SUMMARY
Motivated and creative team member with a background in creating, building and managing product categories from initial concept to completion, including product line management, product development, merchandising, tech design and apparel design.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT – SYNC Performance (Avon, CO) 2024-Present
- Managed entire lifecycle of products within the product line, from introduction to end-of-life
- Responsible for entire product portfolio of skiing and outdoor mountain life apparel and accessories. Including; insulated and shell outerwear, protection and training garments, racewear, baselayers, brandwear and accessories.
- Conducted market research to understand customer needs, preferences, and behaviors
- Developed and implemented a strategic plan for the product line, aligning with the overall business strategy
- Managed three direct reports, from materials sourcing, product development and contract design
- Developed and managed budget for the product line
- Monitor and analyze financial performance, including sales, costs, and profitability
- Created visual line plans for current and future seasons
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams, such as marketing, sales, finance, and operations, to ensure alignment and effective execution of the product strategy
- Created and delivered Product Briefs for pre-season and seasonal products
- Monitored and analyzed financial performance, including sales, costs, and profitability
- Communicated product line strategy, goals, and updates to internal teams and stakeholders
- Utilized data and analytics to make data-driven decisions and assess the performance of the product line
- Recommended product enhancements, updates, and discontinuations on carryover products
- Initiated and created Go to Market presentations with visual feature and benefit tools for marketing and sales
CATEGORY MANAGER, APPAREL & ACCESSORIES – Magpul Industries (Louisville, CO) 2019-2023
- Created and managed operational and strategic goals for the team, providing category insights and proposals to the business by analyzing market and consumer data
- Responsible for overall product management and P&L for Apparel, Logo wear, Handwear, Headwear and Belts resulting in over 40% growth across all categories
- Created, managed and maintained product line plan and seasonal trackers
- Responsible for briefing customer research, market conditions and status/activity of competing organizations/brands
- Executed product briefs for all categories and branded/logo wear in apparel and accessories
- Responsible for product performance and feature requirements by ensuring they meet overall brand strategy
- Led product design, graphic design, materials, quality and sourcing on all products
- Continually analyzed historical and current sales data by category, channel and consumer and sku level
- Responsible for implementation of business plans by ensuring all new launches of new products across each region meet launch expectations and timing with Sales and Marketing
- Designed and Developed Men’s & Women’s cut and sew and knits for all in-line products
- Initiated and implemented successful new launch of all categories through re-sourcing, strategy, margin gain and growth
- Created new product calendar, softgoods quality manual, seasonal road-maps and go to market plans
- Responsible for recommendation and implementation of improvement in existing products and product lifecycle planning
- Managed all creative, innovation, silhouette, print / pattern, color, and materials direction for all categories
- Created all Visual Line Plans and seasonal design direction planning across all categories
- Key point of contact for product-related communications with Sales and Marketing
- Managed and analyze costing from vendors and worked on maintaining and improving margin requirements
- Created new seasonal collections and product strategy presentations
PRODUCT DEVELOPER – Smartwool, VF Corporation (Boulder, CO) 2015-2019
- Developed Men’s, Women’s and kids cut and sew performance apparel for in-line products
- Developed Men’s and Women’s knit sweaters for in-line products
- Managed and tracked style development according to established product calendar
- Pioneered and managed the Product Wear Testing Program and evaluated testing data on advanced and in-line products
- Executed all details of tech pack development including bill of materials, measurement specifications, construction details and points of measure through utilization of Excel and Product Line Management (PLM) systems.
- Responsible for pre-costing all apparel products and worked with Operations and Merchandising to review product cost and focus on value engineering to achieve company margin goals
- Managed fit sessions and executed fit intent through clear analysis, documentation and communication for fit standards
- Managed fit model bookings and scheduling for apparel fit sessions
- Developed and managed yarn development process for sweaters
- Traveled and communicated with domestic and international VF Asia offices, factories and trade shows
- Managed Junior Developer tasks, including knit accessories
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT CREATION - Skirt Sports, Inc. (Boulder, CO) 2014-2015
- Directed, initiated and managed all aspects of design, development and merchandising for apparel including women’s running and lifestyle products in tops, bottoms, outerwear and sports bras
- Responsible for entire product development process and tech packs, including sketches, materials, specs and construction
- Designed and developed all apparel including garment, fabric, trims and textile prints
- Researched trend forecasting needs and interpreted ideas for seasonal product strategies
- Created development timeline for multiple seasons to track product development process
- Managed wholesale and direct to consumer product lines and pricing
- Responsible for various operational tasks including pricing, margin standards, SKU management and line planning
- Managed and maintained all key system work associated with product creation
- Created retail account specific visual merchandising and product assortments
- Managed any additional staff needs when contract help was needed
- Prepared and assisted in seasonal product reviews to cross functional team members
- Developed product briefs to contain brand information on pricing, competitive analysis, forecasting and colorway suggestions
- Traveled domestically and internationally for trade shows, accounts and to tour factories
DESIGNER AND DEVELOPER - Skirt Sports, Inc. (Boulder, CO) 2010-2014
- Created, managed and organized whole in house department from bottom-up for technical packages
- Managed wear test and fit evaluations from multiple body types and sizes
- Evaluated and commented on prototypes, fit samples, sales samples, pre-production samples and top of production samples
- Sourced and developed fabrics and trims for cross-functional products to ensure timely testing and approvals for production
- Communicated daily with manufacturers in Asia to ensure execution of product details and maintain calendar timelines
- Identified, requested and approved lab dips and strike-offs for SMS and production
- Created and developed Point of Measure and Quality Assurance manuals
- Managed development calendar and communicated status details to rest of team
- Negotiated material and garment costs, minimum order quantities, and lead-times with factories to reach financial goals
CONTRACTOR – PRODUCT DEVELOPER (CO) 2009-2010
Keystone Workwear - Created tech packs, tech sketches, folding and packing specs for Men’s Painter’s Wear Pants
Design Works - Created tech packs and analyzed fit for Men’s and Women’s apparel resort wear for Island Company
Dara Gear - Created tech packs and analyzed fit for Men’s and Women’s Muay Thai Gear in woven and knit tops and bottoms
Pearl Izumi - Created tech packs for Shimano products including Men’s and Women’s cycling apparel
PRODUCT MANAGER and GRAPHIC DESIGNER - Instant Imprints (Longmont, CO) 2008-2010
- Designed original art for screen printing, vinyl, embroidery and heat transfer application for apparel, banners, decals and signs
- Managed production workflow from customer care to product execution and communicated costing requirements to customers
- Recreated art that came in unacceptable formats or poor quality and provided suggestions to customers for best final product
- Created color separations and film output for correct product application
MERCHANDISER – Grupo Denim (Denver, CO) 2009
- Account manager for Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Company
- Managed communication between factory and customer on a daily basis and developed cost sheets for customer approval
- Responsible for tracking various wet and dry processes in wash approvals, for targets and shade band submits
- Communicated fit, construction and wash comments from customer to factory
- Controlled trim revisions from customers and handled revised bill of materials
PRODUCT DEVELOPER – Crocs, Inc. (Niwot, CO) 2007-2008
- Developed Kids, Men’s and Women’s apparel in woven and knit tops and bottoms for Crocs and Ocean Minded product lines
- Developed Kids and Adult accessories in woven and knit hats, scarves, mittens and bags
- Created technical packages that included tech sketches, construction details, measurements and material details
- Identified, requested and approved color lab dips for sales sample and production cloth
- Worked with designers to execute initial designs into final garment specifications for apparel and accessories
- Traveled domestically and internationally to tour factories and oversee production
- Managed and tracked apparel and accessories as they progressed through stages of the approval process to final production
- Evaluated and commented on prototypes, fit samples, sales samples, pre-production samples and top of production samples
- Communicated garment and accessory fit and construction comments to vendors
- Created new point of measure sketches and descriptions for new product categories (swimwear, intimates and accessories)
PRODUCT MANAGER - Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Company -Dickies (Fort Worth, TX) 2005-2007
- Responsible for building and creating a new product category within the company of Boys and Girl’s sportswear, including woven and knit tops, bottoms, denim and outerwear
- Designed and developed Boys, Girl’s and Junior’s School Uniforms in woven and knit tops and bottoms and added toddler sizing to School Uniforms to keep up with market demand
- Designed and developed Women’s Workwear in woven and knit tops and bottoms, including denim and outerwear
- Implemented new fit for entire category of Women’s tops and bottoms
- Researched core customers in working environments and focus groups to address consumers direct needs
- Conducted kid’s and women’s fit tests and consumer wear tests
- Designed and developed trim and cloth from concept to completion
- Identified, requested and approved color lab dips for production cloth
- Researched consumer needs and trends to interpret ideas for product development seasonal strategies
- Responsible for in-line presentations to accounts and national sales force
- Created tech packs that included measurement and material specs, target landed costs, construction details, fit comments
- Worked with factories, quality, engineering and pattern departments to resolve production, trim and/or quality problems
- Assisted in producing and led wardrobe supervision for national sales meeting fashion show
- Maintained carry-over product and updated existing styles with market trends thru evaluating SKU productivity
- Traveled domestically and internationally to tour fabric vendors, trade shows, factories and oversee production
- Worked with focus groups, customers and sales force to identify market needs
- Responsible for projects and tasks that the Merchandising Assistant worked with
- Initiated and developed color and trend boards for new product presentations
- Determined new product pricing based upon competitor research, sales department input and margin requirements
- Researched and tracked worldwide fashion trends via trade publications and comparison shopping for future product lines
MERCHANDISING ASSISTANT - Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Company -Dickies (Fort Worth, TX) 2003-2005
- Designed and developed Men’s workwear bottoms for Spring 2006 season
- Managed t-shirt and flannel top development to final production release
- Responsible for wardrobe and styling for photo shoots and inaugural International and Licensing Fashion Show
- Organized and initiated set-up process of various trade shows, styled mannequins and stage set-ups for ease of execution
- Maintained system requirements in product development process including fabric and trim library set-up
- Assisted in set-up of new retail outlet store and arranged visual merchandising displays
EDUCATION
Texas Christian University - Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising, Minor in General Business