Christa Huot

Builds relationships with , and travel to Tier 1 Factory Vendors overseas and manage factory allocations within the Outdoor Research Product Team. Organize and review factory audits around Social Compliance and set the standards for Outdoor Research’s Social Compliance Playbook. Work cross-functionally with Product Managers, Tech Design, Designers, Quality and Planning by managing vendor allocations ensuring product is made at the right factory and tracking/managing sample costing. Manage the relationship with vendors on behalf of the Product Team. This is done by setting vendor expectations, monitoring Vendor performance seasonally, supporting capability building, and driving business objectives as good partners. Negotiate directly with vendors on cost. Problem-solve with Vendors and Product Team when issues arise. Travel to East Asia multiple times a year to support the Product Team and our Vendor relationships. Created a Social Responsibility Internal Playbook to set company standards around Social Responsibility Zero Tolerances and how to manage them. Member of AAFA Social Responsibility Committee and AAFA Forced Labor Working Group. Work with Outdoor Research Leadership to set targets for upcoming seasons by presenting accurate and detailed data to inform decision and meet the long term company goals. Create SOPs on Sourcing and Social Responsibility. Tour overseas factories to determine approval of Outdoor Research manufacturing. Present implications for Government policies on how it will impact Outdoor Research’s business, specifically around Reciprocal Tariffs in 2025, and cost implications for resourcing in new countries.

Drove the development of product from design concept through production, while meeting development calendar deadlines. Built and managed fit model database tool which was used for all proto validation, and oversaw the internal wear testing process. Collaborated with factory partners to research new manufacturing techniques and technologies that could be incorporated to add functional and aesthetic value to products. Immersed myself in consumer facing events and analyzed market feedback to identify opportunities for style improvements. Represented Brooks as a fit expert in multiple bra-centric videos which included speaking on camera without a script. Trained employees across the company on bra fittings and how to help customers solve for their individual bra needs. This included members of Creative Marketing for photo shoot purposes. Traveled for multiple Creative Marketing shoots to fit models who would be running in video advertisements. Partnered with PLM, Design, and Materials Team to evaluate proto designs and technical direction, and problem solved to provide optimal solutions. Review costs and evaluate the BOM to make informed decisions to favorably impact margin. Stepped up as interim Costing Analyst for multiple seasons, and trained the current Costing Analyst until they were fully functioning. Lead fit sessions to ensure appropriate corrections are made as it relates to constructions, specs, and quality. Partner with pattern maker/Senior Bra Developer to make revisions and/or drive manufacturing partners to revise fit and pattern to meet the requirements of a specific design and/or function. Displayed innovation and demonstrated initiative in improving products and processes while also displaying an ability to collaborate and create change. Acted as primary point of contact with multiple garment factories in the development process of prototypes sampling, mock-ups, testing, size runs, and commercial approvals to ensure on time seasonal delivery.

Managed schedule in executing over 200 training clinics and events over a two-year period between more than 70 accounts. Grow Brooks bra sales by innovating ways to execute premium bra fitting events with key retail partners adapting to their unique needs. Increase bra sales in NW territory. by +12% YOY despite bra sales declining across the country. Maintained leadership role on Guru team by coordinating the staff for each expo.

Led the Guru Team in over 10 expos, in under 8 months, and facilitated communication with the partnering specialty running accounts to maximize energy and sales, as well as training retailers around the country on bra fittings and Brooks bra styles. Work directly with Event Coordinators to plan assortment for bras for Rock N Roll events. Created a bra wall merchandising guide for F15 and S16. Created a bra slide in our current Retail Guide for selling best practices at events. Spearhead Bra Recycler initiative with the Sustainability team. Create assets and a guide for the Guru team to utilize Bra Recyclers as a resource for generating interest at Ladies Nights while maintaining the company’s environmentally conscious culture and lowering our carbon footprint. Worked with Sales Reps to show the bra line for sell-ins.

Drove sell through in the Moving Comfort line and Brooks apparel line at National and SRA doors along the East Coast, focusing on: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. by accompanying Sales Reps to countless sell-ins, and to over 100 training clinics and events. Represent Brooks Running as the Sports Bra Fit Specialist at over 12 expos, as well as specialized media events. Collaborate with East Coast Sales Reps through thorough communication to maximize the effectiveness of my presence in their territories. Visits include, but are not limited to, presenting the bra line in sell-ins to grow future orders at SRAs with high potential. Launched Moving Comfort Bra Ambassador program with City Sports, focusing on 5 top selling doors located in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Identified team leaders at each door who were responsible for training new hires thoroughly on bra fittings and Moving Comfort styles.

- Gained extensive retail sales and management experience at the Thayer St (Providence, RI) and Legacy Place (Dedham, MA) stores. Worked with management team to successfully exceed store goals while continuing to focus on providing excellent customer service and product knowledge. - Coordinated with corporate and product sales representatives to ensure that visual standards were met, products were properly merchandised, and staff was trained on proper visual standards. - Utilized online resources and sales/brand representatives to become a product expert and set up training clinics for the staff. Frequently attended training clinics to continue to build product knowledge and stay current with apparel, electronics, equipment, and footwear technology updates and new product releases. Employed this knowledge to effectively train the sales staff so that they could provide the right information when assisting a customer. - Led sales team from the floor by clearly delegating tasks to the right people to ensure that any visual/operations tasks were completed without losing a focus on the customer service necessary to meet and exceed daily sales goals. - Preformed general store operation tasks including: hiring, scheduling, maintaining employee files, developing sales budgets, conducting manager meetings, opening and closing procedures, and paperwork. - Brainstormed, coordinated, and communicated marketing events, as well as represented the company at said events. - Utilized experience in visual merchandising to assist in the successful openings of 6 stores in 3 years: Wellesley, MA (2011) - Silver Spring, MD (2011) - Burlington, VT (2012) - Chestnut Hill, MA (2013) - 50 Broadway, NY (2013) – Franklin St., MA (2013)

- Provided a positive and high energy atmosphere as a bartender and waitress by being personable, efficient, and attentive to each customer. - Performed general maintenance duties to maintain the cleanliness of the pub. - Helped set up for and host events held at the bar such as parties, Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee meetings, various bands and DJs, and hosting fundraisers varying from campaign fundraisers to helping families in the community pay medical bills.

- Worked in a fast pace environment maintaining cleanliness in the restaurant, meeting health codes, monitoring the efficiency of both the wait staff and the kitchen staff, provided high energy and enthusiasm all to ensure a quality customer experience. - Performed general store operation tasks including: scheduling, maintaining employee files, and compiling deposits. - Conducted regular inventories of food items and monitored business trends effectively for supply and food orders to minimize waste. - Gained multitasking skills by learning how to be a line cook while supervising the servers and directing customers but without compromising service or high energy, for the sake of managing payroll dollars. - Worked with the franchise owners and location managers on developing more creative menu options, and provided customers with allergen information and substitutes.

- Gained valuable management skills by transitioning from a part time sales associate to a full time Associate Manager, received five promotions in my five years of employment with Pac Sun: Sales Associate, Stock Supervisor, Lead Sales Associate, Assistant Manager, and Associate Manager. - Completed visual tasks in a timely manner, meeting deadlines, by using critical thinking to solve merchandising difficulties that come with detailed tasks geared towards over eight hundred stores of varying layouts and stock levels. - Provided excellent customer service by being genuine, making connections, and providing customers with a very personal shopping experience. - Performed general store operation tasks including: hiring, scheduling, maintaining employee files, and compiling deposits. - Created and managed the position of Stock Supervisor by seeing an area of the business that needed improvement, executing a plan and putting it into action. Ensured my successors met the expectations of the position by maintaining organization in the stock room, ensuring shipment made it to the floor in an efficient manner, product levels on the sales floor stayed manageable, and all product received and shipped were properly scanned and filed.