Vincent V. Toscano

At the crossroads a project’s digital presence marks an opportunity to captivate audiences with thought-provoking, visually-stimulating, content. The packaging and delivery of this content directly impacts user engagement, brand recognition, and long-term sales. At the nexus of it all is an opportunity for myself as the Executive Interactive Director, to create and foster a project’s narrative journey, choosing to focus on every aspect of their digital presence, to craft quality, message-driven interactive works that highlight the brand's vision and effectively speak to their audience. This art of exploration and execution equates to what I affectionately refer to as their signature storytelling experience.

As Executive Interactive Director, I work with clients to define their messaging, visual treatment, and ultimately, their final product. Most commonly the final product takes on the form of a highly interactive website or app with accompanying campaign extensions.

One of the most integral aspects of my position entails directing teams of talented creatives and developers along the production journey towards our goals. Sitting atop both the creative and development arms means that my challenge is to shape their work into a single, purpose-driven, interactive experience that the target audience enjoys engaging with. The culmination of these efforts equates to a strengthened client relationship as a result of delivering a premium interactive and solid overall project communication along the way (in coordination with essential stakeholders such as project managers).

My passion for this position is heavily influenced by my appetite to combine my background of design, development, DevOps, and advertising experience into one voice that drives the final interactive work to success.

As the Head of the Innovation Team, I am responsible for maintaining quality team standards and practices, pushing the level work we output, and ensuring we adhere to the agreed upon production schedule and budget.

••• Creative •••
• Collaborating and advising stakeholders to help identify the conceptual requirements
• Leadership and navigation of the creative process required to bring conceptual requirements to fruition
• Curation of approaches and solutions required to solve creative problems

••• Sales & Profitability •••
•Assistance in strategizing proposed solutions for prospective clients who may need the assistance of the Innovation Team
• Crafting of proposals, treatments, and sales materials that fuel business development efforts
• Advisement regarding potential growth strategies, prospects, or profit opportunities

••• Administration & Management •••
• Working with a cross-functional team to delegate and complete all aspects of assigned projects
• Pioneer & implement a path for effective team management
• Help with resource and forecasting planning
• Identify and build a group of creatives and developers to facilitate the evolving needs of this team
• Coach and shape team members to improve their effectiveness and paths within Wonderful, and this team

••• Technology •••
• Infuse established and bleeding-edge technologies into all we create
• Promote the use of motion to drives the narrative across

• Managed the majority of products, e-comm, native, and marketing sites in production & maintenance efforts
• Bridged communication between creative and development
• Day-to-day point of contact for clients
• Creator of team tasking, production schedules, and user stories
• Directed programmatic animation content
• Current e-comms: https://ireneneuwirth.com and https://seed.com

• Delivered product: Hyundai Sales Training, case study: https://theexpedition.co/work/hyundai
• Identifed project objectives, deadlines, prepare budgets, and author additional product support documentation.
• Operated as the POC/SPOC for project communication including project status, major milestones, issues, release schedule, and pertinent changes throughout product lifecycle.
• Managed digital development projects from concept to launch: ideation, strategy, scoping, feature lists, user stories, roadmaps, UX, IA, design, prototype, build, QA, tracking, delivery, launch, support, adoption optimization, and ongoing improvements.
• Managed & tracked all reviews and approvals from clients as well as internal stakeholders, using product management tools (Confluence + Jira, Github, Asana, and Trello).
• Lead cross-functional teams, including engineering and design from thoughtful ideation to frequent deployment via tools of the trade: Agile scrum, A/B testing, usability studies, and acceptance testing/validation.
• Collaboratively defined and progressed product strategy within the company: champion product decisions, prioritize projects, and allocate resources.
• Defined solid business & technical requirements and drive user stories creation.

• Product managed all web-based products purchased by the holding company.
• Reviewed all products before purchase, conducted value and risk assessments to help determine future profitability.
• Gathered and crafted project requirements and roadmaped releases to meet business goals.
• Met with C-group and senior staff regularly to discuss progress and future resourcing needs.
• Articulated complex tech processes to developers, creatives, & clients.
• Full program details restricted due to contractual limitations.

• Contracted – Phase 1 Acting CTO & Phase 2 Technical Director.
• Directed all new technical development business ventures supporting treatments, proposals, client relations, statements of work (SOWs), estimates, and presentations.
• Created a structured format for corporate presentation of unique technological strategy to client.
• Liaised with prospective and long-standing clients, advancing long-term opportunities.
• Managed Mountain View (satellite office at GOOGLE HQ) and LA development teams in the absence of the Development Manager and conducted weekly individual staff check-ins.
• Supervised Dev. Mgrs. on contractual obligations for individual clients with guidelines for distinct production goals.
• Directly increased sales and company growth by 20%.
• Identified and delivered optimal development strategies, best practices, and complex solutions to clients, specific to each project.
• Participated as a member of the team leads weekly meeting to establish and refine the company’s strategic roadmap for growth, assess risks, promote adoption of industry trends, track personnel KPI.
• Participated in personnel recruitment, retention, training, and organization.

• Directed the development on projects from pitch, discovery, to full award. Involved from prototype to QA phases.
• Selected the technology stack to be implemented project-wide.
• Guided the digital producer in client management and project execution; providing time estimation, addressing specific client feedback, and advising on technical feasibility.
• Oversaw all infrastructure (e.g., servers, load balancers, subnets) and software required for the development team to produce each project (Linux distributions, full LAMP & LEMP stacks, Node.js installments, and custom configurations). This included managing the creation of high availability and scalable server environments for dev, staging, and production.
• Evaluated development strategies and methodologies from prototype to production on desktop, tablet, mobile web applications, and Android/iOS native apps.
• Provided solutions for continuous integration (CI) & deployment (CD), and API implementation.
• Worked with clients’ Tech Directors to ensure we met the requirements for deployment, traffic projections, infrastructure architecture, CDN, and code optimization.
• Co-Wrote/Reviewed SOWs to establish and confirm project scope, timeline, and method of execution.
• Met with clients for in-person kick-off and check-ins to ensure both the technology and the design aspirations were coordinated in a manner that satisfied project goals. Responsibilities included hosting considerations, source code (HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3, PHP, MySQL, Node.js) reviews, URL strategies, SEO, development schedules (release candidates, beta reviews, and project benchmarks), and warranty fulfillment.
• Met monthly with the company’s Managing Partner and Directors to discuss the company’s quarterly and yearly goals influencing the company’s strategic technology direction, development, and growth.

• Advised and oversaw all infrastructure (e.g., servers, load balancers, subnets) and software required for the development team to produce each project (Linux distributions, full LAMP & LEMP stacks, Node.js installments, and custom configurations). This included creating high availability and scalable server environments for dev, staging, and production.
• Worked with clients’ Tech Directors to ensure we met the requirements for deployment, traffic projections, infrastructure architecture, CDN, and code optimization.
• Reviewed libraries and custom built solutions for project inclusion, minification, dependency management, and obfuscation of frontend code. Managed Git version control account focusing on code releases for our team. Compiled Git server software on Linux distributions with team repo management software accessed securely via SSH tunneling. Expert level branch management.
• Actively participated in pitches focusing on the technology and experience portions. Performed technical feasibility studies during discovery phase. Wrote the tech sections of project treatments.
• Helped meet and evaluate development resources for backend, frontend, and native. Managed both local and remote development teams. Wrote job descriptions and conducted interviews.
• Advised department heads (marketing, production, and operations) on technology loadout to achieve project-targeted goals. Reviewed SOWs.
• Technology utilized: Linux distributions, bare metal server builds, AWS, Google Compute, Nginx, Apache, Vagrant, Varnish, Node.js, Bash, SSH, instance provisioning, HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3, PHP, Lua, MySQL, Python, Raspberry Pi, CDN, Gulp.js

• Created the Emmy-award winning Clouds Over Cuba website and award-winning HTML5 Facebook application for Help Remedies.
• Built unique cross-platform concept-driven HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript websites and applications. Applications were developed for desktop, tablet, and mobile platforms (including iOS, Android, & Windows Phone).
• Programmed websites using pure JavaScript and libraries such as UnderScore.js, Modernizr, and JQuery.
• Assembled frontend templates using Handlebars and Underscore.js libraries.
• Animated HTML elements using pure CSS3 animations and transitions plus developed programmatic animations using TweenMax (GSAP for JavaScript) and TimelineMax.
• Developed CSS3 styles precompiled from LESS stylesheets via Node.js.
• Researched specifications and provided technical and conceptual input in formal write-ups for inclusion on treatments during pitching phase to prospective clients. Presented technical solutions directly to clients.
• Implemented tracking APIs and provided analytical data. Popular analytics packages included Google Analytics, Omniture, Adobe Analytics and pixel tracking.
• Utilized AWS & CloudFront, Rackspace, Linode, and SoftLayer products and services to deliver websites and on-demand assets to web experiences.
• Researched and implemented APIs to build content-driven websites. The array of APIs included services that delivered geographical (Google Maps, MapQuest), social (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), meteorological and telephony (voice-activated website) data over a range of endpoints.
• Employed FFmpeg to dynamically create, transcode, mux, encode, and decode HD quality video for the purpose of providing video-oriented dynamic user experiences.
• Prototyped and created proof-of-concept demos (e.g., web sockets, animations) for pitch, discovery, and treatment phases. Produced websites that met WAI-ARIA accessibility standards.
• Implemented API calls to backend services that were provided by PHP, Node.js, or Python.

• Worked on The Vampire Diaries: Stakeout, Panasonic CES, The PNC Christmas Price Index Express (FWA Site of the Day), and numerous other high traffic websites.
• Created high-visibility interactive applications and games containing video (MPEG-4, FLV & F4V), graphic, and audio assets in a team environment. Each Rich Internet Application (RIA) made web services calls (SOAP: XML serialization, WDSL) and used social APIs. ActionScript projects authored in Flash Develop, compiled using Flex MXMLC and debugged with BareTail.
• Built programmatic animations using TweenMax and Tweener packages.
• Translated final UI design comps, UX wireframes, and style guides into applications, providing technical input throughout the process. Collaborated with design team to deliver the best user experience (UX).
• Used Source Code Control Systems (SCCS) Apache Subversion SVN & Git for code management on Windows, OS X, and Linux environments.
• Interfaced with clients during the planning and development phases. Team meetings conducted using Scrum methodology.
• Developed interactive projects using the PureMVC MultiCore (Model-View-Controller [MVC] design pattern) framework.

• Developed web application solutions as per marketing strategies and development requirements. Object-oriented programming (OOP), class-based approach applied to projects authored in Flash Develop and Flash Builder, compiled using Flex MXMLC. All applications made calls to web services (APIs: REST, JSON, XML & HTTPS with OAuth keys).
• Daily responsibilities included working on tickets, debugging, testing, and job status logging using JIRA.
• Used Git version control system to clone, commit, branch (hot-fixes and features), and merge repository branches.
• Interfaced with development, staging, and production environments using Linux command-line (CLI).

• Contracted to deliver rich media ad units for use on MediaMind (Eyeblaster) ad-serving platform. Ads contained graphic and video components, which incorporated analytics tracking code triggered by interactive and time-based events.
• Created new feature sets for Kastner & Partners Garage HTML5 website.

• Planned and programmed websites (included OOP class creation) after determining project goals.
• Updated and maintained all HTML, JavaScript, CSS and ActionScript content.

• Contracted to deliver animated rich media Flash banner units for a gaming company using graphic and video assets.

• Multiple promotions by The President of Pratt Institute, the Board of Directors, The Union, the administration, and faculty members, achieving the rank of Adjunct Associate Professor.
• Taught Web Design, Design Procedures, and Visual Communication. Developed original syllabi, assignments, and online learning resources.
• Web Design I & II: Develop understanding of the techniques and processes used to design and develop successful interactive projects. Students learned animation and coding using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash ActionScript, and other web-related technologies and applications.
• Design Procedures I & II: Technical preparation of visual artwork for publications, both digital and traditional skills. Applications covered included Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and font management.
• Visual Communication I & II: Covered visual concept building skills and their application to the disciplines of Graphic Design, Advertising, and Illustration.

• Marketed fashions via online, print, and new media outlets.
• Ensured customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty by processing orders efficiently, in a timely manner.
• Managed staff and evaluated team performance against company brand guidelines and procedures.
• Developed and managed all interactive projects. HTML website development created according to flowcharts, style guides and wireframes.
• Established budgets to maximize revenue and reviewed online traffic analysis.
• Coordinated and maintained relationships with vendors and sought competitive bidding.

• Scheduled, planned, and developed animated Flash GUI frontend for the corporate website.
• Translated UI comps accurately into Flash RIAs and websites.
• Vector artwork created using Illustrator & Flash. Bitmap artwork creation and image optimization performed in Photoshop.
• Programmed HTML, JavaScript, and CSS using plain text-editors and Dreamweaver.
• Responsibilities included maintenance, troubleshooting and updating of interactive content.
• Programmed and animated content for Panasonic (included the CES microsite).

• Developed and animated GUI using HTML, Flash AS, JavaScript and CSS, publishing content via SFTP.
• Maintained and updated their corporate websites which hosted directorial live action content.
• Created multimedia web application that incorporated the Vividas Player.

• Scheduled, planned, and developed their corporate website, publishing content via SFTP.
• Retouched and performed image manipulation using Photoshop. Vector artwork created using Illustrator.
• Hand-coded all presentation layer code (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS).
• Responsibilities included maintaining and updating all live action web content.