Jennifer L. Lezzeni Guggemos
Petaluma,CA
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience in product development and event management. Proven ability to increase sales through effective project planning and community outreach. Strong communication strategies and meticulous record-keeping enhance volunteer engagement and streamline processes. Expertise in sourcing and production management drives impactful results.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Festivals and Volunteer Coordinator
Live Oak Charter Waldorf School
01.2023 - 01.2026
- Executed schoolwide festivals and events in collaboration with director and office manager.
- Created Detailed procedures, volunteer needs and records for each event.
- Managed communications for volunteer outreach initiatives and events.
- Coordinated volunteer recruitment efforts for school events and programs.
- Communicated school wide via PS Platform to inform care givers about event needs, details and to volunteers about opportunities.
- Collaborated with staff to identify areas needing volunteer support and resources for festivals and events.
- Communicated regularly with volunteers, assisting with issues and questions.
- Provided guidance on how to best utilize available resources in order to maximize the impact of volunteer work.
- Developed and managed volunteer recognition, engagement and retention practices.
- Matched volunteers with open positions based on individual strengths, knowledge and interests.
Product Development & Product Line Manager– Accessories
Buff, Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Manage U.S. Design, Development & Production of multiple categories of Buff lines.
- Contributed to Global Design team.
- Merchandised Line, Presented line to Sales Team, Trade Show Presentations.
- Created and managed Competitor Analysis.
- Worked with Parent Company factories in Spain, Worked with Domestic Factories.
Development/ Technical/ Sourcing Manager Consultant– Apparel & Accessories
Gary Mandel Promotional Company/ Econscious
08.2011 - 01.2012
- Manage Development and Production of multiple categories of Eco stock line and private label/ promotional custom project lines.
- Negotiate pricing/ timelines with factories.
- Complete landed costing for customer quoting.
- Monitor proper organic/recycled/GOTS certifications from vendors and manufacturers based upon stock line and individual customers needs.
- Expand factory/ supplier source base for stock line and custom projects.
- Trained new Development/ Production Manager hire (previous title as per below).
Technical Consultant– Denim Men’s and Women’s
Ariat International
05.2011 - 12.2011
- Streamline and manage technical communication, spec packs, systems to factory for seasonal and core product.
- Design, merchandising, and sourcing functions of seasonal and core lines.
Development and Production Manager – Apparel
Mission Playground (New management under NNBW, Inc.)
12.2010 - 03.2011
- Responsible for Development and Production in outdoor /lifestyle sustainable apparel brand.
- Strategized business from point of concept to final production for evolving market base.
- Scout and establish new domestic and overseas source base within timeline for trade show samples.
- Develop and manage seasonal timeline and action calendar to execute process.
- Develop internal/external processes, budget analysis, and approval checkpoints within timeline.
- Worked with design to achieve inspiration and play a key role in style/ color direction and merchandising line with relevance to market and efficiencies with vendors.
- Source/ develop/ coordinated fabrics and trims from the market/ converters/ mills and factories.
- Negotiate MOQ's, lead-times, and costing while maintaining quality, functionality and relevant sustainability throughout process.
- Line exhibition with Sales, Retailers and consumers at OR show.
Design/Product Development Manager –Mission Playground, Apparel & Accessories
Gary Mandel Promotional Company/ Mission Playground /Econscious
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Responsible for product development for sustainable apparel and accessory brand.
- Create, maintain technical specification packages throughout the product lifecycle.
- Work with team on catalog design and proofing.
- Handle quality control process.
- Research and identify emerging trends, create seasonal offerings based on market conditions.
- Streamline branding identification on products from concept to production.
- Create color palettes and merchandise line offering.
- Technical Design; corrected overall fit and grading on existing blocks for more cohesive fit throughout the brand.
- Manage product, samples, and pricing with team and domestic and international suppliers and factories.
Development Production Manager
Development Production Manager –Econscious, Blank & Custom
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Sustainable apparel and accessory brand, which encompassed core promotional blanks line and private label custom projects in diverse categories including Underwear, Men's, Women's, Youth, Baby Apparel, Hats and Bags.
- Establish open communication, initiate product integrity levels, and propose approval checkpoints with factories.
- Revamped core product through improved fit and updated styling for greater marketability.
- Manage testing and compliance.
Assistant Designer – Dockers Men's Bottoms, Work, Dress, Golf, & Outlet Segments
Levi Strauss & Company
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Market research, concept forecasting.
- Develop presentation materials, color direction, and technical sketches.
- Collaborate with merchandising to assort line and develop products.
- Source/ develop fabrics with overseas internal offices.
- Key role in ensuring design integrity during mass production and guaranteed proto/sample/MRP packages were accurate by partnering with Technical Developer/ Sundries Developer/ Merchandising, and Product Management.
- Helped revamp the Work Category to win over current consumers and target new audience.
Fabric and Finish Assistant – Dockers Men's Bottoms
Levi Strauss & Company
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Participated in all aspects of problem solving in collaboration with the Fabric & Finish Developer.
- Initiated/ managed requests for fabric profiles, test reports, and finishing trials.
- Championed efforts to accurately organize and maintain detailed fabric, finish, pressing, and testing information.
- Serve as the primary liaison with Design, PD&S, Merchandising, and Global offices to ensure accurate fabric execution.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Design
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia, PA01.2002
Skills
- Design and development
- Detailed record keeping
- Communication strategy
- Community outreach
- Project / Event Planning and coordination
- Competitive analysis
- Problem solving
- Production planning
- Trend analysis and research
- Process management
- Timeline coordination
- Garment and accessory construction
- Schedule management
- Mission-oriented
- Schedule preparation
- Networking
- Product Specification Pack creation
- Product management strategies
- Sourcing and costing
- Relationship management
- Technical illustration
Fashion Presentations
- Nickelodeon's Nick News (2002) & Philadelphia University Fashion Show (2001/2002): Army cocktail dress made from a military field jacket.
- FIA Fashion Show (2002): Collection of two high-end unconventional sportswear garments inspired by the Dream catcher.
- Design X Fashion Show (2002): Three experimental garments.
- Outside Magazine interview 2012 on upcoming Buff Line.
Timeline
Festivals and Volunteer Coordinator
Live Oak Charter Waldorf School
01.2023 - 01.2026
Product Development & Product Line Manager– Accessories
Buff, Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2014
Development/ Technical/ Sourcing Manager Consultant– Apparel & Accessories
Gary Mandel Promotional Company/ Econscious
08.2011 - 01.2012
Technical Consultant– Denim Men’s and Women’s
Ariat International
05.2011 - 12.2011
Development and Production Manager – Apparel
Mission Playground (New management under NNBW, Inc.)
12.2010 - 03.2011
Design/Product Development Manager –Mission Playground, Apparel & Accessories
Gary Mandel Promotional Company/ Mission Playground /Econscious
01.2009 - 01.2010
Development Production Manager
Development Production Manager –Econscious, Blank & Custom
01.2008 - 01.2010
Assistant Designer – Dockers Men's Bottoms, Work, Dress, Golf, & Outlet Segments
Levi Strauss & Company
01.2007 - 01.2008
Fabric and Finish Assistant – Dockers Men's Bottoms
Levi Strauss & Company
01.2006 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Design
Philadelphia University