Leslie Cook

Ensure compliance to Federal, State, International regulations and Brand/License standards and requirements. Serve as strategic global business partner offering quality and compliance support and training to Supply Chain and cross functional teams: Product Integrity, Quality, Product Development, Materials, Merch, Planning, Tech Design, Sourcing, Customs and Legal, and international counterparts in Hub offices. Manage development, implementation, maintenance and compliance of Manuals for QA/QC processes, care and tracking labeling requirements, RSL chemical management, test protocols and standards, and sample procedures. Create and implement supplier laboratory certification program to accommodate in-house testing to save costs on 3rd party lab testing. Implement Global Care/Content Label to assure compliance to all countries of sale. This creates flexible shipping opportunities within DC and distributor partner networks, and saves costs by reducing needs for regional-specific care/content labels. Develop and implement Risk Assessment meetings to identify and troubleshoot safety, quality or compliance issues before production. Review product claims, identify substantiation needs and relay to PD, Product Mgr and Sourcing teams in case of impacts to costing. Proactively identify and prioritize key compliance, quality and process initiatives to prevent product safety risks, ensure regulatory compliance and consistently deliver top quality. Train Product Integrity Analyst on testing and labeling process and evaluations: how to read lab reports, determine final pass/fail disposition, compare label info to Tech Pack and supporting test reports to verify fiber content disclosure, verify the recommended care is accurate and safe for final product, and confirm Importer info is present as required for all countries of sale. Provide guidance and training to improve team knowledge and industry expertise, technical QA skills and process effectiveness.

Oversee testing and quality for private brand apparel and accessories. Ensure compliance to Federal, State, and industry regulations, and brand standards. Address quality and compliance issues and implement corrective action. Train the Testing & Evaluation Admin. On-board all new fabric mills and vendors to DSG quality and testing requirements and processes. Work with Product Managers, packaging teams, and Legal to develop new performance claims. Support Legal with recalls. Work with Compliance team to identify pain points and implement corrective actions and new policies.

Responsible for development & production testing for all private/licensed brands apparel/accessories. Knowledgeable of CPSC, CPSIA, Prop 65, and FTC requirements, and ASTM/AATCC/ISO standards. Work closely with Fabric, Color, Product Management, and Sourcing. Proficient in Flex PLM and ecVision systems. Superior analytical skills and strategic thinking. Flex PLM: review fabric/supplier details, tech packs, line sheets, packaging, lab dips, cut/ship dates ecVision: evaluate & communicate fabric/garment testing dispositions to global mill/vendor partners and internal teams; confirm as pass/fail and suggest improvements as needed - Assess quality issues/concerns, propose resolution - Ensure compliance to Federal, State, Industry regulations, in addition to quality standards per brand - Responsible for all global fabric development, and Americas production; assist with Asia styles as requested by DSG Hong Kong - Set up meetings with PM, Design/TD to address failures and present corrective options to meet delivery and mitigate risk - Project leadership, testing/systems processes - Approve care/content labels, supported by testing and tech pack data - Responsible for GCC/CPC approvals prior to product ship window - Evaluate & certify mills’ laboratories according to ASTM/AATCC standards - On board all mills/vendors to DSG quality requirements and protocols - Lead process overview and training to fabric/trim specialists, new associates, and Merchandise Trainees - Participate ecVision script writing for user & enhancement training; provide external user support as needed - Assist Sr. Manager of R&D throughout development, especially during initial testing of new fabric finishes/technologies - Educate teams of new fabric tech capabilities and supportive establish testing protocols - Develop new special claims requests (packaging callouts) for Legal/Compliance to review with supporting test data - Support Legal with recalls, verify/provide supporting documents

Daily use of PTC Flex PLM system to track packaging, BOMs, vendor sources, and fabric libraries. Responsible for testing evaluation and ratings for all private & licensed brand apparel and accessory brands: Field & Stream, Nishiki bike, Walter Hagen, Lady Hagen, Slazenger, Umbro, Reebok, and Adidas. - Evaluate and rate testing for bulk production fabrics and garments - Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements of CPSC, CPSIA, FTC, and EPA, in addition to brand-specific standards - Communicate testing status, updates, and disposition to global fabric mills, vendors/factories, and internal teams. - Review quality issues and concerns, communicate resolution based on internal review with Testing & Fabric teams - Train to review fabric development testing to assist R&D Manager - Assist presenting process overview to MTP groups and new associates

- Manage store opening/closing, register operations, and cash deposits - Train new associates for buying process and delegate daily tasks - Current trends buyer: inspect and purchase new inventory (directly from customers) based on current national & local trends, staying within the daily buying budget - Assist with scheduling, identifying budget needs, and monthly store reports - Manage visuals for window & in-store displays, using select new inventory that fit criteria of local trend, recent sales, current customer habits, and general brand/designer popularity in the area

Facilitated transition out of ESPS into FLEX PLM. Worked directly with PD teams including Design, PM, Fabric, and Tech Design to establish systemic needs in PLM for each team. Established libraries for fabric, trim, packaging, and supplier/vendor data. Built and maintained line sheets, BOMs, and material & color palettes. Maintained brand royalties data. Identified and reported bugs/glitches, requested systemic enhancements from IT partners as needed. Created foundational training docs to introduce new users to Flex, which were used to on-board/train Dick's Hong Kong office. Trained fellow contractors on processes for product line sheets, material/color palettes, and copying/creating new BOMs.

Worked and consistently assisted with planning current student events. Regular speaker at Open House events and new student orientations, where I worked with students and parents. Provided guidance for students to transition and grow into a new school by reviewing programs' course outlines, goals and sharing my own student experiences.

Style Startup Sundays - featured weekly Featured current and upcoming fashion trends, styling tips and ideas, high end fashions for low budgets, and interviewed local shops and designers.