WIXLIB

WELCOMEThank you for attending Albright College’s Business of Fashion Forumand Career Fair. An event like this is certainly an undertaking and couldonly have come together with the help of a lot of people. I’d like tothank Sarah Van Aken and all our presenters and fair participants whogenerously have given their time to be here today. There are severalpeople who were integral in putting together this event. Thanksespecially to David Tanner, director for the Center for the Arts, andSamantha Roy, whose unending optimism and hard work kept everyoneorganized and focused on the end result. Thanks also to MarisaMcGrath and the box office staff, the College Relations publicity team,Mike Miller and the catering crew, Public Safety and all the folks in ourfacilities department for set up and preparation.We hope you enjoy the Business of Fashion Forum and Career Fair andwould like to take this opportunity to invite you to future fashion eventsat Albright College: Fashion Group International’s Spring 2015Trend Forecast Video ScreeningMonday, Dec. 1, 2014, 7-8:30 p.m., Klein HallQ&A to follow; free and open to the public. Annual Fashion Showcase & Runway ShowSaturday, May 9, 2015, Schumo CenterExhibit Hall – 4-5:30 p.m., Bollman GymRunway Show – 5:30-6:30 p.m., Bollman GymVIP Reception – 6:30-7:30 p.m., Red & White RoomProceeds 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 oronline at www.albright.edu/CenterfortheArts.Doreen BurdalskiChair & Assistant Professor, Fashion Department

PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE8:30-9:30 a.m.Registration with Coffee/Tea ServiceAtrium9:30-10:20 a.m.Concurrent Breakout Session #1Lynne Howells, VP, Divisional Merchandise Mngr.Boscov’sRm. 101Marijean JerrellDesign Consultant10:30-11:20 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Session #2Victoria McShea, Account Support SpecialistNew Holland ApparelAllison Haftel, Assistant DesignerGottex Swimwear DesignsRm. 103Rm. 102Rm. 10411:30-12:30 p.m. Keynote PresentationSarah Van AkenDesigner/Fashion EntrepreneurRm. 20512:40-1:30 p.m.Career Fair Networking LuncheonAtruim1:40-2:30 p.m.Concurrent Breakout Session #3Rebecca Fried, Retail Division ManagerSorrelli JewelryRm. 101Melissa McGraw, Founder & ConsultantTheFashionPotential.com2:40-3:30 p.m.Concurrent Breakout Session #4R. Scott French, Co-Founder & Editor-in-ChiefTheFashionList.comKyle Bredbenner, Visual Merchandising ManagerDonna Karan New York3:40-4:30 p.m.Concurrent Breakout Session #5Suzanne Palmer, J.D., L.L.M.Visiting Asst. Prof. of Economics, Albright CollegeRm. 103Rm. 102Rm. 104Rm. 103

KEYNOTE PRESENTEROur keynote speaker, Sarah Van Aken,is an award winning social entrepreneur, designer and speaker. She isknown globally as an innovator insocially driven business for pioneeringa vertical apparel business model thatis being simulated throughout theindustry. Sarah’s work in sustainablefashion and local living economiesthrough workforce development andsupply chain has defined her as a topexpert in this arena. Her successraising capital through various formsof community and private capital havemade her a trailblazer for womenentrepreneurs.Ms. Van Aken is a visionary branddirector, having successfully launchedthree award winning fashion brands since 2006. The integrity of her work hasbeen honored not only through awards and a laundry list of notable pressfeatures, but by the thousands loyal to her brands. Her accomplished designability combined with her inherent and proven understanding of how to build abrand into a business has been a key factor in her success.A great communicator, Sarah has been asked to speak across the United Statesand abroad on sustainable fashion, entrepreneurship, women leaders inbusiness and socially driven business. Her motivational style of speaking hasinspired women, entrepreneurs and companies internationally to change theirworlds. This work has led to significant partnerships both personally andprofessionally with business leaders.Sarah has held distinguished Board of Director positions with The PhiladelphiaFashion Incubator, 2011-present, The Sustainable Business Network ofPhiladelphia 2012-2013, and Rittenhouse Row 2011-present. She has beenDesigner Critic for Kent State University and Virginia Commonwealth and hasbeen awarded the “Top Innovator Award” from Apparel Magazine; The GreaterPhiladelphia Chamber of Commerce’s “Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012″;the “Community Impact Award” from the Women’s Opportunity ResourceCenter; and voted one of Philadelphia’s “Smartest People” by PhiladelphiaMagazine.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIESKyle Bredbenner is currently the visual merchandising manager for Donna KaranNew York. In this position, Bredbenner travels across the country and internationally to oversee new store openings and to develop store layouts. He and histeam develop monthly directives, providing direction to store management onpresenting and selling DKNY products. He produces interactive training materials onproduct knowledge and visual merchandising practices. Previously, Bredbennerserved 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, anddesigned his namesake collection of men’s and women’s sportswear until 2009. Anactive member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Scott is aNew York runway regular in his capacity as co-founder and editor-in-chief of theinternational media portal site TheFashionList.com. Scott has appeared on BravoNetwork, NBC, Fox News, FuseTV, MetroChannel, Style, TLC, Network & NY1, aswell as a myriad of worldwide printed press, and hundreds of websites, and hiswork has been published in seven books. Scott is a member of the faculty atParsons School of Design, the Art Institute of NYC, and Kent State University.Rebecca Fried is Retail Division Manager at Sorrelli Jewelry. Sorrelli’s is afamily-owned jewelry design company that produces heirloom-quality jewelry.Rebecca is responsible for both e-commerce and two brick and mortar retailstore locations. Prior to her promotion, she served as marketing manager atSorrelli’s. Rebecca graduated from Albright College in 2006.Allison Haftel is an assistant designer for Gottex Swimwear Brands in NewYork City, working under the brand Oceanfront. She designs junior girlsswimwear for brands such as Xhilaration (Target), Candies (Kohl’s), 96 Degrees& Arizona (JC Penney’s), as well as others. Previously, Allison was a designintern for Catherine’s and Nautica’s women’s design team. She graduated fromPhila-delphia University with a degree in fashion design in 2013.Lynne Howells has worked for Boscov’s for 28 years and currently serves as vicepresident, divisional merchandise manager for Window, Decorative Home,Lamps, Luggage, Pet & Collectibles. Boscov’s is currently celebrating its 100 yearanniversary, and is America’s largest family-owned department store. Howellsreceived a bachelor of arts in English, business and communications in 1984 fromAlbright College, where she was active in the Domino Players and as the editor ofThe Albrightian. In 2005 she served as an adjunct instructor in fashion.

Marijean Jerrell is an independent design consultant who owns an importbusiness. Her career began as a buyer and department manager for Bullocksand as a home fashion coordinator for Burdines, now both under Macy’s. As adesigner, her credits include serving as vice president, Arthur Court Designs,vice president of Design for Renaissance, corporate sesign director at TheLeshner Corp., vice president of Design at Excel Home Fashions, and aenior vicepresident of Design for Town & Country Living. She has extensive experience insourcing with overseas suppliers and branding for upscale markets. Jerrell holdsa B.A. from California State University with a dual major in history and industrialdesign.Melissa McGraw is the creator of The Fashion Potential in which she offers herconsulting services to fashion students and emerging designers. In 2007, sheco-created the website Workchic. Previously, she has managed million dollaraccounts including Amazon.com, Neiman Marcus, Calvin Klein Jeans, CynthiaRowley, Rocawear, Nicole Miller, Joe’s Jeans and others.Victoria McShea is currently account support specialist at New HollandApparel. A private label manufacturer, New Holland originated with lingerie andbranched out into sports apparel for brands such as Nike, UnderArmour andAdidas. Previously, Vickie was product development coordinator of high jewelry,fine jewelry, and bridal at David Yurman in New York City as well as a productdeveloper for New Holland. She graduated from Albright College with amerchandising degree in 2011.Suzanne Palmer, J.D., L.L.M., is an assistant professor of economics and business atAlbright College where she teaches economics and business law. Intellectualproperty and fashion law are among professor Palmer's research interests. Shereceived her bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, her law degree fromBoston University and her Master of Laws in Law and Economics from GeorgeMason University. Prior to her career in academia, she was a corporateattorney specializing in bank regulatory and computer law.