Kingston, Wa | kristen@chandler5.com | (c) 206.316.7805

 

Summary of Qualifications

• Energetic team player that is passionate and dedicated to the brand. I believe in creating the best product for the customer that will empower the brand to shine.

• Initiates collaboration with all company teams to make the best product in an efficient timeline.  

• Professional Product Developer and Technical Designer with over 20 years of experience on technical, hard-working performing apparel and bags.

• Able to perform all tasks from Design Brief to BULK production. Following products to Quality Control and working customer service needs.

• Strong technical background, extremely proficient in Adobe Illustrator with ability to create 1st design sketches, manipulate designers sketches and effectively communicate comments, pattern revisions, fit issues to factory engineers.

• Proficient in MS Excel, MS Word and MS Powerpoint using formulas for graded measurements, and a detailed Bill of Materials that is aligned with tech specifications that includes a calculated F.O.B.

• Trusted as the “point” person to contact on all product related questions and known to go above and beyond, attending trade shows, retail shop promotions, working with fit and test personnel.

• Product Development and technical leader with proven experience driving the Product Innovation and Creation process at market leading Outdoor sporting goods brands with a history of award-winning products and long lasting known products.

• Expertise in developing and managing USA domestic, Asia and CAFTA based Softgoods raw material supply chains for technical apparel categories.

• Co-workers described me as the heart and soul of the brand.

 

 

Employment History

 

Grundéns USA                                                                                       November 2017 – January 2025

Poulsbo WA

 

Product Development Manager, Specialty Projects

Responsibilities

• Senior Developer leading the team on technical specifications aligning with detailed bill of materials that include a calculated F.O.B.

• Work closely with factories, mills and trim suppliers to meet target cost bringing in a F.O.B. for best gross margin percentage.

• Responsible for sketching design, assisting design on color sketches, creating digital patterns and manipulating sketch revisions.

• Implement accurate Bill of Materials aligned with Design, tech pack and effectively communicate revisions.

• Excels at finding the best pattern and construction solution effecting efficiency and yield. This allows the product to perform as the tool the customer needs.

• Excellent communication on prototype reviews helping guide offshore factory merchants and engineers for efficient sampling process.

• Establish and maintained a strong bond with factory merchants, engineers, mills and trim suppliers to ensure quality product within the development calendar.

• Attend industry and other trade shows finding new materials and trims to source.

• Presenting samples at milestone meetings.

• Responsible for creating the grade and measurement specs for company.

• Continually worked with team to incorporate new processes geared toward company targeted goals, efficiency, factory and mill-based relationships and best quality products.

• Integrated with sales reps, retail partners, field testers and customers when reviewing prototypes to help achieve the ultimate performing product.

• Passionate toward the fishing, hardworking, rugged customer creating a relationship between developer and professionals in the field.

             

Highlights

• Key executor developing the Vector Full Zip stocking foot wader for 2025 with an award-winning design including a patented back storage pocket function.

• Establishing a strong relationship with field testers and factories resulting in an award-winning Gore-tex® Portal Wading Jacket for 2024. Jacket offers anglers best mobility with functional access pockets aligning with wader pockets.

• Managed Design and Development of the Grundéns Wader Category in 2023 with an expanded Gore-Tex® license. This project included 3 new waders incorporating:

  • Innovative leg pattern recognized for best fitting waders and a cutting-edge suspension system.

  • Launching into fly fishing delivered $2.5mm of incremental revenue in 2024.

  • Helped guide manufacturer to ensure best quality wader testing methods were in place.   

• Developed Grundéns first Gore-Tex® Outerwear collection for Fall 2019. Worked closely with Asia based factory to fast track the 3 sets (9 styles) of Sportfishing jackets and bibs.

• Inspired factory to create tote bags used from left over material from commercial fishing bibs.

• Helped with the transition of Grundéns’ supply chain from a Sourcing Agent relationship to an internally managed nominated vendor base with premium vendors located across Europe, Asia, and Southeast Asia.

 

Technical Designer/Product Developer – Apparel

SODO Apparel / A. Tiziano / Buff USA / Elizabeth Roberts

Independent Contractor                                                                         June 2015 – April 2018

Seattle, Wa

 

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teams on design

• Sketch designs, Create and manage Technical specifications and detailed Bill of Materials.

• Establish grade and product measurements

• Perform fit sessions, prototype reviews and comments

• Communicate with mills and factories.

 

Highlights

• Built systems for start-up brands to operate design process efficiently.

• Helped Buff USA launch sun protection sleeves and laser holed balaclava.

• Cultivated prints and abstract designs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for A. Tiziano.

      

 

Far Bank Enterprises: Redington Waders and Apparel

Product Development Manager/Designer                                                        2011 - 2014

Bainbridge Island, Wa

 

Responsibilities

• Product Development Manager for Redington Brand softgoods.

• Managed product from concept through to warranty.

• Designed and developed key apparel items to support he brand in specialty shops.

• Responsible for presenting products to the sales team.

• Managed and performed all development tasks. Design, Tech Packs, Bill of Materials, Prototype reviews, fitting, trim development.

• Established target cost with sales team and met best cost.

• Managed trade show booths

• Responsible for design of packaging, wader boxes, folding methods, hang tags and all labels.

• Created prints with mills and new trims.

• Worked on creating test methods for waders in the field.

• Created product development calendars.

• Executed all sample reviews in a timely manner.  

• Traveled to factories both domestic and offshore.

 

Highlights

• Designed and developed better fitting waders incorporating a new fabric technology.

• Established a women’s specific fit wader incorporating two different fit patterns to include all different body shapes.

• Implemented better processes for the design team.

  • Created an extensive tech pack including points of measurement or the wading category.  

  • Contributed to the pole category (ski + trekking) growth from ~$10M to ~$19M over the 2-year period of 2011 and 2012.

 

 

Independent Contractor

MelodiemillerLLC                                                                                                     1999 - 2006

Bainbridge Island, Wa

 

Brands: Helly Hansen, Marmot, Eddie Bauer, Sierra Design, Fila, Toma, 3M Thinsulate Insulate,

Boulder Gear, Kelty, Seattle Cotton Works, Field & Stream, etc.

 

Responsibilities

• Lead team of 2 designers, 3 developers, 1 admin.

• Evaluated contracted project scope and calendar. Delegated team assignments and managed to completion.  

• Responsible for translating designs into sketches, technical sketches including prints and custom trims.

• Implemented color and did catalogue output for brands workbooks.

• Created Technical specifications and Bill of materials to meet each brands needs ranging from design sample specs to production.

• Managed fit sessions, product construction with factory pattern makers and engineers.

 

Highlights

• Designed and developed Marmots PreCip jacket. A recognized core rain coat with longevity since 2000.

 

REI

Associate Designer                                                                                            1994 - 1999

Seattle, Wa

 

Responsibilities

• Grew my skills from an Apparel Design graduate to executing all aspects of Product Development.

• Worked on the full scale of products. Outerwear, Fleece, Insulation, Ski, Cycling, Rainwear and Base Layers.

• Started with becoming an expert at Adobe Illustrator/Aldus Macromedia sketching all current styles into computer generated sketches.

• Transitioned to the role of Size Run Specialist in charge of taking approved base size, grading to all sizes, approving fit of all sizes.

• Promoted to Associate Designer of Apparel, working with Designer on all technical outerwear designs.

• Responsible for presenting products to the sales team.

• Managed and performed all development tasks. Design, Tech Packs, Bill of Materials, Prototype reviews, fitting, trim development.

• Established target cost with sales team and met best cost.

• Managed trade show booths

• Responsible for design of packaging, wader boxes, folding methods, hang tags and all labels.

• Created prints with mills and new trims.

• Worked on creating test methods for waders in the field.

• Created product development calendars.

• Executed all sample reviews in a timely manner.  

• Traveled to factories both domestic and offshore.

 

Highlights

• Recognized as a fast learner with attention to details directing my skills towards the most technical gear.

• Awarded a transfer to Associate Designer of REI Hardgoods, including Tents, Packs and Sleeping Bags. This was due to flexibility in talent and able to work with challenging personalities.

​

 

Associate of Applied Science in Apparel Design

School of Apparel Design and Development,

Seattle Central Community College

Seattle, WA

 

Community

Chair of 501c3 Options Parent Group

• Elected Chair 2 years of N.K. School District Options K-8 educational program. Led board meetings and monthly meetings of 100 members. Built a working relationship with key officails, generated positive awarement of the program, produced enough growth to double in size.   

• Coordinated and managed K-8 grade Spring Camp. Invovling 70 students and their families in a 3 day long destination based camp. Managed master schedule, classes and meals along with communicating with school district meeting all policies and standards.