Theodore James Trombly

Provided a comprehensive overview of the current workwear market, identifying unmet needs and under-served segments. Recommended strategic opportunities for product differentiation and market entry. Introduction of new products like; inherently flame-resistant (IFR) stretch work pants, hybrid coveralls, and hoodies with planned revenue of ~$12M to $50M in 3 years. Sourced advanced flame-resistant fabrics to create point of differentiation in PPE workwear market.

Competitive market research and merchandising strategies for new product introductions. Go-To-Market planning with sales and marketing departments.

Clients include: #1 Mechanix Wear (Protective Apparel): Strategic product line planning, Project management for $30M business in industrial workwear. Integrating historic PPE with parent glove brand to build company that protects workers from head to toe. #2 Zen Bivy (Sleeping Bags): Advising start-up of cutting-edge outdoor equipment. Managing development of sleep systems, tents, bags, packs and accessories in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Drawings, specs, photos, factory communications. Sourcing fabrics and trims to differentiate brand. Building Product Roadmaps, TDPs and QA documents as assets to sell the company.

Executing ownership strategy to bring technical fabrics to the workwear market by planning, designing, developing and commercializing new styles to realize founder’s goal to disrupt the workwear market. - Managing team of 4 Tech Designers, plus outside resources. - SKU management by analysis of Margins, GMROI, Sales Ratios. - Managing workflow priorities and timelines from early R&D to Production. - Sourcing/Developing advanced performance fabrics and negotiating production costs. - Creating flame-resistant (FR) workwear and managing certification and compliance. - Creating unique, Hi-Visibility workwear. - Developed product matrix “architecture” to maximize sales from a category perspective. - Built design & development department, hired employees, implemented PLM system, developed seasonal cross-functional Launch Calendar, tracked delivery of all production. - Tracked and analyzed best & worst-selling styles/colors to identify drops and “Evergreen” SKUs. - Introduced new products, growing revenue from $6M to $33M.

Built Design & Development department, managed 3 employees, a PLM system, Launch Calendars using Agile project management software and company-wide communication on the “Jimbo-tron” (development-to-delivery” work flow). Developed new product matrix architecture to maximize sales from a category perspective. Introduced new products like; hoodies, vests and work pants, growing sales from $6M to $33M. Sourced advanced performance fabrics fulfilling founder’s goal to disrupt workwear market. Analyzed best & worst-selling styles and colors to identify drops and “Evergreen” SKUs.

Sole proprietorship providing services as follows: -Market Research -Strategy -Project Management -Concepts -Sourcing CLIENT LIST: ~Stretch Shapes – Acting as sourcing agent for specialized flame resistant fabrics. ~Sea-to-Summit - Conducted market research, price-positioning study and design reviews. ~ChangeWear – Helped unique bra manufacturer with brand & product positioning. ~37.5 Technology – Incorporated particle technology into apparel and sleeping bag insulation. Provided strategic positioning and informed outerwear design.

Hired for a turn-around, I helped to reposition the brand and managed a team of designers and developers to introduce novel sportswear, outerwear and sleeping bags. -Eliminated negative operating profit (EBIT) and double gross margin dollars. - Managed team of 5 designers and developers to deliver on stakeholder’s vision. - Travel in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam to establish supply chain and begin product development. - Gave sales presentations to N.A. retail Buyers and to Japanese distributorship. - Received product innovation awards including Gear of the Year and Editor’s Choice for the first water-repellent down jackets in the Outdoor Industry. - Co-inventor of patented, jacket-like Mobile Mummy sleeping bag.

Massif is a Defense Department contractor specializing in Flame Resistant Apparel, Footwear and Accessories for the warfighter. -Managed a team of designers, developers, and testers in building flame-resistant soft shells, combat shirts, flight suits, knee pads and combat boots for the military. - Partnered closely with Sales to prioritize & prepare contract submissions, and to conduct sales presentations to the U.S. Dept of Defense. - Redesigned Army Combat Shirt resulting in a $50M contract. Ultimately, over 5 million shirts have been fielded to the U.S. armed services. - Co-inventor of patented 2-piece Flight Suit adopted by all branches of US military. - Won contract to build Navy SEALs cold weather clothing program. - Grew brand from $35M to $110M with new product introductions. -Attributable Patents: Combat Shirt, Flight Suit and Integrated Tactical Jacket.

Managed team of Designers, Developers and Pattern Maker to revolutionize US combat uniforms, for example: the redesigned Army Combat Shirt resulted in a $50M contract. Partnered with VP of Sales to prioritize contract submissions and conduct presentations to the U.S. DoD in Washington, DC. Co-inventor of patented 2-piece Flight Suit adopted by all branches of US military. My advanced concept for ultralight insulation was awarded a contract for Navy SEALs cold-weather clothing program. Through agile management and design concepts, I helped grow brand from $35M to $110M in new government contracts.

Canada Goose is the maker of the warmest down jackets in the world. Made in Canada. - I helped to establish the brand int the US & European outdoor markets by developing premium, lightweight down jackets, new soft shells and hard-shells. - Commercialized lightweight down styles and Schoeller® rainwear growing revenue 5%. - Introduced the idea of down softshells that pushed the product offerings in new directions. - Worked with VP of Sales to manage gross margins by market pricing in N.A., Europe and Japan. - Gave sales presentations in Canada, North America and Europe. -As a result of new product offerings and expanded market exposure, the brand grew to over $100M, received private equity financing and was eventually taken public in 2017.

Worked with VP of Sales to manage gross margins by market pricing in N.A., Europe and Japan and to select assortments for those markets. Worked with VP of Marketing on website copy and merchandising and with the VP of Production on a daily basis. Commercialized lightweight down styles and Schoeller® rainwear growing revenue 5%. Helped the brand grow to over $100M and to go public through new products and improved retail presence.

Grew Technical Apparel revenue by 27% by directing design based on consumer trends, including being the visionary behind the Nano Puff line of jackets worth $25M+ per year, and redeveloping the pack, bag & luggage line realizing 20% growth. Conducted sales presentations across N.A. and Europe and partnered with Marketing to improve quality of website information, and partnered with production to Improve profit by consolidating factories and increase SKU-efficiency.

At this iconic outdoor apparel maker, I completely revamped the technical apparel line to reflect user needs and buying habits. - Grew Technical Apparel line revenue by 27% by directing designs based on consumer trends. - Visionary behind the successful Nano Puff line of jackets worth $25M+ per year. - Redeveloped pack, bag & luggage line to improve functionality, realizing 20% growth. - Partnered with Marketing to improve quality of information in sales catalogs. - Conducted sales presentations across N.A. and Europe. - Improved profit by consolidating factories and improving SKU-efficiency.

Thermarest is the maker of premium outdoor sleep comfort systems. Made in Seattle. -Developed innovative products with lighter fabric and foam constructions. -Conceived new Sleep Comfort Systems that evolved the brand beyond mattresses. -Globally aligned product assortments from and end-user perspective, growing brand revenue by 33%.

Bioremediation research focused on fungi that could possibly clean sites polluted with organo-chlorines. - As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I taught biology laboratories.

GPA 3.67, National Honor Society