Paul Vando: in New York, NY

* Provide design, product development, and sourcing solutions for multiple brands including Robert Graham, and Bruno Magli * Act as the exclusive product design, development, and sourcing agent for LJP International, which owns licenses for the brands Robert Graham and Bruno Magli * Set up an Italian office for LJP for servicing product development, commercialization, and production of all Robert Graham and Bruno Magli Men's and Women's footwear. * Managed a team of 4 designers and developed all Men's and Women's products in Italy. * Managed all product development and production in Italy and was responsible for internal profit margin and on-time deliveries * Manage all fit testing and commercialization of the product * Negotiate with all Italian factories and material suppliers * Attend all major material and trend shows in Italy and Paris * Shop all major global markets on a seasonal basis to research trends. This includes NY, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam and Tokyo

* Designed and developed footwear with Italian and Asian factories * Attend all material and trend trade shows in Italy * Oversee all fit testing and commercialization of the product * Regularly shop US and European markets for product and trend research * Accountable for all design, product development, and sourcing for multiple brands such as True Religion, Ben Sherman, and 7 For All Mankind. * Built strategic alliances with overseas factories and agents that resulted in increased net profit margin and wholesale volume. * Generated new business by developing new product categories for existing and potential client bases. * Increased net profit margin by 14% in one year through restructuring of product and material sourcing. * Member of Executive Management Team

* Accountable for Men's Guess product development and design. * Designed and developed products in Italy, India, and China * Built strategic alliances with sales divisions that resulted in increased wholesale volume. * Created a 16+ million dollar business within 4 years. * Managed a team of 14 professionals globally throughout the US, Italy, India, and China * Developed programs for Guess Retail stores, Mid Tier and Department store businesses * Created trend reports, design reviews, and seasonal material trend boards for presentation and product development * Attended all major global footwear and material trade shows

Developed all Frye products for Men's and Women's business *Traveled and worked on products in US factories as well as Mexico, Spain, and Italy * Developed all leathers and materials for the production of Frye boots. This included attending all leather and material trade shows in Italy and Mexico. * Performed all fit testing and size grading before production. * Increased profit margin by 18% by moving key styles from the US to Mexico production lines * Attended all major global footwear and material trade shows

* Accountable for design and product development for all Steve Madden Men's product * I created new revenue streams by initiating additional product categories of Men's footwear. * Managed all makeup and private label business with retail partners such as Journeys and Macys * Surpassed revenue goals in four consecutive quarters. * Created "Test and React" program with Steve Madden retail stores to identify key trends that work in the retail footwear market * Worked with Italian factories to develop products for Steve Madden retail stores

* Accountable for Men's Reaction and Unlisted footwear product design and development * Worked extensively with all Italian factories on Kenneth Cole Men's Reaction product design and development * Built strategic alliances with Chinese factories that resulted in increased profit margins and new product categories * Defined strategy and business plan for Men's and Women's Reaction Sport category which generated over 1.4 million pairs of footwear sold at wholesale within 18 months * Generated new business through creating private label business with retailers such as Target, Payless, and Bakers * Extensive travel throughout the US, Europe, and Asia for shopping and market research.

* Accountable for the Basketball division including all NBA player shoes, design, and product development. * Traveled to Taiwan, China, Korea, and Indonesia to develop and produce all Men's and Women's Basketball products for FILA * Worked with all design and advanced product development teams in NY, Boston, and Portland

* Accountable for all private label business including JC Penny's which accounted for 8 million dollars in sales annually. * Worked extensively in Goodyear Welt and Handsewn factories in West Virginia to develop private-label product * Worked with the VP of Product for Bostonian on wholesale collection * Interacted with all sales personnel and gathered information on selling * Traveled to Italy, India, and China to develop product

* Assisted the National Sales Manager with all aspects of managing the US and International sales forces for Bally USA * Compiled all selling reports * Maintained the NY showroom and assisted the NY sales representative in servicing customers * Assisted Men's Line Builder with product specs and ordering samples from Italian factories

* Accountable for Children's Esprit footwear sales in the Northeast territory * Compiled selling reports * Serviced all major Northeast accounts

* Completed 6-month Executive Training Program * Assisted Neckwear Buyer with all reports and daily responsibilities * Regularly worked the Neckwear counter in the flagship Fifth Avenue store