Susan Suarez: Patternmaker/Technical Designer in San Diego, CA

Highly committed Apparel Patternmaker with extensive experience in production patternmaking, managing apparel development projects, and mentoring students in fashion industry education. Hands-on experience with pattern, samplemaking, factory production and technical specifications. • 1st through Production Patterns • Grading • Fitting • Garment Construction for Factory Production • Size Specifications / Tech Packs • Gerber and Lectra Software Solutions

Manager of the pattern creation process for the adidas golf brand. Executed patterns using Gerber PDS for innovative and complex apparel. • Coordinated with Marketing, Design and Development the establishment of Basic Patterns for golf. Drafted patterns, fitted samples for approval and maintained pattern library of elastane and stretch woven blocks for men’s and women’s athletic golf styles. • Re-engineered the fit of the men’s golf polo shirt. Remodeled and upgraded the pattern, which resulted in fewer customer complaints and first time approval of prototypes. • Implemented new grade rules for women’s golf pant. Coordinated teams to review fit models with the updated grading, which led to the approval of the new fit for over 10 in-line styles.

Administered the Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandizing degree programs by monitoring student academics, quality of classroom instruction and development of industry based curriculum. • Headed up student retention program by identifying at-risk students. Built relationship and set goals to retain students through to graduation. • Maintained excellence in AA degree program by exceeding the state’s accreditation requirements.

Instrumental in upholding the college’s level of education by hiring, developing, and motivating faculty. Curriculum writing and program development. • Strong faculty leadership through example, winning 2008 Teacher of the Year. • Produced exceptional classroom outcomes in advanced patternmaking, apparel construction, grading and computer-aided manufacturing using the Lectra System.