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

Lauren MastrodonatoProject Manager, west elm

• Branch of Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; Born in Brooklyn in 2002

• Choice, Community, Consciousness

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

Paige Richardson Belk Vice President/DMMYoung Contemporary & Contemporary

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

• Take Strategic Risks

• Come with a Plan

• Prove it Before You Interview

Blake SmithKohl’s Dept. Store

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.

A Few Accolades: