Experience

Merrell

• United States
• Retail
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Associate Product Line Manager

  • May 2019 - Present



More-Self-Less

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Category Leader

  • Jan 2014 - Present



Wolverine Worldwide

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Product Manager, CAT Footwear

  • Aug 2013 - May 2019

  • Manage and develop robust PLM processes for new line development through commercialization ie equipment authorization, critical path, pending production.• Responsible for seasonal PLM date entry for timelines, design briefs and pattern adoptions.• Manage daily effective/construction communication with sourcing team members on PLM, global samples orders, global cost sheets, final product specification sheets.• Partner with marketing on global buyers guides by providing new product, details of spec, artwork/proto samples, verification on correct information.• Point of contact as centralized sampling by tracking sales samples for all three key markets ie USA, Int’l and WEL for new line launches, order all PR sales samples for marketing, creating a SAP Purchase Order to factories for sales samples and tracking to completion and delivery.• Manages lifestyle women's New Style Fit Tests, working directly with Developer and Factory to make appropriate changes. Coordinates wear test trial program by obtaining testers from area businesses. • Maintains the CAT central stores space with confirmation samples and coordinates meeting rooms.• Provide product support needs for the USA sales team ie industrial communication with sales team, requesting tests from Asia and Rockford lab teams, industrial test results and any samples needs.• Responsible for production set up / samples for all global conferences from order to delivery.• Directs and maintains all internal records for all stock numbering.• Assures all prototype and production specification sheets are received and accurate and maintains the spec library.• Creates and distributes quarterly visual matrices working with global demand planner. Show less

• Product Manager, Merrell Footwear

  • Nov 2009 - Jul 2013

  • Promoted into this role in 2009 to oversee Kids Product Development Team and processes within to ensure on-time delivery and successful launch of product to market. • Responsible for serving as cross-functional point of contact between Marketing, Sales and Demand Planning. This includes regular interaction with Marketing group to ensure print ads were correct in various publications and participation in promotional photo shoots to ensure cohesive brand strategy. • Worked with Demand Planning function to ensure proper inventory control and advise DROPS to the line after reviewing forecasts. • Control product line management; showing an average SKU reduction of 9% while increasing global sales by 11% from season to season• Successfully shortened the Product Development process by 6 weeks to facilitate earlier delivery to market.• Utilization of PLM system for data input and analytics such as regional forecasting to strategically determine course of action. • Strategically partnered with sales group by traveling with team to various markets to get feedback on product lines and incorporate improvements in future product• Responsible for strategic planning of future development seasons including meeting with key accounts like Zappos.com in an effort to gather feedback and present market intelligence to the product team. • Successfully interact with development teams, color teams, and Asia manufacturing facility to ensure that all were following process and able to meet deadlines • Chosen to create and deliver powerful product presentations to the Global Merrell Sales Teams of 300+ Show less

• Product Specialist, Merrell Footwear

  • May 2008 - Nov 2009

  • Promoted into this role in May of 2008, responsible for direct communication between Product Development team and Asia factory, ensuring that all changes were made correctly and production was running at capacity. • In charge of inspecting First Production styles to ensure no construction issues.• Serve as point of contact with Canadian sales team to process special make-up styles specific to their region. This included working the tech pack (constructions, colors, development) and forwarding those specifications to the Asia production facility. Stayed in constant communication with facility to ensure that samples would arrive to sales team on time. • Responsible for managing Merrell’s “Global Worksheet”, communicating all changes direct to Asia factory in an effort to make sure that various styles that were going to production had ample forecasting and ensuring there were no production issues.• Ensured that technical information such as materials and technologies used on specific styles were correct in various publications.. Show less

• Product Coordinator II, Merrell and Patagonia Footwear

  • May 2006 - May 2008

  • Promoted into this role in May of 2006; responsible for direct communication with Asia factory to place component orders.• Coordinated material and testing of product at Rockford Lab. • Managed Merrell Wear Test consumer feedback program, including following up with wear testers to analyze their feedback and relaying that information to our factories for corrections• Responsible for filing patents and following up with infringements with Warner, Norcross and Judd legal team. • Organized footwear for various publications, including providing footwear and technical information to publications such as Footwear News, Shape, and various other publications. • Served as liaison with various PR firms to supply footwear for Edward Norton, Angelina Jolie-Pitt, and other celebrities Show less

• Order Entry/Return Authorization Rep

  • Apr 2005 - May 2006

  • Create Return Authorizations for various dealers.• Work directly with Reverse Warehouse as returns are accepted. • Enter phone and fax orders from dealers and sales reps. • Answer and direct calls on a multi-line switchboard.



Woodlawn Playcenters

• Cedar Springs, MI

• Sales Assistant/Customer Service Rep

  • Dec 2000 - Aug 2002

  • Assist the sales team with various reports. • Conduct credit inquires and new account set-up. • Prospect new accounts, call on existing accounts and respond to internet consumer requests. • Worked with little to no supervision. • Assist the sales team with various reports. • Conduct credit inquires and new account set-up. • Prospect new accounts, call on existing accounts and respond to internet consumer requests. • Worked with little to no supervision.



Techna International

• Rockford, MI

• Customer Service Rep

  • Jul 1998 - Dec 2000

  • Assist the sales team and prepare sales packets for 30 sales reps. • Conduct credit inquires and new account set-up. • Assist in company booth at various Safety Shows. • Assist the sales team and prepare sales packets for 30 sales reps. • Conduct credit inquires and new account set-up. • Assist in company booth at various Safety Shows.