FIONA VALKENBURGH KENT

• Lead a $20 million women's apparel division, overseeing full-cycle operations from concept to delivery.
• Manage and mentor creative and production teams, fostering accountability, performance, and collaboration.
• Present collections and strategic direction to national retail buyers and executive leadership.
• Drive revenue performance while ensuring profitability (IMU targets).
• Oversee domestic production with accelerated 4–6 week turnaround timelines.
• Maintain high standards of brand presentation, product quality, and client satisfaction.
• Collaborate with major national retailers including:
• Nordstrom Rack
• Kohl's
• Marshalls
• TJ Maxx

Transferable to Guest Experience:

• Delivered high-touch client presentations and relationship management.
• Balanced financial goals with customer satisfaction.
• Led teams in fast-paced, service-driven environments.
• Maintained premium aesthetic and brand consistency.

• Launched and scaled a new sportswear division generating $3 million in first-year revenue.
• Collaborated with cross-functional sales, marketing, and retail teams to ensure product-market alignment.
• Presented and sold collections monthly during market week.
• Worked directly with external partners including:
• HSN
• QVC
• Amazon
• JCPenney

Transferable to Resort Management:

• Built new operational divisions from the ground up.
• Managed vendor negotiations and supplier partnerships.
• Executed rapid turnaround initiatives under high-pressure timelines.
• Oversaw quality control and brand standards across multiple channels.

LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Directed multidisciplinary teams including designers, production staff, and external partners.
• Managed global vendor relationships, including factory collaboration in India and domestic mills.
• Ensured operational efficiency while maintaining luxury-level brand standards.
• Successfully implemented “fast-turn” business models while protecting profitability.
• Strong ability to anticipate client needs and proactively solve problems.

• Contributed to major women's brands generating up to $300 million in annual sales volume , demonstrating strong understanding of customer demand and revenue performance.
• Identified product opportunities using market intelligence, sales history, and customer behavior analysis to support profitable growth.
• Collaborated closely with buyers and merchandising teams to align seasonal strategies with sales performance and in-store presentation needs.
• Presented monthly collections to executive buyers, ensuring alignment with brand direction and customer expectations.
• Partnered with cross-functional departments including sales, production, technical design, and fabric development to ensure seamless execution from concept to delivery.
• Attended fittings and conducted quality control reviews to maintain brand standards and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Traveled internationally to Asia and worked directly with overseas production teams to guarantee product integrity, timeline compliance, and cost efficiency.
• Managed assistant and associate designers, fostering collaboration, accountability, and performance excellence.

Transferable Strengths for Hospitality & Resort Management

• Strong revenue and performance awareness
• Customer-focused decision making
• Operational coordination across multiple departments
• Quality assurance and brand consistency
• Experience managing large-scale, high-volume environments
• Leadership of creative and technical teams
• International vendor and partnership management
• Calm execution under deadline-driven pressure