WELCOME Thank you for attending Albright College’s Business of Fashion Forum and Career Fair. An event like this is certainly an undertaking and could only have come together with the help of a lot of people. I’d like to thank Sarah Van Aken and all our presenters and fair participants who generously have given their time to be here today. There are several people who were integral in putting together this event. Thanks especially to David Tanner, director for the Center for the Arts, and Samantha Roy, whose unending optimism and hard work kept everyone organized and focused on the end result. Thanks also to Marisa McGrath and the box office staff, the College Relations publicity team, Mike Miller and the catering crew, Public Safety and all the folks in our facilities department for set up and preparation. We hope you enjoy the Business of Fashion Forum and Career Fair and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to future fashion events at Albright College: • Fashion Group International’s Spring 2015 Trend Forecast Video Screening Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, 7-8:30 p.m., Klein Hall Q&A to follow; free and open to the public. • Annual Fashion Showcase & Runway Show Saturday, May 9, 2015, Schumo Center Exhibit Hall – 4-5:30 p.m., Bollman Gym Runway Show – 5:30-6:30 p.m., Bollman Gym VIP Reception – 6:30-7:30 p.m., Red & White Room Proceeds from ticket sales go to student awards. $5 students, $10 adults, $20 VIP (front row seats & reception) For tickets, visit the CFA Box Office in person or online at the link below, or call 610-921-7547. More information on these events and other CFA programs in music, theatre, dance, film and art can be found in the season magazine or online at www.albright.edu/CenterfortheArts. Doreen Burdalski Chair & Assistant Professor, Fashion Department PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE 8:30-9:30 a.m. Registration with Coffee/Tea Service Atrium 9:30-10:20 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #1 Lynne Howells, VP, Divisional Merchandise Mngr. Rm. 101 Boscov’s Marijean Jerrell Rm. 103 Design Consultant 10:30-11:20 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #2 Victoria McShea, Account Support Specialist Rm. 102 New Holland Apparel Allison Haftel, Assistant Designer Rm. 104 Gottex Swimwear Designs 11:30-12:30 p.m. Keynote Presentation Rm. 205 Sarah Van Aken Designer/Fashion Entrepreneur 12:40-1:30 p.m. Career Fair Networking Luncheon Atruim 1:40-2:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #3 Rebecca Fried, Retail Division Manager Rm. 101 Sorrelli Jewelry Melissa McGraw, Founder & Consultant Rm. 103 TheFashionPotential.com 2:40-3:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #4 R. Scott French, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief Rm. 102 TheFashionList.com Kyle Bredbenner, Visual Merchandising Manager Rm. 104 Donna Karan New York 3:40-4:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #5 Suzanne Palmer, J.D., L.L.M. Rm. 103 Visiting Asst. Prof. of Economics, Albright College KEYNOTE PRESENTER Our keynote speaker, Sarah Van Aken, is an award winning social entre- preneur, designer and speaker. She is known globally as an innovator in socially driven business for pioneering a vertical apparel business model that is being simulated throughout the industry. Sarah’s work in sustainable fashion and local living economies through workforce development and supply chain has defined her as a top expert in this arena. Her success raising capital through various forms of community and private capital have made her a trailblazer for women entrepreneurs. Ms. Van Aken is a visionary brand director, having successfully launched three award winning fashion brands since 2006. The integrity of her work has been honored not only through awards and a laundry list of notable press features, but by the thousands loyal to her brands. Her accomplished design ability combined with her inherent and proven understanding of how to build a brand into a business has been a key factor in her success. A great communicator, Sarah has been asked to speak across the United States and abroad on sustainable fashion, entrepreneurship, women leaders in business and socially driven business. Her motivational style of speaking has inspired women, entrepreneurs and companies internationally to change their worlds. This work has led to significant partnerships both personally and professionally with business leaders. Sarah has held distinguished Board of Director positions with The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, 2011-present, The Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia 2012-2013, and Rittenhouse Row 2011-present. She has been Designer Critic for Kent State University and Virginia Commonwealth and has been awarded the “Top Innovator Award” from Apparel Magazine; The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s “Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012″; the “Community Impact Award” from the Women’s Opportunity Resource Center; and voted one of Philadelphia’s “Smartest People” by Philadelphia Magazine. SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Kyle Bredbenner is currently the visual merchandising manager for Donna Karan New York. In this position, Bredbenner travels across the country and inter- nationally to oversee new store openings and to develop store layouts. He and his team develop monthly directives, providing direction to store management on presenting and selling DKNY products. He produces interactive training materials on product knowledge and visual merchandising practices. Previously, Bredbenner served as store manager and training manager for various DKNY stores in the U.S. and Canada. He has also worked in various store leadership positions for Bath & Body Works and The Disney Stores. He graduated from Albright College in 2009. R. Scott French has designed under his own label since the late 1980s, and designed his namesake collection of men’s and women’s sportswear until 2009. An active member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Scott is a New York runway regular in his capacity as co-founder and editor-in-chief of the international media portal site TheFashionList.com. Scott has appeared on Bravo Network, NBC, Fox News, FuseTV, MetroChannel, Style, TLC, Network & NY1, as well as a myriad of worldwide printed press, and hundreds of websites, and his work has been published in seven books. Scott is a member of the faculty at Parsons School of Design, the Art Institute of NYC, and Kent State University. Rebecca Fried is Retail Division Manager at Sorrelli Jewelry. Sorrelli’s is a family-owned jewelry design company that produces heirloom-quality jewelry. Rebecca is responsible for both e-commerce and two brick and mortar retail store locations. Prior to her promotion, she served as marketing manager at Sorrelli’s. Rebecca graduated from Albright College in 2006. Allison Haftel is an assistant designer for Gottex Swimwear Brands in New York City, working under the brand Oceanfront. She designs junior girls swimwear for brands such as Xhilaration (Target), Candies (Kohl’s), 96 Degrees & Arizona (JC Penney’s), as well as others. Previously, Allison was a design intern for Catherine’s and Nautica’s women’s design team. She graduated from Phila-delphia University with a degree in fashion design in 2013. Lynne Howells has worked for Boscov’s for 28 years and currently serves as vice president, divisional merchandise manager for Window, Decorative Home, Lamps, Luggage, Pet & Collectibles. Boscov’s is currently celebrating its 100 year anniversary, and is America’s largest family-owned department store. Howells received a bachelor of arts in English, business and communications in 1984 from Albright College, where she was active in the Domino Players and as the editor of The Albrightian. In 2005 she served as an adjunct instructor in fashion. Marijean Jerrell is an independent design consultant who owns an import business. Her career began as a buyer and department manager for Bullocks and as a home fashion coordinator for Burdines, now both under Macy’s. As a designer, her credits include serving as vice president, Arthur Court Designs, vice president of Design for Renaissance, corporate sesign director at The Leshner Corp., vice president of Design at Excel Home Fashions, and aenior vice president of Design for Town & Country Living. She has extensive experience in sourcing with overseas suppliers and branding for upscale markets. Jerrell holds a B.A. from California State University with a dual major in history and industrial design. Melissa McGraw is the creator of The Fashion Potential in which she offers her consulting services to fashion students and emerging designers. In 2007, she co-created the website Workchic. Previously, she has managed million dollar accounts including Amazon.com, Neiman Marcus, Calvin Klein Jeans, Cynthia Rowley, Rocawear, Nicole Miller, Joe’s Jeans and others. Victoria McShea is currently account support specialist at New Holland Apparel. A private label manufacturer, New Holland originated with lingerie and branched out into sports apparel for brands such as Nike, UnderArmour and Adidas. Previously, Vickie was product development coordinator of high jewelry, fine jewelry, and bridal at David Yurman in New York City as well as a product developer for New Holland. She graduated from Albright College with a merchandising degree in 2011. Suzanne Palmer, J.D., L.L.M., is an assistant professor of economics and business at Albright College where she teaches economics and business law. Intellectual property and fashion law are among professor Palmer's research interests. She received her bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, her law degree from Boston University and her Master of Laws in Law and Economics from George Mason University. Prior to her career in academia, she was a corporate attorney specializing in bank regulatory and computer law. CAREER FAIR PARTICIPANTS Catherine’s – We Fit You Beautifully. At Catherine’s, we bring you fresh updates, irresistible outfits, and unexpected finds, designed exclusively for sizes 16W–34W and 0X–5X.