DEVAN KULKA
Michigan
Summary
Detail-oriented inventory manager with a strong background in merchandising execution and sales analysis. Recognized for successfully translating brand strategies into impactful product assortments and driving growth through data-driven insights.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Inventory Manager
BBK Fine Jewelry
, MI
06.2022 - Current
- Lead merchandising, buying, brand strategy, and product management for a luxury jewelry business with a $2M+ merchandise inventory across fine jewelry and luxury accessory categories.
- Own open-to-buy planning and use inventory and sales performance to inform purchasing decisions, balancing customer demand with inventory investment and profitability.
- Analyze sales and margin performance at the SKU, style, category, and vendor levels to identify top performers, underperformers, assortment gaps, inventory risks, and opportunities for growth.
- Develop and execute seasonal and ongoing product assortments
- Manage vendor relationships across brands including Kendra Scott, Hearts on Fire, Midas, Noam Carver, and Ania Haie, balancing brand standards, customer demand, inventory needs, and financial performance.
- Attended buying shows and collaborated with vendors and brand representatives to hand-select inventory, negotiate terms, evaluate exclusivity opportunities, and establish production and delivery timelines.
- Collaborate on product lifecycle decisions, identifying opportunities to replenish successful products, adjust assortments, promote slower-moving inventory, and exit underperforming styles.
Employee Experience Manager
Rocket Mortgage
, MI
10.2016 - 06.2022
- Analyzed engagement survey and recognition-platform data to identify trends and areas of risk, translating insights into actionable recommendations for enhancing engagement and retention.
- Identified process gaps and created targeted solutions to enhance employee retention, recognition, and program execution.
- Managed cross-functional programs and strategic initiatives supporting employees across Technology, Banking, Rock Central, and Amrock, partnering with leaders and stakeholders across multiple business functions.
- Managed complex projects from strategy and planning through execution, maintaining timelines, deliverables, budgets, communications, stakeholder alignment, and reporting.
- Built engagement roadmaps and presented program updates, insights, recommendations, and progress to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Executed employee experiences from small team events to corporate events for up to 3,000 attendees, ensuring detailed project management, vendor coordination, logistics, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Partnered with internal teams and external vendors to manage event requirements, budgets, timelines, production details, communications, and execution.
- Developed processes, documentation, and centralized resources that improved visibility, organization, and consistency across complex programs.
Education
BBA - Marketing
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI06-2015
Skills
- Inventory management
- Open-to-buy management
- Sales analysis
- Merchandising execution
- Product assortment
- Vendor negotiation
- Product lifecycle management
- Project management
- Event planning
- Brand strategy
Timeline
Inventory Manager
BBK Fine Jewelry
06.2022 - Current
Employee Experience Manager
Rocket Mortgage
10.2016 - 06.2022
BBA - Marketing
Western Michigan University