RedTale Communications, LLC

Seeing your story, concepts, ideas, and work come to life through visual communications is the best way to understand one another and make things happen. RedTale Communications offers graphic recording, sketchnoting, tailored illustration, narration, visual communications and more to present your information in new and exciting ways. If you are looking for more ways to tell your story, we should chat.

Chief Illustration/Hope Officer

Redtale Communications LLC

Curated my daily illustrated quotes during the pandemic and shared 90 of them in four seasonal journals that can be purchased on https://shopccmd.com/product-category/redtale-communications/

Book Author, "90 Days To Write Your Way to (Winter, Spring, Summer, & Fall)"

MBO Partners

Created storyboards, illustrations, graphic recording charts, and rich pictures to represent organizational capabilities in a way that demonstrates value, bonded teams together, generated strategic discussions, and helped unify companies and their customers so they can all speak the same way about what is going on around them. Deliverables included rich pictures spread across shorter reports to help explain what was going on, how we got here, and how things worked.

Sketchnoting | Red Teaming | Design Thinking

Noblis

•	Supported military planners, strategists, and policy makers to represent enemy and alternative perspectives towards developing plans, strategy, lines of efforts, and Commander's end states;
•	Co-facilitated and participating in operational design (developing shared understanding, group learning, problem framing) workshops (20+) to aid planners, operators, analysts, and strategists in developing appropriate and necessary steps, uncover faulty logic, and explore alternative futures, establishing current and future frames, providing expert problem solving;
•	Tailored Red Team (alternative analysis, devil’s advocacy, and enemy perspectives) support to Campaign planners, cyber strategists, and policy makers;
•	Conducted intelligence support to planning and strategic development by refining and discussing meaningful priority cyber intelligence requirements;
•	Represented enemy, friendly, or competitor perspectives with specific emphasis on enemy control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), operations, planning, and training efforts;
•	Analyzed platform IT (PIT) industry norms, cyber incident reports and mitigations, policies, and plans to support kick off of DoD-wide working group and PIT strategy development;
•	Provided unorthodox and non-traditional approaches to elusive cyber issues;

Red Teaming | Cyber Threat Intelligence | Design Thinking

Sally Daniel Training Company

•	Delivered (25+) presentation and communication skills courses to strategic consultants; 
•	Provided in depth training, guidance, and consultation to improve briefing presence; 
•	Generated critical assessments and feedback for students in simulated briefing modules

Corporate Training Specialist

Summit Solutions

* Conducted root cause analysis for business processes, communications, and technical tools/training;
* Recommended changes to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency based on strategic
objectives and organizational strategy;
* Developed visually appealing information graphics to present organization statistics, metrics, and emerging topics that required additional focus and addressed future planning objectives.

Intelligence Analyst, Strategic Consultant

BCT LLC

* Designed and hosted ten unique 'Ask the Hacker' sessions with certification and accreditation professionals;
* Conducted network defense and trending analysis to influence future defense strategies;
* Designed and delivered open source research plan for obtaining emerging threat and technology
information on information assurance and information security issues from industry sources;
* Coordinated network defense mission areas to aide in efficiency across incident response teams;
* Researched network events to propose policy updates and network defense investments;
* Developed table tops and training for information assurance and information security issues;
* Populated intelligence for attack trees, attacker's goals, network defense capabilities, recovery costs, and notional probabilities of attack and defense successes for strategic decision makers;
* Conducted extended enterprise information assurance assessments for maturing the capabilities and improvement strategies;
* Delivered all customer strategic communications: briefings, white papers, website content, ghost written correspondence to stakeholders, partners and leaders throughout government;
* Developed and provided communication skill curriculum for senior executives for more effective briefing and communication techniques.

Cyber Intelligence Analyst, Corporate Communications Specialist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Worked with Special Projects to identify critical information for high priority targets;
* Identified to work with analytic cell on emerging hostile groups, individuals and websites;
* Created analytic profiles to substantiate ongoing operations against high value targets, authored
analytic standard operating procedures (SOP) for cyber analysts;
* Developed sharable network defense resources between customers and mission partners;
* Provided open source analysis on electrical power grid and Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition (SCADA) systems for ongoing modeling and simulation efforts;
* Researched and examined specifications, user behavior, and critical infrastructure by exploring
the unclassified web, trade magazines, blogs, social networking sites, and technical journals;
* Designed and delivered an extensive analysis and production training plan for more than sixty
inbound military, contractor, and government civilians;
* Briefed senior military leaders on high priority intelligence targets/centers of gravity;
* Co-authored SOP for open source research lab to initiate and maintain best practices.

Intelligence Analyst

Researched, compiled, and authored vendor profiles for clients using market research databases,
open source, industry journals, and conference materials to initiate vendor identification and
proposal efforts;
* Created vendor profiles for client selection for major IT outsourcing and offshoring engagements;
* Planned, organized, and implemented professional conferences and recruiting events.

Commercial Competitive Intelligence Researcher

Sheppard Pratt

Taught fifth and sixth grade students with learning disabilities and emotional disorders,
ultimately leading to creative problem solving skills and a wealth of patience
* Created daily lesson plans and Individualized Education Plans (IEP) to correspond with regulated
educational goals, social skill recommendations, and curriculums
* Developed curriculum enhancement tools to encourage the application of social skills with adults
and peers in the forms of tailored cartoons coupled with specific behavior management plans
* Co-chaired weekly family counseling sessions for students and family members and provided daily
crisis counseling and emotional support

Special Education Elementary School Teacher & Adjunct Family Therapist

A Thinker Who Draws, Illustrator, Sketchnote Artist, Graphic Recorder: Focused on spreading hope using #graphicrecording #sketchnoting #illustration #art #emotionalintelligence

I'm a thinker who draws, and you'll often find me with pen in hand, drawing while listening.  Illustrating concepts helps me understand information in a far greater way than just hearing or reading whatever content I'm learning. 

Throughout my life, I always found that I would remember pictures better than words alone. After nearly 20 years on a winding path of experience, I decided that this valuable skill could be used to help others understand better, too. Now I spend my days bringing conversations to life and creating art for clients of all kinds. Whether I am drawing live for your event, creating a tailored illustration for your story or book, or just drawing a daily quote about hope, I'm visualizing everything.

I believe that in a world filled with words, more pictures will always do. I've found that starting small and working your way is always best. Bring me your stories and watch them come to life in a new way.

RedTale Communications was founded in February 2020 to help people tell their stories through visuals and narration. If you are finding yourself in the same meetings over and over again or stuck in a project that lacks the creative influence and flow you desire, contact us to hear more about how we can help.

Wade Forbes

Bay Cities

Sales Executive - Bentonville Division

Develop schedules for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the programs.

Manage and communicate changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs using appropriate verification techniques internally(graphic/structural design, management, pre-production and customer service) and externally (clients, retailers, vendors).

Review and turnover programs with sales executive, CSR and operations and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities.

Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Set priorities, develop a work schedules, monitor progress towards goals, and tracks details/data / information/activities.

Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks to makes clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.

Support sales growth and revenue with new and innovative display programs that aline with existing and potential clients retail marketing/sales goals.

Proactively and thoroughly researches matters relating to account assignments, contracts, opportunities/quotes, booking transactions, and/or accounts receivables.

Focus on driving process improvement initiatives across the sales organization that will enhance sales force productivity and efficiency

Project Manager - Employee Owner

Developed thorough understanding of Bay Cities capabilities, products and services. This included training in the following departments: design, pre-production, production, customer service, accounting and sales.

Support driving sales growth and revenue with new and existing customers through generation of leads and opportunities.

Identify prospective clients online and in CRM to target appropriate contact people and captures relevant information. Collected, tracked and summarized performance and customer data.

Build and maintain relationships with sales force to understand and serve their needs as a first-line of support on all leads, systems, and applications.

Proactively and thoroughly researched matters relating to account assignments, contracts, opportunities/quotes, booking transactions, and/or accounts receivables.

Support keeping selling tools up-to-date, accurate and detailed. These tools included but are not limited to forecasting, customer/account plans, opportunity plans, and CRM.

Drive planning efforts for customer visits, sales training events and Sales Meetings; Assisted the sales team with developing sales forecasts; Assists with customer meetings and sales calls.

Sales Associate - Employee Owner

BJ's Restaurants, Inc.

Server

Western Dental Services

Developed strong marketing relationships with various business entities and vendors to establish local area marketing programs and launch new marketing and sales leads. 

Provided regional marketing support to over 90 California, Arizona, and Texas offices in the areas of literature, direct communication, and local advertisements to promote overall brand image.

Participated in the launch of marketing campaigns and managed online and offline research projects.

Traveled to regional offices to implement marketing strategies and branding efforts. 

Managed event planning and staffing for over 50 small and large events.

Maintained sports partnership with USC Fox Sports, which included event staffing, booth activation, purchase and maintain promotional materials, and managed advertising creative.

Worked directly with upper level management to successfully implement marketing and operational campaigns and programs that enhance both patient and employee experience.

Marketing Specialist

Yard House Restaurants

Locations:
•	Newport Beach, CA - Store Opening Team
•	Brea, CA - Training Location

Skills strengthened:
•	Teamwork 
•	Strong work ethic
•	Staying high energy
•	Customer service & relationship building
•	Finding efficiencies in process steps
•	Sales in fast paced & high intensity work environment

Pottery Barn

Worked in multiple roles including in sales in the design center, stockroom, and visual merchandising.

Design Studio Specialist/Stock Associate/Visual Merchandising

Chip and Pepper

Helped open the company's flagship location at Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach, Calif. The 900-square-foot store features the company’s entire collection of premium denim and sportswear along with the C&P University line of tees, knits, and twills from the Los Angeles–based twin brothers Chip and Pepper Foster, who are also the company’s principal design team.

Retail Sales Associate

Server Trainer

Hollister Co.

Management impact/stock associate team of over 50 employees by delegating daily tasks and floor set projects, while maintaining company standards and initiatives.

Managed visual and display merchandising standards.

Managed cross-functional teams to successfully implement seasonal and monthly store refresh events which included visual merchandising, lighting, display marketing and inventory control.

Trained team associates at offsite locations to improve functionality and efficiency in merchandise management.

Implemented brand and marketing strategies to achieve higher sales.

Worked with management team to reduce store shrink from  25+% to less than 3%.

Stock Manager

Impact Manager

Brand Representative

Walmart🛒Sam's Club |📦Merchandising Displays & Packaging📦|❤️Sales & Marketing |🌄Outdoor Enthusiast & Endurance Everything🏃| Employee Owner❤️EBITA | #TheRetailDude

With over a decade of experience in retail merchandising and execution, I help CPG brands make an impact at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and beyond. From endcaps to pallet programs, I work closely with brand CEOs, Founders, and Marketing/Sales executives to execute in-store merchandising strategies that drive velocity, impulse purchases, and brand awareness.

I’m passionate about sharing insights on how brands can maximize their retail presence—whether through strategic packaging, off-shelf displays, or shopper marketing activations. My approach is rooted in innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless pursuit of "What if?" thinking to bring ideas to life.

👟 Outside of retail, I’m an ultra-runner, constantly pushing limits and testing endurance—just like in business. Success in both comes down to strategy, consistency, and execution.

Let’s connect and talk about winning at retail.

𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨: 
Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Kroger, Walgreens, Home Depot, Lowes, and more

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙀𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙨:
Direct Import(DI), Multi-Vendor, Pass-Through, DSDC, Single Supplier, Feature Trains, Signage Kits, Collect/Prepaid, Cross-Dock, Materials Only

𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚:
Toys, Electronics, Stationery/Craft, Apparel, OTC, H&W, Grocery, Consumables, Lawn & Garden, Entertainment, Beauty, Baby, Craft, Seasonal (Annual Event, BTS, Holiday, Easter)

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙨:
★ Custom Point of Sale Displays: Pallets, Floorstands/FSDU's, Trays, Endcaps, Trendpods, In-store Signage
★ Protective Industrial Packaging: Retail Ready, Subscription Boxes, Trays, RSC Boxes Influencer Kits
★ Specialty Items: Set-up Boxes, Slide Boxes, Trade Show Booths
★ Retail Product Packaging: Baypack, Folding Carton, Gift Sets
★ Augmented Reality/AssemblAR
★ Digital Printing: Variable Data, Customized, Personalized

𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨:
★ Concept Design
★ Material Manufacturing
★ Retail Planning & Strategy
★ Project Management
★ Supply Chain Logistics
★ Packout & Fulfillment

Contact me at joshual@bay-cities.com

Joshua Linden

The 5 Things Brands Miss When Prepping Off-Shelf Merchandising Displays (Walmart, Target, Lowe's Companies, Inc.’s, Costco Wholesale…)

After years of working across shopper marketing, display execution, and retail programs, I keep seeing a handful of preventable mistakes pop up again and again. The kind that cost brands velocity, margin, and even their feature space.

Here are five big ones I see and how teams can get ahead of them:

1. Messaging That Stops at the Shopper

Your artwork and messaging can’t only speak to the customer.
It also needs to speak to the store associates who receive, build, and place the display.

Clear callouts like “Set by: ___”, “Place in: Seasonal / Action Alley / Beverage Aisle”, or simple build icons go a long way. If associates can’t quickly understand what it is and where it goes, your display risks ending up in the wrong spot… or not making the floor at all.

2. Timelines That Don’t Match Retail Reality

Retail calendars are non-negotiable.
 
Seasonal resets, feature windows, and promo cycles move fast, and many brands underestimate how early they need:

Final artwork
Approved dielines
Forecasted quantities
Confirmed ship windows
Carrier appointments

If you’re late, you’re not just missing a date, you’re missing the entire opportunity.

3. Skipping ISTA Testing or Doing It Too Late

ISTA testing is one of the most overlooked steps… until product shows up crushed, leaning, or compromised. At that point, it’s too late.

Make sure your display + product configuration is tested in advance before you scale up production. Even small changes in product weight, corrugate, or glue patterns can make or break stability through a real supply chain.

4. No Physical or Digital Mock-Ups

Mock-ups aren’t a “nice to have”, they’re essential. Teams often skip building a prototype because they’re rushing to hit a date. But mock-ups stress test everything:

Does the product actually fit the way you imagined?
Does the shopper shop it intuitively?
Do associates know how to build it?
Does it survive a warehouse floor?

Catching issues early saves money and headaches later.

5. Assuming the Store Will “Figure It Out”

This might be the most common one.

Brands often assume their display will magically land in the perfect spot, perfectly built, right on time. But store teams are overwhelmed, understaffed, and juggling dozens of priorities.

If your display doesn’t arrive with crystal-clear instructions, correct labeling, easy freight routing, and the right timing… the odds of a flawless execution drop fast.

At the end of the day, off-shelf space is the best billboard you can buy in retail. Make sure it counts.

If your team is needing to strategize, plan, or execute shopper marketing displays, I’m always happy to connect and see how we can support your retail efforts and share what we’re seeing across the industry.

#ShopperMarketing #Retail #CPG #TheRetailDude #Walmart #Target #Costco #Displays #Merchandising Bay Cities

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Joshua Linden

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