James Sheets
Katy,TX
Summary
Customer-oriented Quality Assurance Textiles Testing Manager with strong history of leading high-performance teams to meet or exceed objectives in textiles testing and color management. Dedicated and hardworking with internal drive to deliver excellence. Tactical team builder with strong background in training and team development.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Sr QA Testing Manager - Apparel/Footwear/Hardgoods
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Katy, TX
11.2021 - Current
- Oversee all product testing for private brand apparel, footwear. and hardgoods
- Manage in-house lab that tests/reviews private brand apparel, footwear, and hardgoods for performance and product safety
- Collaborate with product development, sourcing, technical design, raw materials, and merchant teams
- Manage testing manuals for apparel, footwear, and hardgoods
- Maintain protocols, procedures, and internal quality standards
- Up to date on existing and new US governmental product safety requirements
Quality Assurance Testing Manager
Academy Sports + Outdoors, Soft Goods and Footwear
Katy, TX
02.2014 - 11.2021
- Manage in-house lab that tests/reviews private brand apparel and footwear for performance and product safety
- Manage color team that uses spectrophotometer to ensure product color consistency across all bulk dye lots
- Collaborate with product development, sourcing, tech design, and raw materials teams
- Maintain Soft Goods Testing Manual and Color Management Manual
- Maintain protocols, procedures, and internal quality standards
- Up to date on existing and new US governmental product safety requirements
Quality Assurance Manager
New Era Cap Co., Inc
Buffalo, NY
04.2012 - 01.2014
- Manage global testing of head wear, apparel, and accessories for products in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America
- Maintain protocols, procedures, and internal quality standards
- Up to date on existing and new governmental product safety requirements CPSIA, Prop 65, REACH, and China GB Standards
- Manage company global labs in China, The Dominican Republic, US
- Collaborate with buying units to ensure satisfaction of customer specific testing needs
Lab Services & Building Operations Manager
JCPenney
Carrollton, TX
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Manage textile testing consistency between JCPenney labs in US, Hong Kong, Singapore
- Work with multiple third party labs to ensure supplier and mill testing to JCPenney standards
- Manage JCPenney internal Lab Certification Program
Textiles Lab Manager
JCPenney
Carrollton, TX
10.2003 - 01.2009
- Manage testing process for textile merchandise at JCPenney US laboratory
- Manage textile lab testing consistency - US, Hong Kong, Singapore
Merchandise Testing Specialist
JCPenney
Carrollton, TX
03.1998 - 10.2003
- Evaluate textile merchandise against JCPenney product performance standards
- Pass/fail decisions based on test data
- Collaborate with product development and suppliers on non-conforming merchandise
Textiles Lab Supervisor
JCPenney
Carrollton, TX
08.1994 - 03.1998
- Supervise chemistry, physical testing, wet room areas of textiles lab
Sr. Lab Technician
JCPenney
Carrollton, TX
05.1990 - 08.1994
- Conduct tests on fabrics and finished products
- Evaluate test data against product performance standards
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Marketing
University of Texas At Dallas
Dallas, TX 01.1991 - 12.1994
Some College (No Degree) - Biochemistry
University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX 09.1984 - 05.1987
Skills
- Quality Assurance Testing Procedures and Regulatory Requirements
- Quality Assurance Process Optimization
- Textiles Performance/ Research and Development Testing
- Testing Results Analysis and Resolution
- Testing Equipment Maintenance and Calibration
- Creation and Maintenance of Quality Assurance Standards
- Color Management
- People Management
- Problem Solving
Professional Memberships
AATCC 1995 - present. AATCC Executive Committee 2009 - 2010. Secretary AATCC RA38 - Colorfastness to Crocking Committee - 1996. ASTM 2006 - present. Recording Secretary ASTM D13.90 Executive Subcommittee 2009 - 2011.
Timeline
Sr QA Testing Manager - Apparel/Footwear/Hardgoods
Academy Sports + Outdoors
11.2021 - Current
Quality Assurance Testing Manager
Academy Sports + Outdoors, Soft Goods and Footwear
02.2014 - 11.2021
Quality Assurance Manager
New Era Cap Co., Inc
04.2012 - 01.2014
Lab Services & Building Operations Manager
JCPenney
01.2009 - 01.2011
Textiles Lab Manager
JCPenney
10.2003 - 01.2009
Merchandise Testing Specialist
JCPenney
03.1998 - 10.2003
Textiles Lab Supervisor
JCPenney
08.1994 - 03.1998
Some College (No Degree) - Marketing
University of Texas At Dallas
01.1991 - 12.1994
Sr. Lab Technician
JCPenney
05.1990 - 08.1994
Some College (No Degree) - Biochemistry
University of Texas At Austin
09.1984 - 05.1987