Kathleen Candelaria
Freelance Senior Art Buyer/Integrated Producer
candekat@gmail.com
708.955.8457

In a Nut Shell
Seasoned Senior Art Buyer / Integrated Producer with experience in consumer and pharma advertising. Expert in creative sourcing, cost consulting, and managing productions across print, motion, CGI, and animation. Kathleen has worked at the following agencies: JWT, DraftWorldwide, FCB, and AbelsonTaylor. With over 30 years of experience, Kathleen brings strong leadership, team mentorship, and an extensive network of production resources to collaborate with Agency creative teams, artists, and clients to deliver award-winning content on time and within a variety of budgets and timelines.

What Does She Do?

Art Producton • Production Strategy • Photo Production • Integrated Content Production • Vendor & Talent Negotiation • Creative Collaboration • Copyright Law & Licensing • Budget Management • CGI & Post-Production • Leadership • Healthcare & Pharma Expertise

Website/Resume/Other Links
Under Construction

Where Does She Live and Where Would She Work?
Kathleen lives in the Chicagoland area and spent her career in Chicago. She is open to hybrid/remote work locally as well as remote opportunities with agencies nationwide. She will travel for production.

What Do People Who Have Worked with Kathleen Want You To Know About Her?

Meredith Ott – Founder at Alice Blue Productions

Over the years, we have worked with so many wonderful producers, and Kathleen Candelaria is absolutely at the top of the list of the very best. Kathleen is a pro. She always has a smile, as she balances very complex productions, and creates a wonderful collaborative environment between her vendors and her agency partners. She is honest, trustworthy, and extremely loyal. And her experience and wisdom translate to extracting the best out of those around her. She does her job, and does it to perfection, and I am grateful to have worked with her over these years.

Cheryl Ward – Senior Advertising Production Consultant, Motion & Stills at BBS Inc.

As a Production Consultant with BBS, I have had the pleasure of partnering with Kathleen Candelaria as a Print Producer on numerous campaigns over five years. These collaborations have consistently been positive, strengthened our projects, and are something I always look forward to.  Kathleen is exceptionally well-versed in pharmaceutical advertising and can oversee and guide print productions of all scales, with or without motion, with expertise, professionalism, and attention to detail while skillfully balancing client budgets and expectations. Her deep understanding of the regulatory complexities and compliance requirements in pharmaceutical marketing sets her apart in this specialized field.  What truly distinguishes Kathleen is her collaborative approach and problem-solving abilities. She is a genuine team player who respects client timelines as well as everyone’s role in a production. Time and again, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate unexpected challenges and tight deadlines, consistently finding creative solutions when projects seemed impossible to execute within constraints. If Kathleen is on my team, I can rest assured that every detail will be accounted for and managed with precision.  Kathleen’s combination of technical expertise, industry knowledge, and collaborative spirit makes her an invaluable asset to any production team. I recommend her without reservation and would welcome the opportunity to work with her again on any future projects.

Brandessa Hale – Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Rise Productions

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kathleen Candelaria, a seasoned Senior Art Buyer & Integrated Producer, on multiple large-scale commercial productions. Kathleen consistently brings thoughtfulness, precision, and creative problem-solving to every project.

She excels in all aspects of production—from sourcing teams to managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and overseeing every detail of integrated, print, CGI, and motion shoots. Her deep expertise in healthcare and pharmaceutical advertising means she navigates compliance and regulatory complexities with ease. I always deeply appreciate her clear communication, attention to detail, and exceptional oversight.

What truly sets Kathleen apart is her collaborative spirit and leadership. She fosters positive relationships among agency teams, artists, and production partners, consistently empowering those around her. Her reputation as honest, trustworthy, and incredibly buttoned-up is well-earned, and she always brings a calm, solutions-focused mindset to every project.

In short, Kathleen is a top-notch agency producer. Her strategic thinking, extensive network, and unwavering professionalism make her an invaluable asset to any commercial production. I’m always excited (and a little relieved) when Kathleen is on the project!

What Are Some Fun Projects She Has Worked On?