Product Manager at GCE International, Inc. (2024-09 – 2025-11)
Executed end-to-end product lifecycle for legwear, footwear, and cold weather categories with focus on on-time delivery and quality excellence.
- Executed end-to-end product lifecycle for legwear, footwear, and cold weather categories, directing all phases from initial concept through final shipment for on-time delivery and quality excellence.
- Partnered with overseas vendors to conduct rigorous cost analysis, ensuring all products met internal margin objectives, quality, and testing.
- Collaborated with design teams on technical pack handoffs, sample/product development, fit approvals, factory submissions, and construction details to maintain design integrity.
- Developed internal and customer-specific calendars to track milestones for fabrics, prototypes, packaging, and bulk production.
- Partnered with senior management to align on final costs and implement solutions for production risk factors.
- Partnered with the design and sales teams to create the seasonal product line/CAD's for buyers' meeting.
- Optimized e-commerce operations by managing the accurate upload of product technical details and visual assets to customer-facing websites for .com business units.
Production & Compliance Manager at ABG Accessories (2020-12 – 2024-08)
Oversaw $12M production portfolio for Tier-1 retailers with diverse product categories including headwear, rainwear, cold weather, home accessories, stationery, apparel, and kids' wear.
- Oversaw a $12M production portfolio for Tier-1 retailers, including BJ's, Meijer, and Kroger, overseeing end-to-end production for diverse product categories such as headwear, rainwear, cold weather, home accessories, stationery, apparel, and kids' wear.
- Managed the high-velocity "Pop Shelf" category for Dollar General, directing stationery, fizzits, apparel, and hydration categories for house brands and Licenced styles.
- Coordinated with buying teams to secure approvals for lab dips, packaging, and testing protocols.
- Liaised with licensing partners/team (Disney, WB) to ensure style and product approvals and to meet strict brand and quality guidelines.
- Managed factory communications for sample approvals and technical specifications, ensuring timely resolution of production inquiries through close coordination with cross-functional partners.
- Directed overseas quality control teams and Far East-based offices to ensure timely distribution center deliveries.
Production Manager / Technical Designer at Sally Miller LLC (2013-05 – 2020-04)
Managed high-end private label accounts for luxury retailers specializing in Tween and young adult girls' dresses.
- Managed high-end private label accounts for Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale's (Aqua) for Tween and young adult girls' dresses.
- Authored comprehensive tech packs, including full grading and specs for both domestic and overseas production.
- Negotiated directly with fabric and trim vendors to optimize costing and material planning.
- Collaborated with the Head Designer on line development, resolving technical issues to protect design integrity and target price points.
Senior Merchandiser at J.D. Williams (UK Catalog Company)
Identified new vendors, curated seasonal product lines for women's wear, and orchestrated end-to-end sample production lifecycle.
- Identified new vendors and curated seasonal product lines and women's wear for in-house brands.
- Orchestrated the end-to-end sample production lifecycle, ensuring seamless movement through development stages in alignment with the development calendar and buying meet.
- Negotiated costs and delivery schedules while streamlining communication between buyers and suppliers.
- Collaborated with design teams to finalize Bills of Materials (BOMs), fabric selections, and color approvals, ensuring technical specifications met production timelines.
- Optimized procurement workflows by managing the end-to-end lifecycle of purchase orders, ensuring 100% accuracy in issuance, real-time tracking, and timely fulfillment.
