streaming in-house radio station (viva-radio.com) to over 192 stores worldwide. Helped to organized contributor based content, blog launch and playlist PR to expand core branding message surrounding corporate identity toward key online lifestyle consumer demographic. Launched first international in-store sale initiative of Sebastien Tellier “Sexuality” (RecordMakers) on CD and LP

Grand Royal Magazine

Editor / Art Director

1992-1995

Brought together stories and content for official Beastie Boys fanzine featuring cover stories about Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and the evolution of the synthesizer. Helped to secure the etymology of the word “mullet” which appeared in the magazine for inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary. Over 100,000 copies sold worldwide.

Education

California Institute of the Arts

MFA Writing


University of Southern California

BFA Cinema-Television, Critical Studies

Steven J. Knezevich — steven.knezevich@gmail.com — (347) - 394-7774