As a footwear and fashion industry expert, I rely on over three decades of deep knowledge in research, design, product development, manufacturing, and logistics, in addition to merchandising and sales management experience to successfully work with and provide consulting services to large brands and start-ups. My industry strengths focus on vast knowledge covering all aspects of branding from initial concept through final delivery to the consumer.
Proficiency and deep industry knowledge have led me to excel at providing Intellectual Property expert witness services for over 2 dozen litigation cases since 2012 related to offering unique and well considered opinions on design/utility patents, trademark, trade dress, trade secrets, and counterfeits, as well as materials research and analysis. This includes live testimony, both virtually and in person, at multiple depositions and several federal trials.
I am the named inventor on 4 United States footwear design patents.
I absolutely love my role as an Adjunct II Professor of footwear design at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. With a deep connection to the industry, I am very engaged in working with young designers as an educator, mentor, and advocate as they learn and launch their careers.
With far-reaching industry experience, I have more recently engaged in public speaking engagements and podcasts as a guest lecturer, panelist, moderator, and event chair at over 20 conferences and universities across the United States and Asia between 2019–2024 for events such as PI Apparel, the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA), Polymers in Footwear, SF Sustainable Fashion Week, and more.
2024 brings about several new initiatives that are very exciting and inspiring to me. I have joined the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) as a strategic consultant to engage in growing their membership. I have been invited to be a 2024 juror at the Global Footwear Awards. And, I recently launched IP Science: A Brand Protection Masterclass to share knowledge and facilitate public understanding and empowerment of design ownership.
My fun side gig is managing and hosting guests since early 2022 at my idyllic Garden View Guest House Airbnb and VRBO Short Term Rental located in Mill Valley, California where my twin teenagers and I received over one hundred and fifty 5 star reviews from guests who enjoy visiting Marin County and the Bay Area.
Contact me for a consultation or to engage my expert services.