Responsible for all direct product development efforts at The Cato Corporation. Divisions include: Cato, It's Fashion, It's Fashion Metro, Versona (1,300+ stores in 32 states).Specific Responsibilities:Manage Cato Overseas Ltd. offices in Asia (100+ employees in HK, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh and Shenzhen w/assorted other staff located throughout China & Southeast Asia) > Started development of Cato's own offices 5/14...Opened full line functioning office in HK 11/14 following up with a second full line office in Shanghai 2/15. Have added two additional support offices. > Directly involved in all recruiting, leasing, design, construction, legal, banking, licensing, etc. issues. > Worked with PwC to allow Cato to participate in Substantial Contribution efforts (tax savings). Sourcing > Purchases have grown 218% during my tenure. Direct Sourcing now accounts for 80% of all Cato division purchases. > Sourcing/Manufacturing product in 14 Asian countries. > Prior to opening Cato's offices in Asia, developed a "factory direct" business strategy in Asia that accounted for 48% of total overseas purchases. > Introduced 1st Sale duty saving to Cato. Areas of responsibility in Charlotte, NC corporate office: Product Development/Sourcing Design (Startup division 5/14...Managed until 5/16) Trend/Color/Print (Managed 11/07 to 5/16) Fabric Development/Sourcing Product Integrity Quality Assurance Technical Design Visual Merchandising Advertising & Marketing Photo Studio (Support Cato's e-commerce/web effort and in-store signage) Supervise 120+ employees at Cato's Charlotte headquarters.Additional Notes:Extensive Asian, Central American, African and European experience. Have travelled to 40+ countries sourcing and/or developing product since 1979.Expanded use of social media and television to reach the Cato's customer base.

Responsible for sales in excess of $500.0m for Junior, Misses & Plus Size Apparel. Accessories, Jewelry, Sleepwear & Daywear.Purchased from domestic and overseas markets. Charged with building a direct apparel business in Asia to increase IPMU and margin dollars for the company.7,000 stores in 44 states.

Progressed from Product Manager to Director to VP over my 14 years at Kohl's. Exposed to all categories of merchandise from women's, men's and childrens apparel to accessories, shoes, jewelry and home durning my tenure.Division was a start up when I joined Kohl's. During my time at Kohl's development/purchases grew from zero to over $1.0b in first cost purchases and/or $3.2b in retail sales. Interfaced with Kohl's merchandising teams, planning, allocation, logistics, e-commerce, agents and maker/suppliers (in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Central America and the United States).Responsible for the management of Kohl's Sonoma brand. Starting from zero, Somona in 2005 was a $300.0m 1st cost business and was identified as the most highly recognized proprietary apparel brand in the United States. One of the first people working for a major retailer to develop a 1st Sale duty savings strategy (which I have continued to do at various companies I have worked for) saving the corporation millions of dollars.