This position included working directly with multiple factories and creating custom product lines and developing exclusive designs for consumer goods. My speciality has been in the area of headwear, apparel, and sport related accessories. I have worked on custom fashion and athletic apparel and outerwear programs, custom designed action sports accessories, a wide variety of bags, eyewear, footwear, and optical accessories. My creative programs have included toys, socks, knit caps, baseball caps, home goods, and custom pet products. This position has developed my network of sourcing and product testing as well as my ability to do presentations at any level. I continue to learn new product segments on a daily basis. In addition, I have been a key member of a team of product developers that brainstormed new creative ideas for our clients. I always had the ability to create exciting new programs that meshed with media and web promotions and live events. I have worked on tour merchandise for musical acts as well as customized sport orientated product lines for sport specific activities. I am also very proud of my factory network. I was able to assemble a strong network of factories that were both ethical and reliable. I maintained a strong level of communications through factory meetings and negotiated pricing and deliveries directly with the overseas vendors.This position has taught me the gift of balance between creativity and profitability.

My duties involved daily company management, designing custom headwear programs, apparel and accessory development, overseas sourcing, marketing strategies, HR, overseeing the art direction, trade show management, and entertainment and branded license program development. I was the key company contact on all entertainment licensed business and brought in some very successful programs such as Pokemon, Southpark, The Simpsons, Looney Tunes, Spiderman, and the 1996 Summer Olympics. Head Start was a licensed division that was owned and operated by the factory. I was the first employee of this start up licensed product company and I helped build it from zero to a $14 million company with a strong market share in the accessory industry. During a 14+ year stay here, I was responsible for a number of very successful private label product development programs with retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Wal-Mart, and K-Mart. I also managed a sales force of 144 independent reps and 2 internal sales managers. 4 product developers and 8 artists also reported to me. Regular overseas trips and trade shows were part of the position. I also performed all of the major company pitches and presentations to studios, retail chains, sales teams, and distributors.

I was the key consultant in the location, design, and development of a brand new Reebok concept retail store in Santa Monica. The contract involved site selection, construction, inventory development, custom product development, creative services, event marketing, staffing, and community development. We introduced a new product line for Reebok Outdoor and developed exclusive products that was introduced first in the store. This included prototype footwear, outerwear, casual clothing, and accessories. I was the Reebok representative in all marketing functions and programs. The end product was a complete success and it was an excellent experience dealing with a large corporate entity and the challenges that come from that. The store ended up suffering damage from the 1994 earthquake and was closed.

The best job I ever had. A true free spirit of entrepreneurial business existed there. We developed new and exciting designs, innovative product lines, sport specific promotions, and with a heavy influence on corporate branding. I joined the company when they sold $6 million a year of just sunglasses and rode it up to $60 million a year brand of apparel and accessories, I opened and developed the company's first retail store and built it with my bare hands. It was a huge success and a precursor to today's commonly found concept shops. I was able to achieve tremendous growth in my network and work experience. We added an additional $10 million to the company assets and reduced dead inventory stock by over 80%. I feel this was the job that taught me cutting edge, grass roots promotional techniques and exposed me to some strong partnerships. I loved my boss. He inspired me and he truly believed in my vision. I have used his ways in my own style and been quite successful with it. The company ended up closing its doors due to an expired licensing agreement.

Supervised and trained blind skier guides to work with disabled youth programs. Event planning included race training and competitions. It was the kind of job that brings a smile to my face as I helped many kids achieve things they never thought they could. I changed lives there.