Fashion and Apparel Studies Advisory Board
The Board is a mutually beneficial partnership between the Department and its industry and organizational stakeholders. The goals of the partnership are to maintain program excellence; provide access to information, innovation, and scholarship that benefits all partners; and develop professionals with essential knowledge and critical skills to creatively contribute to fashion and apparel-related fields.
We are pleased to have prominent industry executives and successful alumni as part of the board.
| Carlos Arias DENIMATRIX |
Carlos Arias is co-founder and President of DENIMATRIX, a vertically integrated producer of fashion denim jeans based in Guatemala City and winner of the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence. Prior to launching DENIMATRIX, Mr. Arias was President of Koramsa and was General Manager of the Aritex Group, which is dedicated to the production of woven dress shirts and knit baby apparel. Mr. Arias is also President of the Apparel and Textile Commission in Guatemala (Vestex), on the board of the Guatemala Quotas Administration Commission and the Central American Council of Textiles and Apparel, and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Apparel Magazine. |
| Jessica Barkley QVC |
Jessica is a Alumna of the University of Delaware with a Bachelors of Science in Apparel Design, She currently holds the position of Technical Design Manager for QVC direct import brands including Isaac Mizrahi Live!, Liz Claiborne New York and Denim & Co. Jessica manages of staff of 7 technical designers, directing apparel product development and production efforts in excess of $250 million in sales. She is also responsible for training sessions for on-air show hosts and guests; including garment construction, fabric, silhouette, print and embroidery. Prior to joining QVC,she was employed by Lilly Pulitzer as a Technical Designer for 7 + years, overseeing all ladies woven product technical development. |
| Joan Bernard Barbizon Modeling & Acting Centers |
Joan Bernard is the owner of the Barbizon Modeling & Acting Centers located in Wilmington, DE and Ardmore, PA, which places models locally and internationally. The Barbizon Agency has models in movies, magazines, commercials, and the Broadway stage. Ms. Bernard divides her time as a choreographer, commentator for fashion shows, lecturer, pageant judge, and teaching special classes at Barbizon. |
| Charlotte Waterbury Brown College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council |
Charlotte is an alumna of the University of Delaware Fashion Merchandising Program. She is currently an active member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council, and Parent Fund Council. She has served on other University of Delaware committees over more than 18 years and is past President of the UD Alumni Association, having served its Board of Directors for 6 years. Prior to focusing her energy exclusively toward volunteer community and cultural roles, Charlotte's career spanned almost 20 years. She was a consultant for Salveson Stetson Group in retained executive search and Right Management Consultants as a Client Service Consultant. She began her career with Strawbridge and Clothier in merchandise management and buying, and then redirected her career into college recruiting as Manager of Executive Recruitment and Placement for the department store division of Strawbridge and Clothier. |
| Bob Buck Technical Fellow DuPont Company
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Bob Buck is a Technical Fellow at the DuPont Company. He received a B.S in chemistry from Albright College (Reading, PA) and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over his 25 year DuPont career, Bob has held a variety of research and development, marketing and management positions in DuPont's textile fibers and chemicals businesses. Bob leads a multi-disciplinary research program to understand the environmental, health and safety aspects of DuPont surface protection products. This work includes global collaboration, communication and interaction with academic, regulatory and industrial scientists. Bob is a co-author on numerous peer-reviewed publications from this work on topics including, physical-chemical properties, analytical methods, toxicology, environmental fate, and human exposure and risk assessment. In addition, he is a DuPont representative participating in the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and a member of the Chemicals Management Work Group of the Outdoor Industry Association. |
| Peter Carman Paris American Academy |
Peter Carman is President and Academic Director for Paris American Academy where he contributes visionary management to the administration and. Mr. Carman’s extensive international contacts keep the Paris American Academy’s global network thriving, while keeping the teaching and learning environment not only contemporary but even cutting-edge. |
| Anastasia (Stacey) Charbin Fashion Marketing Director Lectra
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A born and bred Delawarean, Anastasia, or Stacey as everyone calls her, is Fashion Marketing Director at Lectra Headquarters in France. Stacey started sewing at a young age, sometimes faking sick to stay home and finish a project. As soon as she could drive, she began working for different theaters making costumes in high school and went on to U of D for two Bachelors, one in Apparel Design and the other in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management. Stacey then went on to obtain a Master of Textiles and Apparel Management from North Carolina State University. She has almost 20 years experience in fashion and fashion technology for companies like Gerber Technology, Karat Software, Cross Creek Apparel, and Perigee Software. A self professed fashion and technology junkie, she has lived and worked in the United States, Canada, and France and has traveled around the world. She now teeters around in her high heels around Paris where she lives with her family. In her spare time, she trades her high heels for sneakers and runs. |
| Brian Deleu JC Penney |
Brian Deleu is aDesign Director for JC Penney in Plano, Texas, Brian leads a team of 28 designers and cad artists, and is responsible for the design and merchandising of the 1.3 billion St. Johns Bay brand, including women’s sportswear and accessories.Through product and print media improvements, Brian updated the St. John’s Bay brand identity from traditional sportswear to modern sportswear.In 2005, Brian designed and launched the contemporary line, “ANA”, with sales now growing to $500 million. In 2008, Brian launched the authentic activewear brand, “Xersion”.Brian is responsible for all aspects of the brands, from the initial concept, through in-store merchandising, and for budgeting all aspects of the design team from headcount through samples, travel and development.Prior to JC Penneys, Brian worked as Design Director for Lane Bryant. Prior to Lane Bryant, Brian was Design Manager for Mervynx California. Prior to Mervynx California, Brian worked as a designer for Regarde Inc. (Tangibles) in New York City, Dare Clothing Company (DCC), and Jordache Enterprises Inc. in New York City.Brian has traveled extensively through the US, Europe, and Asia for inspiration and line development. |
| Devangshu Dutta Third Eyesight |
Devangshu Dutta is Chief Executive of Third Eyesight, a specialist research and consulting firm based in New Delhi, India. Third Eyesight works with companies in fashion and other consumer goods sectors through engagements covering business strategy, marketing, sourcing and supply chain, and other operations support engagements. As an advisor, entrepreneur and a senior manager, Mr. Dutta has worked with companies from around the world. |
| Ralph Erardy Specialty Insider |
Ralph Erardy is Senior Vice President, Group Publisher of Women’s Wear Daily, one of the world’s leading and most successful trade publications. In his role at WWD, Mr. Erardy oversees sales and business developments at Women’s Wear Daily newspaper, as well as at its sister operations WWD The Magazine, WWD FAST, WWD Ultimate Accessories, WWD Scoop, WWD Beauty Biz, WWD Salon, Beauty Report International and the Internet site WWD.com. Mr. Erardy’s previous positions include senior Vice President, Publisher of Home Furnishing News and publisher of Women’s Wear Daily where he oversaw sales and marketing of the daily newspaper heralded as “The Bible” of the global fashion and retail industries. |
| Roger Frank i3 Advisors |
Roger Frank is one of the pioneers in using the capital markets for social change. After 20 years on Wall Street with a focus on emerging markets, he was part of the team that created the first commercial, cross-border capital raise for microfinance. As part of that effort he spent several years traveling the globe convincing investors that poor women in emerging markets who wanted to take care of their families was a good credit risk. The models he helped create brought several billion dollars of commercial funding into the field and in 2008 he was part of the team that won a Fast Company Award for businesses pioneering new models for social impact. He created i3 Advisors to build on build on his experience in microfinance, Wall Street, emerging markets and development to provide funding to Small & Medium Enterprises committed to social impact. He has worked with CEOs of major, multi-national corporations and Presidents of Central Banks; he has discussed new models for sustainability with Presidents and Princesses and taught women prisoners and disabled adults. Frank has an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University Stern School of Business and holds a BFA, cum laude, from the University of Delaware. |
Edward A. Gribbin |
Ed Gribbin is President of Alvanon, Inc, the world’s leading apparel sizing and fit expert. Ed Gribbin first joined Alvanon in 2006 as head of its AlvaInsight strategic consultancy division. He brought over 30 years experience of the international apparel industry to his role in which he was responsible for driving Alvanon’s front end strategic consultancy. Since joining Alvanon he led the team who compiled the world’s largest database of 300,000 human 3D body scans, analyzed consumer measurement data and conducted numerous brand and product fit assessments. His expert advice on improved fit strategies secured consultancy contracts with some of the world’s largest brands and retailers in the fashion, lingerie, sportswear, corporate clothing and mail order sectors.Ed has over thirty years of apparel industry experience ranging from technical design, product development, production and sourcing, to merchandising, marketing, strategy, and general management. Prior to Alvanon, Ed served as President of Intellifit Corporation, where he co-invented the revolutionary Intellifit Body Scanner. As Senior Vice President at Angelica Corporation, Ed managed the sales, marketing, design and production of career apparel, uniform and image programs for major hotel chains, retailers, banks, airlines, casinos, theme parks, cruise lines and restaurant chains. Before Angelica, Ed co-founded Boathouse Sports, one of the largest specialty athletic manufacturers in the US today. |
| Donna Hardcastle Macy*s Inc |
Donna Hardcastle is District Merchant for Laporte Philadelphia District. Donna has worked for Macy's for 30+ years in numerous management positions in merchandising, buying, planning and product development. |
| Nate Herman American Apparel & Footwear Association |
Nate Herman is an alumnus of the University of Delaware with degrees in International Relations and Economics. He is Senior Vice President of International Trade for the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). Mr. Herman manages AAFA’s regulatory and legislative affairs activities, tracking ongoing international trade developments and corporate social responsibility issues involving apparel and footwear. Mr. Herman also develops apparel and footwear industry data and statistics as AAFA's resident economist and handles technical and labeling issues for AAFA's footwear members as AAFA's footwear technical liaison. In addition, he represents the industry on the U.S. government's Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC). Mr. Herman’s prior experience includes work as an industry analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. |
Mary T. Hopkins W.L.Gore & Associates |
Mary Hopkins is a Strategic Marketing Leader at W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. with responsibility for all aspects of strategic marketing and planning within Gore’s Technical Fabrics Military business. This role includes market opportunity analysis, portfolio assessment, market segmentation, value chain and competitive analysis, and development of product marketing strategy and positioning. Mary joined Gore in 2005 as a Product Specialist on the Military team.Prior to joining Gore, Mary worked as a Global Business Director at Invista (formerly DuPont Textiles and Interiors), focused on intellectual property and technology licensing, sales and acquisitions. She gained expertise to be successful in this role after many years of global business and marketing leadership in several of DuPont’s fiber and intermediate businesses, including Nylon, Specialty Polyester, Lycra® and Adipic Acid. Her background also includes work as the Apparel business global supply chain leader, in manufacturing operations leadership, and in new business/program development. |
| Rick Horwitch Bureau Veritas |
Rick Horwitch is Vice President, Solutions Business Development and Global Marketing, for Bureau Veritas – Consumer Products Services. His focus is on developing quality assurance solutions to encompass the entire supply chain, which helps retail and branded customers achieve faster deliveries and improve costs and total quality. Mr. Horwitch has many years experience in the apparel industry covering all facets of the business – Sales, Marketing, Operations, Sourcing, Manufacturing and IT, having worked with Warnaco, Inc. as Vice President, Private Brands, and with Fastum and Solutions Providers. |
| Olga Kontzias Fairchild Books, Conde Nast Publications, Inc. |
Olga Kontzias is Executive Editor of Fairchild Books, Conde Nast Publications, Inc. Her keen eye for fashion and popular culture provided her with a unique ability to identify opportunities for textbook development and acquisition and has published such titles as Social Responsibility in the Global Apparel Industry, Sustainable Fashion: Why Now?, and Fashion Law. Ms. Kontzias acquired and developed The State of the Interior Design Profession, which provides students and professionals with an informed view of the interior design profession as it stands today and as the basis of purposeful, exciting discourse that will inspire interior designers to consider their role and responsibility in developing the profession’s future. |
| Kenneth Lakin Boscov’s Department Stores |
Kenneth Lakin is Director of Operations, Boscov’s Department Stores and is the third generation of the family to lead the business. Mr. Lakin has been with Boscov’s for over two decades. Prior to joining Boscov’s, he worked at Federated Department Stores, Foley’s Division in Houston, Texas. |
Peter Liu |
Peter Liu is the Managing Director of AsiaNet Consultants, Asia's leading executive search firm for sourcing, retailing, supply chain management and manufacturing. Before joining AsiaNet, Peter was a member of the Global Supply Chain and Consumer Practice of a major international executive search firm. With over twenty years of line management experience, Peter has held senior positions at Peninsula Knitters, a major international sweater manufacturer based in Hong Kong; and prior to that he established, and was President of Burlington Worldwide, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of the US’s largest textile company. Other previous positions include Main Board Director at TAL, one of the largest global apparel manufactures and recognized leader in supply chain management; Managing Director and Chief Representative, China for Betz Lab Inc.; and Greater China Country Manager for the Du Pont Teflon business. |
| Colleen McCann Fashion Consultant
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Colleen McCann is a graduate of University of Delaware 02'. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design she earned her design chops by working as the women's designer at the then budding
performance brand, Under Armour. Colleen currently works as a branding, design & image consultant in New York for such companies as L'Oreal, Calvin Klein Performance, CRONS, Zella at Nordstrom's, and Betsy Johnson. Along with working with many of the fashion and beauty industry giants, Colleen’s passions led her to work as Creative Director for School House, a living wage, fashion forward collegiate brand that you can currently find in college bookstores across America. She is still a silent owner in School House and continues to work with other brands to bring good practices back into the industry. |
| Gregg Nebel Adidas-Group |
Gregg Nebel is Head of Social and Environmental Affairs - Region Americas for the adidas-Group. He directs the regional field operations and compliance activities with the Group’s footwear, apparel, and accessories supply chains. He is also the Social and Environmental Affairs corporate point person for the adidas-Group’s Americas based brands (including adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade), subsidiaries, and licensees. His global management responsibilities include strategic planning, monitoring systems development, stakeholder verification processes, and public reporting. Mr. Nebel is also a director of the Fair Labor Association Board. |
Ted Sattler |
Ted worked with PVH for 25 years in numerous management positions in merchandising, sourcing, and supply chain. Between 1970 and 1985 prior to joining PVH, Ted held numerous management positions at Burlington Industries which he joined after serving in Vietnam as a Lieutenant in the US Navy during 1967-1969. |
Steven Siegler |
Steven Siegler is President and CEO of J.McLaughlin where he has led the company’s evolution from a traditional retail operation to a fully vertical design and brand marketing company. Prior to joining J.McLaughlin, Mr. Siegler was Vice President of Product Development for Talbot's and Divisional President of J.G. Hook. |
| Scott Welty VP of Retail JDA Software | With widespread experience within the retail industry, Scott has held several leadership roles at JDA Software including Vice President of Planning Allocation and Category Management.Responsible for strengthening executive level relationships with JDA’s retail customers and key prospects. Developing go to market messaging and retail marketing strategies. Align with new product development and JDA special interest groups to drive innovative functionality in the JDA solutions for retail. Prior to working for JDA, Scott was corporate buyer, merchandise planner, allocator and store operations regional manager at Levi’s Strauss and Company August 1991 to November 1998. Levis Only Stores, a wholly owned subsidiary of Levi’s Strauss and Company. Developed strategies and tactics to grow the Levi brand awareness and market share through new retail stores. Grew the division from 3 test stores to a 300+ store chain in 7 years. Collaborated with key LS&Co. retail clients in an effort to assist their growth and collective market share. Solution Evangelist and most recently the Vice President of Retail. With a core focus on business process optimization, trends and market research, Scott has helped hundreds of companies select the proper solutions to attain increased revenues, profits and efficiencies. |
Walter T. Wilhelm |
Walter Wilhelm is and Chief Executive Officer of Walter Wilhelm Associates LLC (WWA). Mr. Wilhelm is recognized as one of the most innovative and "connected" executives in the softgoods industry, and one of the pioneers in creating and implementing technology to streamline the product design and development processes. He has held senior positions in Retailing, Manufacturing and Technology Sales & Development. Walter has extensive experience domestically as well as internationally, having opened six offices in Europe and four in Asia. He was the co-founder of Microdynamics; President of Animated Images (Ai); co-founder of Wilhelm-Leslie Associates; and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft Company's Apparel & Footwear Automation Systems). |
| Robert J. Zane US Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel |
Bob Zane was Chairman of the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA ITA), an industry wide association of manufacturers and retailers that champions the rights of importers. He has been involved in apparel industry supply chain activities all his working life, a total of some 44 years, including a 10 year period when he lived abroad. Mr. Zane recently retired from Liz Claiborne where he was Senior Vice President for Sourcing, Manufacturing, Distribution and Logistics. Mr. Zane was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), an organization devoted to workers rights. |
| Paula Zusi Ann Taylor Stores |
Paula Zusi is an alumna of the University of Delaware’s Apparel Design program. She is executive vice president and chief supply chain officer for Ann Taylor, Inc. Prior to joining Ann Taylor, Ms. Zusi was corporate vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sourcing for Liz Claiborne Inc. Ms. Zusi began working with Liz Claiborne as vice president of Manufacturing for DKNY Jeans. Prior to joining Liz Claiborne Inc., she held executive positions in manufacturing at Carole Little, Bernard Chaus, and Imagine, Inc, and began her career as a designer for Mark Stuart, Inc. |