After years in the outdoor and RTW apparel industry, I saw a recurring theme. We have built lots of wonderful product for a very narrow segment of the population. We need to be more inclusive by providing stellar gear built for Athena athletes. I founded Rsport not only to inspire and encourage female athletes, but to make sure they have high performing technical apparel built for their unique needs. We are building Athena size performance apparel so more people can enjoy the outdoors and the activities they love! Rsport is building performance product so more athletes can participate. The goal is to allow more to ROAR!

Recruited for my entrepreneurial experience as well as my apparel sourcing, production, material R&D, QC and operational experience with precise attention toward customer experience and creative ways to market.

Driven by pop culture, artists and relevant licenses we crafted a creative world of high end designer toys, products and apparel for the vinyl art collector community! This success grew impressive global partnerships that increased awareness of not only Kidrobot, but our partners through advocacy and events! Brought new business and revenue streams through creative licensing campaign partnerships with Samsung, (RED) foundation, Disney, Marvel, TMNT, DC Comics, Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, MTV/Viacom, Marvel, Capcom, Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, Playboy, Coachella, Adventure Time, and more.

Sustainably sourced and developed product offerings for the vinyl art collector community! Driven by pop culture, artists and relevant licenses we crafted a creative world of high end designer toys, products and apparel. Developed, negotiated and sourced more efficiently and collaboratively than had previously been done to help grow the startup to a sustainable business.

Global responsibility for $2.5M budget, six direct reports and a full team of 22 for product development, sourcing, materials, costing and prototyping for Pearl Izumi. Worked directly with OIA (Outdoor Industry Association) and Office of the US Trade Representative to best utilize global sources to allow Pearl Izumi to retain market share in key categories of our business. Implemented and Administrated Gerber’s PLM system and multiple upgrades. PLM helped to alter the process by which we fit and evaluate product to reduce the time from concept to production. This allowed sales to have more selling time in market. Consolidated finished good supplier matrix from 30 to 12 near to mills and trim vendors for improved development turns and production lead times. Developed quality team near our sourcing locations to ensure tighter quality regimen.

Drove material innovation and collective efficiencies with first ever global materials summit in 2008 by bringing Shimano and PI together to review R&D concepts and newly developed proprietary materials. Resourced Pearl Izumi’s Cycling Short Business Unit to a new production location from an innovation perspective and returned an additional 11 GM percentage points in the process. Built quality lab in house, and implemented enhanced standards for our Technical Apparel beyond industry driven RTW standards (ASTM, ISO, JIS, etc.). Managed Compliance with our Customs Clearance team to ensure product and factory compliance with initiatives and acts such as CPSIA, Prop 65 and a number of European mandates. Established joint relationship with CSU’s Human Performance Lab and Department of Design and Merchandising to support material performance tests on human subjects in active endeavors to apply principals to materials and product.

Reviewed and overhauled all materials by replacing long used less dynamic materials (non stretch wovens and/or static knits) with performance and functional materials (single jersey and laminated knits). Created quality standards for assessing more accurate measures of cycling and triathlon apparel that have a lifetime guarantee. Created Mill profiles for internal reference and assessed innovation and growth endeavors by mills over time.

Taught Fashion Industries and Design Appreciation course introducing students to the business of fashion design and merchandising from historical beginnings to current day developments. Recruited guest speakers (VP of Design at Ralph Lauren, Fashion Denver creator, etc.) to bring the real world to the classroom as well as collaborated with industry to donate fabrics and forms.

Developed, negotiated, costed and tested all materials used in apparel, bags and packs and dissemination of all material trend information from trade shows for entire company (hard and soft lines). Traveled globally to work with factories and vendors on advanced development as well as in-line product. Collaborated with the S-Lab Group (our in-house proprietary lab) and Arcteryx to build standards for our materials and trims. Created a web based visual reference of all trims and fabrics used to share with our factories, liaison offices and parent company to enable accuracy of shared information and improved efficiency in sourcing product.

Responsible for design, specifications and fit for multiple private label lines for a private label department and was the only Technical Designer on staff. Developed a product data management system to track and maintain the specifications, sketch, and construction of all private label lines using Excel and Micrographix designer for a department with $172M dollars in sales. Facilitated implementation of PLM system and was administrator for 3 directors and 30 managers. Increased private label department sales by $18M by improving fit of one women’s pant by reworking the shape and pattern of the garment in first 3 months of employment at Belk Store Services.

Created all specification packages, conducted fittings and recruited fit models for Junior and Women’s private label line as well as sourced and costed those apparel lines. Traveled domestically to garment factories to review compliance and technical abilities.