School of Business

Created and designed innovative online Data Visualization courses tailored for both undergraduate and graduate students, integral components of the Business Analytics program. The undergraduate course serves as a comprehensive introduction, equipping students with practical skills in data visualization utilizing Tableau. This curriculum not only imparts fundamental design principles for crafting impactful representations of quantitative and qualitative data, pivotal for informed managerial judgments, but also culminates in students undertaking the Tableau Desktop Specialist certification exam upon semester completion.The advanced graduate course delves deeper into the realm of business storytelling through immersive data visualization practice. By fostering a richer understanding of this art, students acquire heightened proficiency in communicating insights derived from data. This course complements their academic journey, aligning seamlessly with their pursuit of excellence in the Business Analytics domain.

At our core, we believe in the transformative power of leadership. We empower organizations and leaders to not just reach, but surpass their potential. Through bespoke training, strategic advising, and immersive workshops, we equip you with the tools to elevate performance, foster a culture of excellence, and thus, rise above the conventional benchmarks. Our mission is to help you navigate the complexities of today's dynamic environment and lead your team towards sustained success.

Data Analytics and Statistics

Created a New Product Design and Branding course (MKTG 443/543) which offers a holistic learning experience that empowers undergraduate and graduate students to create products that resonate with target audiences while embodying the essence of the brand they represent. Through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, students will emerge with the skills to shape the future of product design and branding.

Led a 50-person global team that ensured $1.8B+ of products sold annually met DICK’s quality, RSL, and safety standards while also fulfilling government regulations. I developed strategies using streamlined processes and new systems to test and inspect 30M+ products produced annually more efficiently and effectively. Simultaneously, I partnered cross-functionally with IT, Merchandising, Product Development, Planning, Sourcing, QA, Logistics, and Finance to link process and systems throughout the organization to achieve optimal efficiency. ➢ Built out a brand-new inspection system for the group, a cloud-based system called Inspectorio, providing metrics to measure factory and inspector performance; set inspection workflow and standards enabling inspectors to use their mobile devices to conduct the inspections while adhering to defined standards.➢ Significantly decreased individual workmanship defects by 15 basis points, from 3.12% to 2.96% defects, by focusing on reviews and corrective action planning with the factories. ➢ Consistently achieve the strongest engagement scores in the department; earned a 91.8% engagement score in 2022, nearly 700 basis points better than the department average and higher than any other leader.

I was promoted amid a period of hypergrowth, with private brand growing from $500K to $1.5B and frequently doubling or tripling YOY revenue. ➢ Drove cost efficiency to reduce cost and rework as the product portfolio expanded. ➢ Built, developed, and led a global team that achieved measurable and sustainable customer-focused improvements across the Product Development organization. Technology implementation efforts included: PTC Flex PLM, Manhattan EEM, Generation Digital, and Optitex systems.➢ Crafted a sourcing strategy for $30M+ annual apparel manufacturing in Central America. Formed strong partnerships with world-class factories to ensure quality products were delivered on time and at a significant cost savings of $1M+ each year.➢ Developed and maintained best-in-class strategic systems road map and operational support models to deliver consistently high levels of customer service.➢ Improved product costing by 5% through synergistic system communication of materials and an improved RFQ process.➢ Cut product development lead-times by 17% through a calendar and process redesign both in US and Hong Kong office locations.

➢ Earned 2 fast-track promotions to perform SWOT and gap analyses and provide expertise in identifying and evaluating cost-effective business system solutions that met business requirements.➢ Championed the initiative that resulted in the implementation of a $6M PTC Flex PLM system for the private brands division. Managed contract resources and consultants across various locations to launch the new PLM framework.

➢ Transitioned to work with the SVP to restructure the entire Product Development team, which included Design, Tech Design, Global Sourcing, Product Management, QA/QC, and Business Reporting functions. ➢ Established KPI reports for the Product Development team to measure business.➢ Assisted the SVP and C-suite executives to justify/analyze licensed contract deals.

➢ Monitored the daily status of line development, encompassing product presentations as well as the creative and manufacturing processes. ➢ Communicated daily with the overseas office and suppliers on product costing compliance and lead-times. ➢ Managed the approval process of all raw materials, including fabric, lab dips, strike-offs, trim, and collateral.

Expertly crafted and curated two dynamic courses, New Product Development and Retail Math, as a dedicated educator at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. These courses stood as integral components of the Retail Management & Design curriculum, offering invaluable insights to students aspiring to excel in the realms of product design and retail strategy.The New Product Development course immersed students in the multifaceted world of conceiving, designing, and launching new products. Through a comprehensive blend of theoretical frameworks and hands-on projects, students gained a profound understanding of the innovation process. This empowered them to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and contribute innovatively to evolving market landscapes. In parallel, the Retail Math course equipped students with the quantitative acumen essential for thriving in the retail sector. Through a structured curriculum, students develop a mastery of the mathematical and analytical tools required for effective merchandise planning, inventory management, and pricing strategies. This skill set enhanced their capacity to drive business success and make informed decisions in the complex retail environment.

Product DevelopmentValerie Stevens

Women's Coats

Men's Accessories