Post on 22-Jan-2018
Millennial to Millennial: A Young Professionals Panel
Heidi O’Neill, NikeJake Farrell, The Home DepotLauren Mastrodonato, West Elm
Paige Richardson, BelkBlake Smith, Kohl’s
Jake Farrell: The Home Depot
• Senior Manager: Interconnected Operations Strategy
• Georgia Institute of Technology
Career Journey• U.S. Army Reserve Command:
Readiness Analyst (2010-2012)
• The Home Depot (2012- Present):Operations Analyst, Store OperationsSr. Analyst, Store OperationsManager, Store OperationsSr. Manager, homedepot.com
Career Path• College of Communication
• Susan Lawrence: Sales; Private label fashion company
• Supply Chain Operations; e-commerce start up company focused on delivering everyday design
• Store Operations; support over 92 Shopkeepers + store teams on projects related to supply management, product
quality and Brand Expansion—opened over 30 stores in two years
Journey
Blumarine
Internship(unpaid foot in the door)
Jr. Account Executive (the payoff)
Abercrombie
Assistant Merchant Associate Merchant
Macy’s
5 years 3 roles
Associate BuyerBuyer
Sr. Buyer
Belk
4 roles since 2013
Currently VP DMMYoung Contemporary &
Contemporary
Start Core Development The Jump
Now @ Belk
• Lead all Young Contemporary & Contemporary
• 5 Buying Offices
• $450m in buying power
• Changing face of retail
About Blake:• Designer for the Dana Buchman brand
• Missy Classic better brand sold exclusively @ Kohl’s
• BFA 2012 from
About Blake’s “Glidepath”:
Intern –summer 2012
Assistant 2012-2014
Associate 2014-2016
Designer 2016-present
A day in the life of the Designer role:
• Research/concept monthly collection direction – color/fabrics/prints/details.
• Assort and present collection at all major buy meetings w/ management and merchants.
• Own category development of Sweaters, Dresses, and Bottoms.
• Attend fittings to maintain brand aesthetic.• Communicate daily w/ overseas and domestic
vendor partners.• Brainstorm for new processes to advance
workflow and maintain design calendar needs.