Eric Needle

Current

Multimedia Manager at Availity
President at Longbow

Past

Director of Marketing (as Consultant) at Community Greenhouse Foundation
Principle Partner at Giant3
President at EricArt

VP Marketing (as Consultant) at Emerson SG
Creative Services at XL Vision
Marketing Communications Manager at Presideo
Creative Director at Mendez Foundation
Creative Director at Colorvision

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Education

University of Central Florida

Recommended

2 people have recommended Eric

Connections

146 connections

Industry

Marketing and Advertising

Eric Needle’s Summary

A creative design and marketing professional, who equips organizations with all the services and capabilities of a marketing, advertising and public relations agency.

• 11 years of corporate experience, providing and managing graphic design, internet development and marketing communication services.
• 7 years in private practice, providing advertising, marketing and public relations services and consultation to corporate and non-profit clients.
• Extensive experience creating and developing in-house art and creative services departments, managing diverse, talented people and fostering collaborative team environments.
• Deep Internet experience, designing and building sites since 1994.
• Career-long expertise in graphic design and illustration disciplines.
• Expertise in several diverse industries, from healthcare and commercializing IP to tech, sustainable development and the non profit world.
• Passion for community and childrens' education, focus on mission and surpassing goals.

Eric Needle’s Specialties:

Identity and Corporate Image, Brand Management, Creative Direction, Internet Development, Web 2.0, Online Marketing and Community Building, Print Design through Production, Graphic Design and Illustration, Marketing Communications, Outreach and News Management, Writing and Blogging, Internal Communications, Investor Relations, Trade and Event Strategy, Product Collateral, Project and Team Management, Client Relations

Eric Needle’s Experience

Multimedia Manager

Availity

(Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 2009 — Present (3 months)

Eric's role at Availity recently transformed from contractor to this full time position in the Corporate Communications department. He provides strategic and tactical communications, brand management and creative services, including: internet and intranet management; supporting sales, marketing, alliance partners and client relations; event management; managing print needs; and organization-wide presentations.

For information about Availity, view this brief video:
http://www.availity.com/about-availity/what-is-availity/
President

Longbow

(Graphic Design industry)

January 2003 — Present (6 years 11 months)

Manage a boutique marketing and advertising firm, serving corporate and non-profit clients.

• Provide creative direction, project management, team interaction
• Forte in company and product branding and integrated marketing
• Internet design and development, Web 2.0
• Print, collateral, promotion and advertising, from concept through production and fulfillment
• Event strategy and management, from display design to promotional campaigns
• Public relations, news management
• Strategic marketing communications
• Writing and blogging
• Client relations and sales
Director of Marketing (as Consultant)

Community Greenhouse Foundation

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

April 2003 — December 2008 (5 years 9 months)

This not for profit professional services organization facilitates the conception, design, and promotion, of sustainable development, green buildings and greener communities.

• Manages communications, news and partnerships
• Promotes greener development and living, via locally-focused online community portals
• Manages events and expos, as an exhibitor, media partner, and/or event promoter
• Provides design, marketing and public relations to clients through his firm, Longbow
Principle Partner

Giant3

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

September 2000 — December 2008 (8 years 4 months)

Giant3 is a collaborative network of firms and teams that provide specialized services helping you promote your enterprise. Giant3 grew out of our need to pair internet design with web development and eCommerce.
President

EricArt

(Graphic Design industry)

March 1998 — December 2002 (4 years 10 months)

Provided design, identity, print and Internet services. EricArt evolved into Longbow Strategic Group to show our expertise in marketing, from understanding the client's big picture to deploying creative services.
VP Marketing (as Consultant)

Emerson SG

(Hospital & Health Care industry)

June 2001 — June 2002 (1 year 1 month)

Emerson Strategic Group provided compliance solutions to the healthcare industry. ESG was acquired in 2005.

• Analyzed core capabilities, leveraged and positioned as a leader in HIPAA consultation
• Architect behind identity campaign, Internet presence and marketing efforts
• Instrumental in the creation and production of the HIPAAWise product suite
Creative Services

XL Vision

(Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

1998 — 2001 (3 years )

Direct marketing and advertising services to the 12 corporations in the VennWorks portfolio of companies. Working with senior staff, marketing, sales and development teams, we provided Internet, print and presentation services. Eric still serves the reincarnations of these firms, XL TechGroup and Amphion Innovations.

- Identity, branding and positioning, corporate and product
- Design, concept through production
- Internet, site building, consulting, internal communications, outreach and e-newsletters, public relations and news
- Print, campaigns, identity, collateral
- Presentations, new media, powerpoint for IR, sales and marketing
- Client relations, vendor and agency management, staff oversight
Marketing Communications Manager

Presideo

(Computer & Network Security industry)

December 1998 — February 2000 (1 year 3 months)

An XLVision incubated company, Presideo, protected healthcare transactions through solutions that included biometrics, single sign-on and online connectivity.

Parent company XL Vision assigned projects for all of the partner companies located on our campus and eventually tapped Eric to lead a broader department within the network, forming the Creative Services team.

- Built public Internet and private intranets to support promotion and development
- Created early stage identity and emerging product identity and collateral
- Managed news and supported sales through presentations, advertising and marketing
- Oversaw designers, developers and marketing staff, managed agencies and in-housed projects
Creative Director

Mendez Foundation

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Program Development industry)

March 1998 — December 1998 (10 months)

The Mendez Foundation is a not for profit organization nationally recognized as a leader in drug and violence prevention education for children and wellness programs. Eric came to the foundation in time of crisis, streamlined and in-sourced creative production and restructured vendor relationships. This resulted in vastly improved quality, while decreasing time to market and realized substantial production and cost savings.

• Directed product design from concept through production
• Oversaw all print and prepress, vendor management
• Managed projects, artists and designers
• Initiated Internet strategy and implementation
Creative Director

Colorvision

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Retail industry)

August 1992 — March 1998 (5 years 8 months)

Colorvision produces entertainment portraiture nationally in theme parks and upscale locations. I managed artists to create all product, from prototype through production and distribution to retail locations.

• Corporate identity and promotion
• Direction over the entire product portfolio
• Manage artists, designers and vendors
• Corporate and product marketing and promotion
• Image sourcing and product licensing
• R&D digital cameras, software/hardware, dye sublimation printing
• Direct and perform photo shoots, digital and 35mm.

Highlights include working with entertainment licensors, such as Disney, Universal, moviemakers Lucasfilms, Sony, magazine publishers, venues Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, casinos and theme parks.

Additional Information

Eric Needle’s Interests:

Branding, fine art, graphic design, social networking. Areas of focus include: communications, new media, smart growth, sustainability, and community building.

Eric Needle’s Groups:

• Community Greenhouse Foundation, Director of Marketing, 2003-2009
• Tourette's Syndrome Association of Florida, Board of Directors, 2004-2008
• Children's Home Society, Board of Advisors
• 211Brevard, Board of Directors, Communications Supporter
• Boy Scouts of America, Committee Chair, PR Chair, Leader, for pack and troop
• United Way of Brevard, Communications Supporter, 2001-2009
• First United Methodist Church of Melbourne, Communications Task Force, Webmaster, 2002-2009
• Space Coast Advertising Fed, Board of Directors, Communications and Internet Chair
• Blue Earth Society, President, 1998-2008
• Publish GreenOrlando.com and GreenBrevard.com