Experience

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  SKYDEX Technologies, Inc.

  • Centennial, CO

  • Textile Engineer

    • May 2011 - Oct 2019
    • Centennial, CO

    • Created prototypes from 2D designs into 3D products designed by the Engineering team. • Partnered with each Product Engineer to create patterns, source soft goods and sewing contractors. • Involved with the creation of products to include athletic running shoes, protective gear, mattresses, and pet beds.• Successfully created Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the mattress covers resulting in lowering material and labor costs, keeping within Berry Compliancy, increasing profit margins by approximately 25% profit margins on each phase. • Successfully set up new and ongoing relationships with sewing contractors through my network of contractors.• Primary contact for all of soft goods manufacturers traveling domestically and internationally to insure contractors maintained quality standards, price structure, and on time shipments. • Prepared documentation of detailed instructions, drawings, photos, patterns, and requirements for new soft good products.

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  Tehama Inc.

  • Lakewood, Colorado

  • Director of Sourcing, Social Compliance, QA & Tech Design

    • 2007 - 2010
    • Lakewood, Colorado

    • Identified key vendors with Design and Production teams.• Traveled extensively overseas to oversee vendors/factories regarding products, costing, and social compliant practices.• Negotiated vendor pricing to meet profit margin requirements. • Maintained design calendar, working with design staff/contractors keeping all products within designated timelines.• Established quality expectations with each vendor including design issues, testing performance, construction standards.• Monitored vendor’s quality performance seasonally to determine viability to future business partnerships.• Consolidated the number of qualified vendors to achieve stronger purchasing power.• Reviewed each factory profile/audits with the design team to resolve any issues.• Managed all current Social assured compliance documentation with major customers including Disney, Talbots, and Men’s Warehouse.• Established electronic and hard copy pattern library to assure consistent fit throughout all of the collections.• Trained and mentored Assistant Tech Designers in creating patterns, proper fit, construction, and detailed tech packs.• Trained/mentored Quality Control staff at the off-site warehouse on how to maintain specific quality standards.• Reviewed and resolved issues with vendors/factories regarding deadlines, fit, and quality issues.• Issued, negotiated, and resolved charge backs with each vendor.• Coordinated repair issues with reconstructive contractors to salvage product.

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  Western Niches Inc

  • Denver, CO

  • Owner/Founder

    • 1992 - 2006
    • Denver, CO

    • Owned and operated an apparel design/engineering company, also offering consulting services.• Provided services to clients to help advance their design/production needs including product development, merchandising, costing, sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of their products.• Created patterns, tech pack/costing templates, tech packs, prototypes, sales samples, and production utilizing in-house manufacturing.• Purchased fabric and trims, offering clients “turn-key” customized products.• Specialized in patented products, uniforms, children’s fashion, sportswear, and outerwear government contracts. • Awarded government contracts to manufacture outerwear products.• Consulted nationwide with large scale manufacturing companies to improve their product for fit, more cost efficient manufacturing and product performance, increasing their overall profit margins.• Mentored start up apparel companies in the areas of product creation, prototypes, fit, production, and financial set up.

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  Miller Western Wear/Rocky Mountain Clothing

  • Denver, CO

  • Outerwear Product Manager/Import-Export Manager/ Design Department Manager

    • 1982 - 1992
    • Denver, CO

    • Product Manager for the Outerwear division. Responsible for final design decisions creating each outerwear product line. • Grew outerwear lines from revenue of $2 million/year to $7 million/year keeping within set profit margins.• Eliminated excess piece goods and outdated product inventory for improvement of overall profit margins.• Purchased materials, approved final costing of each product line, and managed overall profit margins. • Teamed with outerwear design staff to create designs, continuity in fit, materials, and costing of each outerwear collection. • Coordinated with sales, marketing and production to bring high quality/price competitive products to market. • Traveled internationally to source product designs, inspected factories, monitored production. • Worked directly with foreign agents, factory owners and custom brokers, establishing positive working relationships.• Created financial and custom-related documentation including L/Cs and wire transfers.• Managed a design department responsible for pre-production development, patterns, prototypes, sales samples, production patterns and product design documentation. • Directed quality inspections and/or audits of received items to ensure production met QC specifications.