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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
DOTS, Glenwillow, OH 2007 - Present
Retailer of Womens Trendy Junior and Plus Clothing
Associate Designer - Technical 2009 - Present
Assistant Designer - Technical 2007 - 2009
*Responsible for understanding garment construction and style details for wovens, knits, tops, dresses, outerwear, wear to work and active wear. Categories: $4 million inventory and 27% of the overall store assortment.
*Evaluate, measure and create spec packages for garments through Web PDM.
*Conduct fit sessions on live models / body forms with supervisors, buying teams, and assistants to re-design garments based on desired styling, functionality, construction details and customer needs.
*Create technical sketches that provide explicit detail on how to revise garments using Adobe Illustrator.
*Communicate with vendors through phone calls, email, and Web PDM technical packages in an effort to achieve best possible garment quality.
*Evaluate overall garment appearance, workmanship, quality and colors / prints of fabrics and trims against buyers purchase order requirements.
*Confirm proper care labeling wording is correct based on company and FTC standard requirements.
*Attend buy meetings and sales meetings to determine what styles, trends, colors and prints resulted in successful sales.
*Work as a Fashion Colorist using a Spectrophotometer and a color box to read lab dips.
*Train merchant team of twenty, educating them about the lab dip / color process.
*Design labels and joker tags for private label program.
*Conduct competitor research by comparing specs and quality of styles sold at stores who target similar customer clientele.
*Conduct monthly store visit / audits to ensure vendor delivered product meets garment / quality standards.
Valkos Designs, Elyria, OH 2005 - Present
Women\'s Designer of Sophisticated Clothing
Freelance Fashion Designer
*Design collections that appeal to a sophisticated woman. Select fabrics and trims based on design and function.
*Research and forecast trends to reach target customer.
*Illustrate a variety of collections and one of a kind designs through full-figure drawings and flats that fit in with todays woman, while incorporating a unique perspective.
*Drape designs on dress form and create flat patterns.
*Construct sample garment for review and edit, followed by final production.
*Machine sew and hand sew garments using various couture techniques.
Saint Peter School, North Ridgeville, OH 2003 - 2004
Catholic Grade School
First Grade Teacher
*Self-managed, organized and followed through on daily lessons and activities based on the needs of 21 students.
*Collaborated with teachers and parents to achieve best practices and solutions.
*Attended seminars that demonstrated how to teach and manage a classroom effectively.
*Demonstrated a variety of teaching strategies, assessments and behavior management techniques, focusing on what was most effective with students
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EDUCATION
Master of Arts (MS) in Education, 3.8 GPA, Anticipated Graduation Date: December, 2013
Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education, 3.5 GPA, May 2003
Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH
Associate of Applied Business (AAB) in Fashion Design, 3.5 GPA, December 2006
Virginia Marti College of Art and Design, Lakewood, OH
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Color Standards and Measurements, 2011
Knit Product Development and Design, 2010
Woven Product Development and Design, 2010
Cotton Incorporated, Cary, NC
