GR Verner

Lead Producer of Product Design

San Antonio | Pittsburgh

grverner@gmail.com

Resume

Welcome Video

About me

Hey there—thanks for stopping by! If you’ve made it this far, you're either lost or mildly curious about the guy behind the work. Feel free to click the welcome video above…

My journey started as an elementary art teacher in Kingstree, South Carolina, where I built an art program from scratch—glitter, chaos, and all. That experience sparked the creative fire that’s guided me ever since.

I later pivoted into the business world—yes, from finger paints to freight—joining Penske Truck Leasing, where I traded classroom whiteboards for boardroom strategy. This shift led me into the world of marketing and eventually into affiliate marketing, where I found a perfect blend of creativity and analytics.

Over the years, I’ve led everything from branding campaigns to digital strategy, launched affiliate programs tailored to partner needs, and built creative teams that deliver measurable results. Whether it’s designing a product launch or scaling a marketing channel, I bring the same energy and vision I once used to spark creativity in a room full of second-graders. A degree in Computer Animation & Multimedia from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh kicked off my digital design career, leading to roles in startups and agencies where I built teams, launched products, and helped take companies like GiftCards.com all the way to acquisition.

Most recently, I leveled up in Texas with USAA, earned a Master’s in Design Management, and gained deep experience in human-centered product strategy.

When I’m not designing, I’m a proud husband, dad of four, classic car tinkerer, and semi-pro dart thrower (yes, that’s a thing—I even have trophies). I believe in creativity, empathy, and always keeping things just serious enough.

Design Management Masters … What is that?

When I earned my Master’s in Design Management, I quickly realized something surprising: most people — even within design and business circles — aren’t exactly sure what that means.
Here’s how I define it 👇
Design Management is a problem-solving process that uses research, data, and user empathy to identify solutions and enhance the value of life through innovation.

It’s not just about making things look good.
It’s not just project managing a team of designers.

It’s about:
Driving strategy through deep research and insights
Bridging the gap between design, business, and technology
Aligning stakeholders and teams around human-centered solutions
Using design thinking to guide innovation that delivers measurable impact
In practice, it means applying design principles and research-driven decision making to solve complex challenges — whether in financial services, customer experience, or marketing campaigns.

Thanks for looking around!

Some of my projects

View all

Affiliate Marketing

Creative Services Group

Affiliate Marketing

Creative Services Group

Affiliate Marketing

Creative Services Group

Zelle P2P

P2P Space

Zelle P2P

P2P Space

Zelle P2P

P2P Space

SCAD

Design Management

SCAD

Design Management

SCAD

Design Management

GiftCards

Marketing

GiftCards

Marketing

GiftCards

Marketing

My Design Process

Here’s how I approach product design, from strategy to iteration, ensuring every step adds value to the final solution.

🧭 What This Diagram Is

This diagram maps out a complete design lifecycle that blends strategic intake, human-centered discovery, iterative design, and innovation funding workflows—all wrapped in a hybrid Agile framework.

Think of it as both a map and an instruction manual: it shows how design integrates with product delivery, from the earliest requests to post-launch innovation.

View Details

Strategic Alignment

Initial project scoping and understanding business requrements

Intake

Research and gather insights about users and market needs

Sprint Planning

Synthesise research and define clear project objectives

Execution

Create solutions through iterative design process

Experience

San Antonio, Texas

USAA

Jan 2016 – Present

LEAD CREATIVE PRODUCER | PROJECT MANAGER

Cut project delivery time by 10%

Boosted team productivity by 20%

Increased workflow transparency by 45%

Led high-impact product campaigns with measurable business results

Recognized for strategic leadership and cross-functional collaboration

• Digital Marketing Strategy | Team Leadership | Creative Execution • Compliance & Risk Management | Performance Analytics | Stakeholder Communication • Budget & ROI Optimization | Change Management | Agile Workflows

Pittsburgh, PA

Wolfe, LLC

March 2006 – Feb 2016

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | PROJECT MANAGER

Job Description: Led marketing-driven design efforts across six corporate and e-commerce websites, with a strategic focus on product positioning, customer engagement, and conversion optimization. Oversaw end-to-end digital experiences—including UI/UX, multimedia, and web development—to ensure seamless alignment between user needs and business growth objectives. Closely partnered with Marketing to execute integrated campaigns, enhance brand consistency, and drive audience engagement across digital, social, and paid media platforms. Managed branding strategy, vendor partnerships, and video production to support go-to-market initiatives, boost product visibility, and fuel customer acquisition.

Project Management • & Agile Leadership

Built and managed a high-performing team of graphic designers, web developers, and multimedia specialists for corporate and e-commerce initiatives, achieving a 25% increase in project delivery speed.

Implemented Agile workflows within the SAFe Framework using Jira, resulting in a 30% improvement in cross-functional collaboration efficiency.

Collaborated with the CEO and developers to define MVPs, successfully bringing scalable solutions to market within a 10-week timeline.

Managed the launch and redesign of multiple e-commerce sites, coordinating efforts across marketing, design, and development teams to enhance site traffic by 40%.

Pittsburgh, Pa

Digital River | Direct Response Technologies Inc.

Jan 2003 – Jan 2006

Creative Service Director | Digital Experience & Marketing Lead

Job Description: Founded and led Creative Services as a revenue-generating department, architecting a turnkey affiliate marketing solution powered by Direct Track to support partner onboarding, campaign execution, and performance optimization.

Developed and implemented client training and enablement programs, resulting in a 40% improvement in platform adoption, affiliate engagement, and marketing campaign success.

Managed a cross-functional team of 15 across design, customer support, and affiliate services, increasing department productivity by 45% and reducing project turnaround times by 25%.

Directed UX-focused design initiatives, contributing to the Digital River acquisition, improving software usability by 10%, and increasing user retention by 20%.

Led the end-to-end execution of marketing and platform enhancement projects aligned with strategic business goals, increasing overall project success rates by 40%.

Oversaw UX-driven design initiatives that improved the usability and retention of affiliate-facing software, directly supporting long-term partner engagement and satisfaction.

Drove affiliate marketing strategy across creative development, user acquisition, and campaign analytics—resulting in improved partner ROI and contributing to the company’s successful acquisition by Digital River.

Professional Experience

Pittsburgh, PA

PerfectGift.com

Nov 2025 – Present

Senior Marketing Designer

Job Description • Lead the design and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns across major social media platforms, supporting customer acquisition, brand visibility, and revenue growth across Wolfe’s digital commerce portfolio. • Design and produce high-impact creative assets including video, motion graphics, and static advertising optimized for paid & organic social performance. • Leverage AI-assisted design tools to accelerate ideation and scale print and digital outputs while maintaining brand consistency and production efficiency. • Partner closely with UX and product teams to evaluate, refine, and enhance critical app flows for Perfect Digit, GiftCard Granny, and GiftYa, ensuring intuitive, conversion-focused user experiences. • Translate marketing strategy, UX insights, and performance data into compelling visual solutions aligned with business and product goals. • Collaborate cross-functionally in an agile, hybrid environment, supporting rapid iteration and high-quality delivery across marketing, UX, and product PerfectGift Key Impact: Accelerated campaign delivery and creative scalability by integrating AI-assisted design workflows and close UX collaboration, improving speed-to-market while strengthening conversion-focused app flows across PerfectGift, GiftCard Granny, and GiftYa.

San Antonio, Texas

USAA

Jan 2016 – 2025

LEAD CREATIVE PRODUCER | PROJECT MANAGER

Job Description Led cross-functional teams to streamline workflow efficiency, enhance product design, and ensure regulatory compliance in banking. Delivered user-centered, digital-first marketing strategies from research to execution—driving acquisition, optimizing CPA, and deepening customer relationships. Managed integrated campaigns, agency partnerships, and budget allocations with a strong focus on ROI. Drove digital transformation and storytelling to accelerate the adoption of new tools and processes, improving project delivery time by 10% and team productivity by 20%. Established design best practices and coached teams on scalable, compliant business operations. Utilized Jira and Rally to increase project transparency by 45%, while aligning all marketing efforts with risk and compliance requirements. Actively collaborated with external partners and kept the brand purpose of serving the military community central to every initiative. Key Achievements • Cut project delivery time by 10% • Boosted team productivity by 20% • Increased workflow transparency by 45% • Led high-impact product campaigns with measurable business results • Recognized for strategic leadership and cross-functional collaboration Core Competencies • Digital Marketing Strategy | Team Leadership | Creative Execution • Compliance & Risk Management | Performance Analytics | Stakeholder Communication • Budget & ROI Optimization | Change Management | Agile Workflows

Pittsburgh, PA

Wolfe, LLC

March 2006 – Feb 2016

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | PROJECT MANAGER

Job Description Led affiliate marketing-driven design and digital strategy across six corporate and e-commerce websites, focusing on product positioning, customer engagement, and conversion optimization through strategic affiliate partnerships. Managed end-to-end digital experiences-including UI/UX, multimedia, and web development-to align user needs with business growth objectives. Collaborated closely with Marketing to execute integrated campaigns, enhance brand consistency, and drive audience engagement across digital, social, and paid media channels. Directed branding strategy, vendor partnerships, and video production to support affiliate go-to-market initiatives, boost product visibility, and accelerate customer acquisition. Key Achievements • Cut delivery timelines by 10% • Improved productivity by 20% • Enhanced project transparency by 45% • Led campaigns with measurable business impact • Recognized for strategic leadership and cross-functional collaboration • Led design, dev, and multimedia teams, boosting project delivery speed by 25%. • Oversaw multiple e-commerce launches and redesigns, increasing site traffic by 40% Core Competencies • Digital Strategy | Cross-Functional Leadership | Agile • Marketing Creative Direction • Risk & Compliance | Data-Driven Optimization • Stakeholder Engagement | Change Management | Performance Analytics • Project Management • & Agile Leadership • Used SAFe Agile and Jira to improve team collaboration by 30%; • Delivered MVPs with CEO/devs in under 10 weeks

Pittsburgh, Pa

Digital River | Direct Response Technologies Inc.

Jan 2003 – Jan 2006

Creative Service Director | Digital Experience & Marketing Lead

Job Description Founded and led Creative Services as a revenue-generating department, launching a turnkey affiliate marketing platform that increased adoption and engagement by 40%. Directed a 15-person cross-functional team, improving productivity by 45% and reducing turnaround times by 25%. Spearheaded UX-driven design initiatives, boosting software usability by 10% and retention by 20%, contributing to a successful acquisition by Digital River. Oversaw end-to-end marketing and platform enhancements, improving project success by 40%. Aligned affiliate strategy, creative, and analytics to maximize partner ROI and long-term growth. Key Achievements: • Drove 40% boost in platform adoption and affiliate engagement through training programs. • Improved team productivity by 45% and cut project turnaround by 25%. • Enhanced usability by 10% and retention by 20%, aiding in company acquisition. • Increased project success by 40% through strategic marketing and platform alignment. Core Competencies: • Affiliate Marketing • Strategy & Execution • Cross-Functional Team Leadership & Productivity • UX-Driven Design & User Retention • Client Training & Enablement Programs • Data Analytics & Campaign Optimization • Agile Project Management & Workflow Efficiency • Stakeholder Collaboration & Vendor Management • Brand Consistency & Go-to-Market Support

Developed and implemented client training and enablement programs, resulting in a 40% improvement in platform adoption, affiliate engagement, and marketing campaign success.

Managed a cross-functional team of 15 across design, customer support, and affiliate services, increasing department productivity by 45% and reducing project turnaround times by 25%.

Directed UX-focused design initiatives, contributing to the Digital River acquisition, improving software usability by 10%, and increasing user retention by 20%.

Led the end-to-end execution of marketing and platform enhancement projects aligned with strategic business goals, increasing overall project success rates by 40%.

Oversaw UX-driven design initiatives that improved the usability and retention of affiliate-facing software, directly supporting long-term partner engagement and satisfaction.

Drove affiliate marketing strategy across creative development, user acquisition, and campaign analytics—resulting in improved partner ROI and contributing to the company’s successful acquisition by Digital River.

Education

Savannah, GA

Nov 2021

Master of Arts: Design Management | Product Design

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Honor rolls consecutive quarters. SCAD Scholarship Recipient. Professional Development: HCD and Project management.

Indiana, PA

Bachelor of Science: Education

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Alumni of the IUP Baseball program. Teaching Certification K-12. Featured in Fine Art gallery of exceptional design.

Pittsburgh, PA

Associate of Science: Computer Animation Multimedia

Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Honor roll consecutive quarters. Dean’s List. Graduated with honors.

Certifications

PMI Certification in progress

Simpilearn - San Antonio, TX 9 years’ experience in current role (USAA). Anticipated Certification 2025

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

AI, PS, AE, PR, PS, IN, AU

Adobe Creative Suite

AI, PS, AE, PR, PS, IN, AU

Adobe Creative Suite

AI, PS, AE, PR, PS, IN, AU

Rally

Project Management tool

Rally

Project Management tool

Rally

Project Management tool

Jira Work Managment | Jira

Project Managment

Jira Work Managment | Jira

Project Managment

Jira Work Managment | Jira

Project Managment

Payments

Payment Platform

Payments

Payment Platform

Payments

Payment Platform

FigJam | Figma

Design | Collaboration tool

FigJam | Figma

Design | Collaboration tool

FigJam | Figma

Design | Collaboration tool

Business Acuman

Communication

Business Acuman

Communication

Business Acuman

Communication

Recommendations

Tiffany Maples

Director of Product Design

I've had the pleasure of working with Gil Verner both directly as his manager and indirectly over the past five years, and he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership as a Design Producer Lead. Gil has a strong ability to drive and improve Agile workflows, planning, and cross-functional alignment. I’ve always appreciated his collaborative approach, his mentorship of junior teammates, and his ability to implement scalable processes that have become best practices across multiple teams. His rare blend of human-centered design expertise, business acumen, and calm, strategic leadership makes him an invaluable asset to any digital organization.

Alex Locke

UX Designer @ USAA | Payment Experiences

"I had the pleasure of working closely with GR Verner over the past two years in the money movement space at USAA, and let me tell you—GR can move mountains. (He’d call me a mountain man in return—something about my scraggly beard and hair—but that’s another story.) GR isn’t just someone who keeps projects moving—he orchestrates them. He has a gift for helping designers stay on track, navigating shifting priorities, and delivering work on time without ever losing his sense of humor. Whether we were deep in Rally or making the jump to Jira Work Management, GR dove in headfirst, figured things out, and became the go-to expert for our team. Rally wizard? Check. JWM wizard? Absolutely. GR is the kind of teammate who makes collaboration feel seamless, who brings clarity to the chaos, and who genuinely lifts the people around him. He’s someone you can count on—not just to get the work done, but to make the process better for everyone involved." Anyone would be lucky to have GR on their team. He’s one of a kind.

Mary Castaneda

Expert Design Producer and Project Manager

"I had the privilege and honor of serving alongside GR Verner as a design co-producer on the Payments team at USAA. The payments space is huge and complex, yet GR made it easy to understand. GR’s expert knowledge of the space and shared insights is how I grew and refined as a fellow producer, and I am grateful for knowing him and following his lead! GR stretched his ability as a producer building amazing views within our project management tools to measure how our team was performing and tracking our design work. These views were invaluable and set us up for success as we managed very complex projects across the payments space. GR is dedicated, a quick study, very resourceful, quickly follows through and solves complex problems through collaboration with the team and his network. He knows how to get all the right people in the right room to address and manage the work at hand. With all these qualities applied, he quickly removes blockers to help push the work forward when it counts. GR is an exceptional team lead, and any company would benefit from having him as part of their organization. If you ever get an opportunity to work with GR, he will ground you in a positive way, keeping it simple with a way forward. This is where he shines bright! On a more personal note, GR is humble, down to earth, has a big heart, and fun to hang around with. He has great taste in southern rock music, and he has a love of classic cars!"

Pam Sobinovsky

UX design senior

I had the pleasure of working with GR at USAA for over a year on the bank’s payment experiences, and I would highly recommend him for any Product Design Producer or project management role. GR consistently took the lead on all project management responsibilities, allowing me to fully focus on delivering the best possible design solutions. He has a real talent for keeping complex initiatives organized, stakeholders aligned, and meetings productive. His ability to drive momentum while maintaining a calm, collaborative environment was critical to our team’s success. Any product or design organization would benefit from having someone as dependable and capable as GR in a producer role. .

Leslie Becker

UX Design Producer / Product Manager / Strategist / Proactive Mentor, Results-driven Leader

GR is fantastic. I had the pleasure of working with him at USAA. He is quick to lend a hand and explains things in such a kind and thoughtful way that only a teacher can. He dives into projects and quickly becomes the SME and is happy to share what he has learned with his team to make us better at our jobs. If you get to work with GR count yourself lucky!

Recommendations And Awards

Cartoons Magazine

Featured Graphic Designer, Cartoons Magazine Social Media Campaign (2025)

Recently honored as the featured graphic designer in Cartoons Magazine’s social media campaign, showcasing my work to a broader creative audience.

1993 Top Gun Challenge champion

Featured in Bulls Eye and BullShooter Magazine

Rimaben Dave

Product Owner

I had the privilege of working with Gilbert at USAA, and I’m pleased to recommend him as a thoughtful, strategic, and inspiring design leader. Throughout our collaboration, Gilbert consistently demonstrated a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of user-centered design, and the ability to translate complex requirements into elegant, effective solutions. His leadership style fosters trust, creativity, and growth—making him not only a skilled manager but also a mentor and advocate for his team. Gilbert brings clarity to ambiguity, empathy to collaboration, and excellence to execution. Any organization would benefit from his vision and integrity.

Ben Rockwood

Director of Product Design

I had the privilege of working with GR on the UX Design team for Payments experiences at USAA. As my direct report during that time, GR consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, organizational mastery, and a deep understanding of the tools and processes that ensured our team's success. GR was a true expert in using tools like Rally and, later, JWM to keep our work organized and transparent. His ability to navigate these systems made him the go-to resource for understanding project statuses. GR didn't just master these tools—he shared his knowledge generously, tutoring colleagues (myself included) and helping our department transition seamlessly from Rally to JWM. His initiative in exploring and leveraging JWM’s capabilities set the foundation for its effective use across the team. Beyond tools, GR excelled in maintaining the integrity of our system of record, ensuring that our documentation accurately reflected the scope and status of our work. Thanks to his meticulous organization, we had a clear sense of team capacity and workload distribution, enabling us to make informed decisions and avoid burnout. GR also brought consistency and precision to our team ceremonies, leading standups and planning meetings with detail-oriented focus. His reliability in these areas fostered a strong sense of structure and momentum for the team. Moreover, GR built and nurtured excellent relationships with our partners. His transparency and thorough understanding of our capacity earned their trust and confidence in our commitments. What impressed me most about GR was his ability to balance visionary thinking with pragmatic execution. He consistently encouraged the team to pursue strategic, forward-thinking ideas while ensuring that we remained grounded in what was achievable within our capacity. This dual approach empowered the designers on the team to think big while maintaining realistic goals.

Tiffany Maples

Director of Product Design

Alex Locke

UX Designer @ USAA | Payment Experiences

Mary Castaneda

Expert Design Producer and Project Manager

Pam Sobinovsky

UX design senior

Leslie Becker

UX Design Producer / Product Manager / Strategist / Proactive Mentor, Results-driven Leader