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By Josleen Wilson, President & CEO, Sparks Fly Up Creative Solutions
- Former Creative Director, FCB HealthCare.
Jason Feinberg is considered a phenomenon among his colleagues in the industry.
After an short career as an Emergency Services Dispatcher, Jason moved on to Novaworks Computer Systems where he excelled providing on site creative technology consultations with a wide and vast range of high profile clientele in the Advertising, Publishing and Entertainment industries.
At FCB HealthCare, in less than three years, he built the sluggish, incoherent IT and Operations department into one of the most sophisticated and smoothly running departments of any top ten advertising agency in the country. Why is this such a stunning achievement? Picture this: When Jason took charge of the agency’s technological support no policies or procedures were in place for the MAC systems used by the studio, production, and all creatives. The dual-nature of the advertising business was the cause: Unlike the rest of the business world, an advertising agency uses two different systems: The business side typically uses PCs, while the creative side, which generates the revenue, uses MACs. And yet both systems are likely to be serviced by techs experienced primarily with Windows and robust office/back office systems.
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As a result, the MACs—the systems that must function 24/7—are often neglected until a crisis occurs. This reactive mode, coupled with poorly defined policies and procedures, led to massive downtime throughout the system, from desktops all the way to servers. Overtime to recreate lost work was SOP, and disaster time was built into every job estimate. Even when all systems were up, work ricocheted from department to department, person to person, in an unmanageable free for all. Jason quickly deployed his considerable managerial and negotiating skills, along with his flair for devising cost-smart, needs-based solutions. Basically, he invented foolproof, 24/7 MAC systems from the ground up. After evaluating existing systems, he researched the latest technologies. Then, rather than forcing the agency to adapt to these new technologies, he challenged vendors to design systems that met the agency’s unique needs. With an annual budget of $500,000, he replaced aging and legacy systems with the new designs, which ultimately reduced overall spending. System builds for all MACs were standardized. Workflow was created. Volume site licenses were purchased for all software, which provided better pricing and better software management. An online manual of policies and procedures was created, along with Intranet for all departments. And every new hire was thoroughly educated in the system Jason established these innovations throughout the FCB Healthcare network, including its agencies in San Francisco, Costa Mesa, Atlanta, New Jersey and New York. Jason’s responsibilities as Director of Operational Technologies encompass all of the technological links running among creative services, studio, print production, traffic, account management, human resources, finance, and even the building itself. While his colleagues at FCB HealthCare recognize the enormity of his tasks, at least to some degree, they still call him to solve their littlest computer problems. |
It was a hallmark of Jason's commitment to his agency, as well as his colleagues, that he returns every call with a solution. And because his solution was right the first time, rarely was any FCB system down, or any individual forced to be late with a job. Only Jason’s immediate supervisor, FCB’s Senior VP of Operations, could truly comprehend the scope of his work, and the versatility, quick thinking, and vision required to be so effective.
After FCB, Jason went on to consult with a number start up advertising agencies (which included Juice, the Cementworks, Sparks Fly Up creative solutions and Etch Partners) in the technical and operations areas before landing at Anton Community Newspapers, one of Long Island’s largest newspaper groups. Jason had, once again, set out to bring sluggish, incoherent technology in to a forefront of technological advancements for the company. In 2006, he took on the role of assisting Angela Susan Anton, Publisher and CEO of Anton Newspapers, in the recreation and re-launching of the Boulevard Magazine. The former publication had been in print as a newspaper for eight years but was showing is age. Jason helped in every aspect of recreating a select newspaper into a trendy sophisticated celebrity filled magazine. His role included technical director, photography work and plenty of administrative tasks.
In 2000, Jason was recognized by the international Who’s Who in technology.
Jason has also served as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Bayport Fire Department for sixteen years, an officer, including second assistant Chief for eleven years as well as chairperson of the technology committee. He is also the co-founder of Galactic Data Technologies.
For a detailed list of Jason’s expertise, as well as his professional background, please contact him at jfeinberg@jfeinberg.org.
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