PLM Boot Camp

“It was nice to elliminate the travel, money, and time involved in attending a conference in person. In fact due to budget constraints, this is the only kind of conference I could attend. You guys are clearly the leaders in PLM content delivery. Nobody else even comes close! VERY professional experience that I will certainly repeat.”

Amy Armitage

Principal and Co-founder Delta NPD LLC

Amy Armitage is a principal and co-founder of Delta NPD LLC, a business solutions company specializing in leadership, organizational development, coaching and project management needs of new product development and product life cycle management. She helps clients create innovative and customer-focused solutions to drive measurable improvement and achieve business goals. Her clients include a variety of consumer, retail, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare product executives and their teams. Her company provides tactical and strategic tools and support to enhance collaboration, innovation, productivity and profitability in fast-paced business environments. Amy has over 20 years of professional experience as a consulting practice market leader, organizational and project management consultant, and business executive. Recently, she served as acting managing director and a principal at Capital H Group in New York. She has been a principal and practice leader in two global consulting firms serving Fortune 500 clients in the retail, healthcare, food and beverage, technology, and manufacturing industries. In addition to her work as a consultant and coach, Amy has served on the leadership team of a $30 million business and has managed partner relationships with a variety of technology vendors in business performance management and project management. Her prior experience as a publisher of regulatory newsletters in Washington, D.C. provides insight into regulatory and legal issues facing business and product managers. Amy is an accomplished speaker and workshop leader for corporate conferences, associations and trade groups and has conducted webinars for Hyperion, Actuate, SmartChange, and industry groups. She has published articles on team development, behavior and organizational change for World at Work, Fairfield County Business Journal, Perform Magazine, Performance Management Magazine, and other trade journals. She has been quoted as an industry expert in the Wall Street Journal and trade press Amy holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in organizational behavior and marketing from the Yale School of Management, where she has served as a guest lecturer, alumnae board member, and class secretary. She holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude from the Duke University Institute of Public Policy Sciences and has interned at the Georgetown Law Center, CBS, and the Magazine Publishers Association. She is a certified coach and organizational design specialist using the Work Style Patterns (WSP) Inventory, a tool that aligns individual work preference with actual jobs, work team requirements, and organizational structure. She is a skilled practitioner of applied behavior analysis and worked with the field’s two leading firms (the Continuous Learning Group and Aubrey Daniels International). She is a member of the Product Development and Management Association, the OD Network of New York, and the New Talent Management Network.

Dave Buck

Chief Technology Officer & Chairman, Zweave, Inc.

David is the Chairman of the board of Zweave. He co-founded Zweave with Laura McCann, with the vision of transforming product development activities for federal and consumer product development organizations. Prior to co-founding Zweave, David was the Founder, President & CEO of Advis, Inc., an early leader in the Internet consulting industry. David grew Advis 1650% in 5 years to achieve the 155th ranking on the 1998 “Inc. 500”, and the 121st ranking on the Deloitte & Touche “Fast 500”. At Advis, he delivered over 50 successful custom Internet solutions for Blue Chip clients beginning with Fidelity Investments in 1993, and including Wellington Management, Boston City Hospital, Standard & Poor, Apple Computer, Salomon Brothers, Aetna US Healthcare, AT&T, MCI, Ciena, Level3 Communications, Stratus Computer and Fannie Mae. Prior to founding Advis, David was senior technical sales professional for the object-oriented technology company founded by Steve Jobs - NeXT Computer, and the artificial intelligence software leader, Symbolics, Inc. In 1999, David founded ERP2Web, Inc a software company that sold an innovative development environment to support the development of robust object oriented web applications using ERP systems as their back-end systems of record. The product featured an object modeling and web development environments and adapters to major ERP systems including SAP and Peoplesoft. ERP2Web customers included Apple Computer, Bose, FannieMae, and Allied Signal. All assets of ERP2Web were acquired by a major Fortune 500 software company in late 1999. Prior to Symbolics, David was a Senior Management Consultant at Deloitte Haskins & Sells where he worked with the United States Air Force on multiple, large-scale software projects including Enhanced Transportation Automated Data System (ETADS), Advanced Technical Order System (ATOS) and Stock Control and Distribution (SC&D). Prior to Deloitte, Mr. Buck worked as a National Accounts Sales Engineer for IBM. David holds a B.S. degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Dayton, School of Business Administration. He is a graduate of MIT’s “Birthing of Giants Program” and has been a member of the EO, the Entrepreneurs Organization.

Dwane Ferry

VP Product Development e-spec

Dwane Ferry has over 15 years of experience in designing and implementing digital image workflows. Working primarily in the apparel industry, Dwane has designed and developed processes and application services dedicated to the creation, identification and management of digital image assets for companies such as Carter's, Pacific Sunwear, American Eagle Outfitters, Cutter & Buck, Disneyland Resort, and Hurley International among many others. As an Adobe Development Partner, Dwane has designed and developed a variety of solutions integrated with the Adobe Creative Suite of products establishing automated workflows of digital image assets. Dwane is currently VP Product Development for E-Spec. Inc. Dwane has held previous consulting positions with Gerber Technology, Inc. and Optimyze, LLC as well as systems analyst positions with Bugle Boy Industries and Advanced Motion Controls, a California based specialty electronics manufacturer.

Matt Gersper

Founder and President, Global Data Mining, LLC

Matt Gersper, Founder and President, Global Data Mining, LLC, has more than 20 years of experience optimizing processes and helping customers turn unorganized data into information managers and executives need to improve performance. His vision and expertise have driven successful results in retail, wholesale, trade, logistics and manufacturing sectors. He founded a practice for reengineering and automating business processes for a worldwide leader in recovery auditing. Matt is an enthusiastic contributor to the global trade industry as an author and frequent speaker at industry conferences and events. Mr. Gersper is also an owner of CUSTOMS Info, LLC and director for the International Trade Bureau.

Mark Harrop,

Founder of PDP Limited and WhichPLM

With 35 years of experience within the Manufacturing, Retail, Footwear and Apparel industry including involvement in the creation of the first ever PDM system, Mark has a proven record of implementing Apparel PDM/CPM/PLM solutions to over 150+ companies to date. With a thorough understanding of the abilities of most of the world’s leading PLM providers via completed solution benchmarks and work experience, Mark has put his unrivalled expert knowledge into practice, in 2007 when founding PDP Limited and WhichPLM.com. Prior to this Mark started as a Cutting Room Manager, before advancing to a Factory Manager, until 1985 when he became involved with CAD/CAM solutions when working for Microdynamics before moving onto Gerber, under the title of sales manager for PDM. In 2000 Mark became the Managing Director of Freeboarders Europe and in 2005 he became European Regional Director for PTC. PDP Limited is a consulting organisation, completely focused on PLM for the Apparel sector; implementing PLM offerings globally. In association with PDP, he launched WhichPLM .com in 2008, an independent and impartial website focused on delivering facts not Spin! At a time when PLM is dramatically expanding across the industry, Mark and the team provide expert, independent and unbiased knowledge and advice to both suppliers and customers of PLM, who listen to PDP as creditable advisors due to their hard work on maintaining impartibility. Each of the sixty PLM suppliers, all claim to be the best in the industry; the WhichPLM website operates by evaluating PLM software and advising on what solution is most appropriate for the growing number of international clients requiring guidance. Mark liaises with PLM suppliers and clients from every corner of the globe and carries out solution benchmarks, scoring and analysing their PLM solutions and helping clients to make the right choice when it comes to deciding on a PLM provider. PDP also provides expert support and guidance on implementations. Mark regularly writes PLM blogs which are published on the website, continually gaining positive feedback on a global scale; these can be found on www.whichplm.com.

Steve Holland

Steve Holland, Principal, MADLAN Specialists, Inc.

Stephen “Steve” Holland, has over 20 years of experience working with leading retailers and technology companies across the globe in designing and delivering high-value, cost-effective business process and IT-enabled solutions. Steve is highly regarded for his hands-on expertise with PLM, procurement, merchandising, demand planning, direct-to-consumer, and supply chain processes and systems. Steve has consulted with or worked for several specialty apparel, footwear, and department store leaders across the U.S., Australia, and Europe including Chanel, Coach, Coles Myer Ltd., Foot Locker, Gap, The Limited, and Saks Fifth Avenue. He also has significant experience in other industry segments including grocery, direct-to-consumer, and “big-box” specialty retailers. Steve was formerly a Senior Executive with Accenture, one of the leading management and technology consulting companies in the world. He has also held Vice President positions at different multi-billion dollar wholesale-retailers and has led a large, highly complex PLM implementation for a global vertically-integrated consumer products company.

Chad Jackson

Vice President and Group Director, Design to Delivery Practices, Aberdeen Group

With products increasing in technological complexity, manufacturers struggle with the best practices to efficiently operate, manage, and support design processes and organizations. Chad Jackson is researching the dynamic and evolving intersection of these issues in product development. This ranges from understanding the impact of bringing dramatically different design cultures and communities into closer collaboration, to the changes and integration of cross domain design processes as well as the use of technology throughout the product development process. Chad has a strong product management background in the Enterprise Software industry. He worked previously at a leading MCAD and PLM vendor, PTC, for over ten years. There he investigating end user needs, and developing releases plans and go-to-market plans for several different software product lines. He brings a combination of industry experience, analytical skills, and end user perspective to Aberdeen.

Nancy Johnson

Founder | CEO, Optimyze

Nancy Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Optimyze- an award winning advisory services firm to leading global brands, retailers and manufacturers focusing on all aspects of developing product. The Optimyze team uses the Optimyze Methodology™ to create value through integrated Business Strategy, Resource Optimization, Productivity Improvement and Enabling Technology initiatives to harmonize the delicate balance between creativity and analytics; and to better manage the complexities of developing products and intricacies of business optimization. As a knowledge leader, Nancy has built a solid reputation for providing strategic and practical solutions to customers; and Optimyze is highly regarded as one of the best advisory firms in the creative industries for experience, honest assessment, and value to customer. Working with companies from $1M to $1B+ on 100+ PLM-related projects, companies such as Burberry, VF Corp. and Under Armour achieve significant business gains including increased revenue, enhanced innovation, and speed to market. Prior to launching Optimyze, Nancy began her creative career as designer/tailor of custom suits and gowns. She worked for an award winning interior architect before transitioning back into apparel. Her extensive product development and technology background transitioned her from custom bridal to sportswear and athletic apparel with companies such as House of Design, Calvin Klein and Warnaco, with various wholesale and retail experiences in between. She has held director and management level positions relating to product design and development, visual merchandising, sourcing, and technology. Nancy is an author and frequent speaker on topics related to Product Life Management (PLM), Process Improvement and Sourcing and Trade Management. She periodically teaches at FIT and Mass College of Art and devotes time to mentoring young designers and new businesses on best practices.

Ken Koenemann

Managing Director, TBM Consulting Group

A lean leader with more than 16 years of experience with lean and Six Sigma implementation across the value chain on both the shop floor and in business processes, Ken Koenemann brings to TBM expertise in teaching and coaching lean and value-chain concepts and using those concepts in sourcing, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and planning and scheduling processes. Before joining TBM, Ken was director–delta at American Greetings in Cleveland, OH, where he served as a leader of the internal strategy and consulting organization focused on delivering large transformational projects to meet strategic objectives. While there, he led the redesign of the seasonal card business, and initiated a business-process redesign effort to enable new go-to-market strategies and reduce costs. Earlier in his career, Ken was Managing Director Consumer & Industrial Market Supply Chain practice where he worked as a consultant to large and mid-sized consumer and industrial companies implementing lean and Six Sigma across supply-chain operations. As Managing Director of TBM’s Consumer Products Practice, he has focused exclusively on delivering LeanSigma training and implementation with companies such as Assa Abbloy, ConMed, Energizer, McCain, Pactiv, Sealy and WIKA Instruments. Ken’s lean experience began with Toyota Gosei, where he was responsible for deploying TPS in the manufacturing operations in the US as well as in the supply base. He was trained by two original members of Taiichi Ohno’s Autonomous Study Group and spent six months in Japan learning and implementing TPS. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Laura McCann

CEO, Zweave, Inc.

Laura is the Founder and CEO of Zweave. At Zweave she is responsible for global operations, sales, marketing, solution delivery and product development. Laura’s vision supports Zweave’s focus on designing tools that address the complexity of product development organizations. She has won seven Small Business Innovation Research Grants from the Department of Defense. Prior to founding Zweave, Laura was the Founder and CEO of Fashion Express Worldwide and FX Asia, Private Label Buying Offices, developing apparel products for vertical retailers. Fashion Express was profitable in twelve months and continued to grow at 300% annually for 5 years. In 1997, Laura merged Fashion Express (FX) to form International Product Options (IPO). As CEO and Creative Director of IPO, Laura expanded her business into a global private label sourcing business with offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China serving the leading vertical retail brands in the United States. Laura directed operations for these businesses and managed product development and sourcing activities. Laura founded Zweave to fulfill the technology gap she experienced as an apparel product developer. Zweave is Laura’s third startup. Laura is an author and frequent speaker on the topic of Product Life Management (PLM), Product Development and Sourcing for the Fashion Industry. She has presented at numerous industry conferences including The National Retail Federation Super Show, WWD Teens and Tweens Summit, ASAP Global Sourcing Show, ASTM standards conference, and NYNMA. Laura has been featured in articles on Apparel technology and entrepreneurship including Success, Fortune, Entrepreneurs, MSI, Apparel Magazine, WWD, and Bobbin. McCann has been featured on CNN fn, Entrepreneurs Only on NPR, NY-1, and was featured in Money Hunt’s technology profile pilot. Laura holds a Bachelors degree in Fashion Design from Parson’s School of Design and is a graduate of several Executive Management programs including MIT’s “Birthing of Giants” and Leadership America. Laura was a longstanding member of EO, the Entrepreneurs Organization and was Chapter President of New York and held multiple international board positions throughout the late 90’s. Laura’s professional experience commenced at the age of seven as a child actress in France. Laura’s major accomplishment was in 1980 when she starred in “La Petite Sirene”. Laura’s story has appeared in People Magazine, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, The New York times and others and, she has appeared on television and Radio. Raised in Europe as a child Laura is fluent in French and Spanish.

Denise Seegal

Denise Seegal is a global leader with a record of accomplishments in large public multi-branded apparel and accessory companies as well as privately held designer branded lifestyle companies. Experienced across all distribution channels with a background in wholesale, retail, e-commerce, domestic and international licensing she has held CEO level positions with leading retail brands including Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Liz Claiborne, VF Corporation, Nautica and Sweetface Fashion Co’s JLO Brand. Denise is a strategist and leader of turnarounds, start-ups, restructures, acquisitions, and integrations.

Denise serves on many boards including Parson’s School of Design, the New York Women’s Forum, Executive Women in Fashion Advisory Board, FIT, the Fashion Group and the Second Stage Theater. She has received awards from the YMA, the Girl Scout Council of greater New York, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.), the YWCA of the City of New York and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. She is the first woman to receive a Manufacturer of the Year American Image Award and was selected for Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40”.

Denise holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management from New York University.

Nancy Winslow

PLM Process and Technology Consultant, TBC Unlimited, Inc.

Nancy Winslow is the principle of TBC Unlimited, A soft-goods industry consulting firm specializing in PLM strategy, process analysis and improvement and the management of software implementation projects. Nancy has over a decade of IT related services experience as well as prior hands-on experience working for companies that include GAP, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Limited, Inc. As a product manager, she oversaw the many aspects of developing garments and accessories giving her in-depth knowledge of the many tasks required in the development of products. During her years working as a process consultant and project manager, she has been responsible for projects for various major soft-goods retailers and brands including Liz Claiborne, LL Bean, Federated, and Dillard's Department Stores. Her main focus has been in the area of process analysis and software implementation. Recently she has begun to work with e-commerce, offering strategy for the development, management, and marketing of an on-line business. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science from the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, NY), with a concentration in business for apparel manufacturing. She also holds a certificate of Project Management for Information Technology Professionals.

Nicholas Van Weerdenburg

PLM Process and Technology Consultant, TBC Unlimited, Inc.

Nick Van Weerdenburg is an independent PLM consultant who has 12 years experience defining, developing, and deploying PLM solutions across the entire PLM lifecycle. He has worked with large apparel, footwear and CPG companies including Nike, Limited Brands, Fila and Nordstrom. His specialty is finding the process solutions that fit the needs of the business, the business units, and the end users.

Implementing a PLM system isn’t just about installing a piece of software. It is an enterprise-wide solution that needs resources, training, process rationalization and internal communications. It also needs 100% of your commitment. So, is PLM worth the investment? To help you find out how much it costs to implement PLM and how much it costs to not implement i attend this all important session that investigates the proven methods for measuring ROI. This session will discuss the design and use of ROI calculators and how they have helped other organizations identify their true savings.