Jan 2022 — Now
Director of Product Creation & Innovation · Century Martial Arts
I’m actively leading and coaching a high-performing cross-functional team, enabling them to deliver innovative Research & Development concepts for combat sports.
+ Aligning stakeholders around customer-centered insights before initiating product improvements and validating new product concepts.
+ Driving assortment strategy through the commercialization of new products and apparel for athletes, Martial Arts schools, sporting goods channels, and fitness training.
+ Improving product margins (+4 to +7% annually) by reducing COGS across core product categories (Customs, Uniforms, Training Bags, & Training Apparel).
+ Leading a lean global Go-To-Market process enterprise-wide through process management, assortment strategy, product briefs, and design for manufacturing with factories in Bangladesh, China, Pakistan and the U.S. (Qty. = 250 - 275 New, Relist, and Third-Party items annual)
+ Driving $2M in new product commercialization/sales annually to realize new customer growth targets in e comm, wholesale, direct, fitness, and sporting goods channels with lower cost uniforms and gear and novel curriculum based training equipment.
+ Managing IP portfolio, ensuring state-of-the-art technologies, materials and constructions across product categories.
+ Responsible for department budget, project management, process improvements, technical packages, and value engineering.
+ Integrating connected technologies and unique user-experiences within combat sport products.
Mar 2015 — Dec 2021
Design Manager/Sr. Design Manager of Hard Goods ·
L.L.Bean+ Directed design and seasonal trend, color, print, pattern and graphics within hard-goods categories, driving +1M in new customer acquisition and $600M in annual revenue. (2020-2021)
+ Delivered on sustainable materials and circularity goals for new and existing private label items, achieved 60% sustainable materials in Travel & Sport/Equip categories.
+ Coordinated cross-category collaborations, optimizing product aesthetics, color, materials, and finish, constructions, and achieved margin targets.
+ Led talent development, ensuring design teams met all milestone deliverables, maintained high technical standards, and managed information in FlexPLM.
May 2013 — Mar 2015
Industrial Design Manager, Boeing Commercial Aircraft · TEAGUE
+ Catalyst for improved experiences in next generation Boeing 737, 747, 777X and 787 aircraft cabins (including DoD P8 Poseidon, Starliner Spacecraft).
+ Managed design, human factors, and insights teams, proposing and delivering advanced concepts, integrated technologies, and improved human factors for Boeing aircraft, Department of Defense projects, and space exploration. (22 direct reports)
+ Oversaw projects from concept definition to final design, including First, Business, and Coach Class, lavs, galleys and crew rests. (~65 projects annually)
+ Collaborated with Boeing stakeholders & Chief Architect, engineering teams, and suppliers to ensure high-quality execution (technologies, class A surface, and Color, Material, & Finish) and strict adherence to timelines.
Nov 2008 — May 2013
Sr Footwear Designer / Design Manager: Performance Footwear · Columbia Sportswear Company
+ Designed performance and casual footwear for Columbia, Montrail, and Sorel, focusing on innovative materials and construction.
+ Led design projects for uppers, outsoles, midsoles, and footwear components enhancing product performance and aesthetics.
+ Collaborated with sponsored athletes to achieve lighter, faster, and supportive solutions for trail running, day hiking, thru-hiking, backpacking, and scrambling.
+ Drove market-leading performance trends, colors, materials, constructions, compounds, user-insights for core trail, watersport and winter categories ensuring high-performance athlete validated footwear.
Mar 2006 — Jan 2008
Associate Creative Director · Ziba Design
Led innovative design projects for brands including Coca-Cola, Citi Group, Logitech, Proctor & Gamble, and Newell-Rubbermaid, focusing on elevated customer experiences and segmentation through new technologies, Color, Material, & Finish, UX/UI, industrial design, rapid prototyping, proof-of-concept, and product commercialization.
Oct 2004 — Jul 2005
Creative Director · Designworks, A BMW Group Company
Directed advanced design initiatives for commercialization with key stakeholders from Carver & Marquis Motor Yachts, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Embraer, and Pilatus Aircraft.
Jun 2000 — Sep 2004
Senior Designer · Volkswagen of America, Inc
+ Led VW Design Strategy team - proposing new vehicle concepts to executive leadership.
+ Designed innovative vehicle concepts for VW platforms, including the New Beetle face-lift, exterior proposals for Jetta, Passat, Polo, Scirocco and interior production concept for the Seat Ibiza.
Jun 1998 — Jul 2000
Principal Designer Johnson Controls Interior Group · Johnson Controls
Contributed to designer vision for OEM interior trims and components in Ford, Lincoln, Dodge RAM, Jeep, and Chrysler, vehicles and trucks including overhead consoles, headliners and features, lighting, and in-vehicle storage.
Mar 1997 — May 1998
Concept Designer · Walt Disney Imagineering
Concept artist reporting to Eddie Sotto, Senior V.P. of Concept Design. Focus on new rides and theme park attractions in Disneyland Tomorrowland, Disney World Tomorrowland, and EPCOT.
May 1994 — Feb 1997
Automotive Designer · Mercedes-Benz AG
Created production and advanced automotive concepts and elements for the Smart ForTwo Coupe and Cabriolet.
Jul 1996 — Nov 1996
Automotive Designer · GEMBALLA GmbH
Collaborated with founder Uwe Gemballa to realize his vision for the Gemballa “Extremo” supercar based upon a Porsche 911 GT2.
