Industry Advisory Board
The Industry Advisory Board helps LIM College fulfill its mission and strengthen many of the services the College provides to students.
This Board is composed of executives from a broad variety of areas, including manufacturing, licensing, accessories, store design, media, public relations, cannabis, digital marketing, executive recruiting, merchandising, supply chain, and retail management.
Advisory Board members assist and advise the College in areas such as curriculum, long-range planning, career development, and industry relations. Board Members collaborate with faculty and staff to provide experiential educational opportunities that support academic programs; mentor students and provide feedback on their resumes and selected course projects; host site visits; guest lecture in classes; hire students for internships and permanent jobs; and help LIM identify new areas of study. Advisory Board members also expose LIM students to emerging trends and new business categories and connect students with industry experts.
Members
Nicholas Ammaturo
Head of Global Corporate Procurement, Subway Restaurants
Chief Operating Officer, Fado
Previously, Nick led Sourcing & Procurement for Tapestry, Inc., Lord & Taylor, Saks 5th Ave, and Hudson’s Bay, in addition to Avon & PepsiCo. Throughout his tenure in procurement across multiple industries and companies, he has driven over $1 billion dollars in combined savings.
Lisa R. Bannister '94
Consultant
Lisa is a proud LIM graduate with extensive retail leadership experience in the North American and Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets. She has held general management roles at Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Liz Claiborne and Perry Ellis.
Heather Bergstein
Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Amazon Hub
Heather Bergstein is the Senior Marketing Manager at Amazon Hub Delivery, part of Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery division. She is a seasoned marketer with deep branding and digital knowledge, and an expert in building best-in-class strategies, branded content and strategic partnerships to drive business objectives.
Amie Blumberg
Vice President of Industry Relations, LIM College
Prior to joining LIM College, Amie held a variety of senior management roles at Kayser-Roth, Liz Claiborne, PVH, Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. Amie serves as an Executive Coach and Group Facilitator for CHIEF and is Professional Certified Coach-credentialed via the International Coaching Federation.
Ryan Bonifacino
Co-Founder, Clean Origin
Ryan is a co-founder of the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand Clean Origin. His prior roles include Chief Digital Officer at apparel brand FIGS, Chief Marketing Officer for Serta Simmons Bedding’s direct-to-consumer business, and Chief Marketing Officer at jewelry brand Alex and Ani.
Robert G. Bronstein
Fashion Consultant
Robert Bronstein is a fashion consultant and senior fashion executive with extensive skills and experience in management, sales, and merchandising. His previous positions include President of Leon Max // Maxstudio.com, President of BCBGMAXAZRIA Group, and Executive Vice President at French Connection.
Jackie Buffon
Consultant
Former President, NYC Alliance
Jackie Buffon is a consultant, coach, and speaker who has held senior leadership roles for high-profile apparel brands, including Donna Karan International and Elie Tahari. Her areas of expertise include entrepreneurship modeling and inventory management.
David A. Burnett
(Retired) Former Chief Merchandise Officer, Venus Fashions Inc.
David's previous positions include being President of Anne Klein & Liz Claiborne Swimwear and being a Buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue.
Bianca Caampued '07
Co-founder and Advisor, Small Girls PR
LIM alumna Bianca Caampued co-founded Small Girls PR. As Creative Director of the agency through 2019, she managed the creation of compelling digital campaigns, content, and programming for clients and the SGPR Brand. Recently splitting her time between New York City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bianca has become involved in several initiatives to help serve the community of Tulsa, including the development of a non-profit aimed at providing social services and support for formerly incarcerated women, and building a creative incubator for musicians and visual artists to turn their art into business.
Bianca has been featured in Marie Claire's "Top 5 Young Guns," BuzzFeed’s "21 Role Models for 20- Somethings," Forbes "15 Women-Led Startups," & WWD.
Sherry Cassin
Founder/Creative Merchant, Meow Mini Mart
After retiring from a successful career in the fashion industry, Sherry Cassin decided to combine her retail and e-commerce expertise with her love of cats by opening Meow Mini Mart, a cat care supply store and wellness center.
Heather Catalano
Vice President of Sales, Planning and Operations - US Wholesale, VRA - Vera Bradley, Pure Vida
Heather Catalano is a seasoned retail industry professional with 20+ years of experience leading omni-channel handbag and lifestyle brands including Juicy Couture, Nine West, Anne Klein, Liz Claiborne, Nine West Group and others. In addition to sales leadership roles, she has merchant and planning experience managing multiple categories, including ready-to-wear, jewelry, children’s and intimates, with Lord & Taylor and Ross Stores, as well as international licensing experience with Polo Ralph Lauren. Prior to joining Vera Bradley, she held roles of increasing responsibility at the Nine West Group and Jones Organization, including Senior Vice President of Sales and Planning for the company’s handbag division and Bandolino footwear.
Patrick Clayton '03
Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Patrick J Clayton Productions
Patrick Clayton is the creative force behind his eponymous brand, Patrick J Clayton Productions, a bicoastal, full-service event planning and production company that produces events across North America.
Tony Coccerino
Senior Director of Fulfillment, Nuuly (URBN Inc.)
Tony oversees the distribution and fulfillment of subscription services in both Pennsylvania and Missouri. His career has spanned a spectrum of positions, from garment manufacturing to the final destination.
Mary Ann Domuracki
Partner, MMG Advisors
MMG Advisors is an investment bank specializing in the retail and consumer sector. Mary Ann's industry experience includes serving as CEO, Chief Operation Officer & Chief Financial Officer for fashion industry companies such as Danskin, Anne Klein, and Kasper.
Mark Donatiello
Director of Lead Generation/Client Experience, Keller Williams NJ Metro Group
Mark is a senior level wholesale and retail executive with experience in merchandising and business development for branded accessories, footwear and apparel. Mark is currently in the residential and commercial real estate industry, recently joining Keller Williams NJ Metro Group-Chu Baldwin Homes as Director of Lead Generation, CRM/Data Management and Client Experience. He is also on the Fashion Advisory Board of Mercado Global, a non-profit handbag and accessory company that helps indigenous women in Guatemala achieve independence.
Dan Evans
Managing Partner & Executive Vice President, Wests Design
Dan is a dynamic leader, innovator and industry mentor in retail design.
Louise Evins
CEO, Evins Communications
Louise has held positions as a senior executive at Lord & Taylor and Henri Bendel. She is a founding member of Forbes Executive Women, a long-standing member of Fashion Group International, and is on the Board of Directors of the Dramatists Guild Foundation.
Nicola Evoli
President, Impel LLC
Nicola Evoli has been a specialist in international retail development and management for over 35 years. He is currently an international business development and strategy consultant.
Sarah Falvo
Founder, Wildflower Coalition
Sarah is an advocate for providing opportunity and making genuine connections in the cannabis industry. She thrives on aligning people, interests and values towards a common goal, and facilitating meaningful connections that will steward nascent industries in times of rapid growth.
Delisha Fields '11
Head of Events, United Masters
Delisha Fields is a seasoned event professional with over a decade of experience. Her blend of creativity, event production finesse, marketing prowess, and strategic operational skills has been the driving force behind the flawless execution of many high-profile fashion, entertainment, and summit events. She has played a pivotal role in orchestrating memorable experiences for leading media and lifestyle brands including GQ, Live Nation, WME | IMG Fashion, Men's Health, Forbes Media, and United Masters.
David L. Fisher
Owner, J. Crickett MGMT LLC
David retired from Bloomingdale's as Executive Vice President/General Merchandise Manager after 33 years there. His 44-year retail career has also included senior and C-suite executive positions with Allied Stores, Batus, and Federated (Macy's).
Lauren Gallo '09
Senior Director, Brand Marketing Creative, Nike
Lauren Gallo is an award-winning marketing executive with expertise in global brand marketing and creative development. She has grown, defined and redefined some of the world’s most iconic brands, from Apple to Snapchat to Nike. One of Lauren’s greatest skills—and greatest professional joys—is building and guiding high-performing, complex, multi-discipline teams.
Luisa H. Garcia '88
Senior Vice President of Production, Alexander Wang
In her role at Alexander Wang, Luisa is in charge of strategizing and initiating key sourcing partners to improve profitability, product assortment and speed to market. Luisa enjoys working with students and helping them understand the opportunities that exist in the fashion industry. She also values working with non-profit organizations, especially those focused on empowering women.
Elisabeth Gil '15
Senior Manager, Supply Chain Innovation, Amazon
Elisabeth is a leading supply chain innovator within the supply chain execution team at Amazon. Her background with both large corporations and nimble startups has allowed her to develop the ability to quickly deep dive, implement change, and streamline supply chain processes.
Michael Gilson
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Portmeirion Group North America
Michael Gilson is an international retail executive with over 30 years in the fashion, apparel, and home industry. He serves on several boards of directors, including Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (Vice Chair) and the Better Buying Institute.
Leanne Gomez '03
Group Vice President, Ross Stores
Leanne has 20 years of experience in buying, strategy building, and developing talent. Her background includes all classifications of apparel, shoes, lingerie and hosiery. Leanne received LIM's Shining Star Award in 2016 and the Maxwell F. Marcuse Award in 2020.
Jordana Guimaraes
Co-Founder, Fashinnovation Inc.
Jordana Guimaraes is the Co-Founder of Fashinnovation - a global community platform focused on merging the technology/innovation and fashion ecosystems. She is also a published author, with a book titled It Can Be You: Humanizing Homelessness, which uses the voices of the fashion industry.
James Gundell
Co-Founder, Play Bridge at Sea
Former Chief Operating Officer, Eileen Fisher
A successful 40-year career in the department and specialty store sectors led James to an entrepreneurial opportunity in the gaming world with a multi-channel focus on bridge learning and play at sea, on land, and online.
Jesce Horton
Founder & CEO, LOWD
Jesce is also the CEO of Ben's Best Blnz, Co-Founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, and Co-Founder of NuProject. He was previously a Senior Sales Engineer for Siemens.
Connie Hoza
Vice President of Rafaella, Perry Ellis & Original Penguin - Perry Ellis International
Connie has been working in the fashion industry for 20+ years. She has managed global teams on both the retail and wholesale sides of the business.
Ilka Jordan
CEO, Jordan Alliance Group
Jordan Alliance Group (JAG) is an MBE-certified management, research, and learning consultancy. JAG specializes in retail transformation, fueling growth, productivity, and operational excellence. JAG's approach integrates strategy, innovation, processes, technology, analytics, and employee professional development, ensuring businesses thrive in a dynamic marketplace.
Julie Koch-Beinke
Founding Partner and President, Alternatives
Julie is a Founding Partner of Alternatives, a branding, design and creative services agency that creates business-building programs that help companies worldwide build strong, meaningful relationships with their customers, brand fans and followers. She is a serial entrepreneur, having launched several fashion accessory businesses, and she serves on the Fashion Advisory Board of Mercado Global and on the board of Veterinarians International.
Susan Kroll
CEO and Founder, RAREculture, LLC
RAREculture creates custom installations and markets artists and designers to the hospitality, healthcare and commercial industries.
David Law
Senior Vice President/General Manager - Allen Edmonds, Caleres
Davis is an accomplished omni-channel retail and wholesale executive with extensive experience introducing, creating, and building national and private/exclusive brands. He currently runs the men's brand Allen Edmonds, which is the largest luxury shoe brand consistently handcrafting shoes in America.
Michael Lichtenstein
Attorney
Michael is an attorney specializing in intellectual property. He is the former Managing Director of Halston and Executive Vice President of Joan & David.
Bonnie Mackay
Consultant, BMackay Consulting
Bonnie Mackay is a retail design consultant with extensive experience in branding, marketing, visual merchandising, and product development. She had immense impact on brand and product development as Vice President Home Fashion Director at Bloomingdale's and Director of Creative and Marketing Director at MoMA. Bonnie is the author of Tree of Treasures: A Life in Ornaments and has received credit on 10 documentary films.
Debra Malbin
President, Debra Malbin Associates
Debra is an executive recruiter in the fashion industry, specializing in the Vice President and President levels. She is a seasoned executive who has had an extensive career in both retail and wholesale.
Rosemary Mancino
President, Meridian Brands LLC
Rosemary began her career in retail as a buyer and then moved to wholesale, where she held senior executive leadership roles building big brands and businesses.
Patrick Mays '12
Senior Director of Merchandising, SPARC Group / Lucky Brand
Patrick is a retail and consumer products leader with a proven track record in merchandising and buying roles within major global brands. Patrick's career has spanned diverse sectors of the industry, including brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and wholesale channels of distribution.
Alexandra Mondesir '12, MPS '16
Senior Director, Visual Merchandising Strategy & In-Store Experience, Foot Locker Inc.
Alexandra has been curating retail experiences for more than 15 years, including working for Foot Locker Inc., Saks Fifth Avenue, and Victoria's Secret.
Stefani O'Sullivan '13
Head of Marketing & Growth, STAUD
Stefani's track record includes developing iconic brands such as CHANEL, Moda Operandi, Savage X Fenty and STAUD. After two transformative years of growing the start-up subscription business at Savage X Fenty, she took on the role of Head of Growth & Marketing at STAUD.
Shawn R. Outler, D.C.S.
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Macy's Inc.
Shawn R. Outler started out as an Executive Trainee at Abraham & Strauss before joining Lord & Taylor and then Macy's, advancing rapidly through the buying and merchandising functions before taking on broader management responsibilities over high-growth businesses ranging from weddings, gifting and electronics to leased, licensed and culinary/food service.
An advocate for multicultural businesses, Shawn has a rich history of identifying, working with and developing minority and women-owned opportunities. In 2011, she designed and led a retail development and mentorship program called The Workshop at Macy's. Created to educate and train minority and female business owners for success in the retail industry, the program has become an industry benchmark and model for retail supplier diversity.
In 2018, Shawn was appointed by the CEO to become the first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of Macy's, Inc. and co-Chair of the Company's Diversity & Inclusion Business Council. She is the architect of the Company's D&I strategy, structure, focus areas, key initiatives, and performance metrics, and is the voice of the work and its mission within Macy's, Inc. and out to the retail industry.
Shawn received an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree and Distinguished Achievement Award from LIM and delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Commencement ceremony.
Michael Ratner
CEO Emeritus, Richter+Ratner Contracting Corp.
For decades Michael led a construction company that specialized in building retail stores worldwide. He is also one of the founders and a past President of the Retail Contractors Association.
Denise Seegal
Consultant, Denise Seegal Associates
Denise is a strategic global leader and CEO with achievements in brand building and management across all distribution channels. Her expertise in innovative product development, consumer-focused marketing and social media, and talent development has positively impacted many leading apparel, accessories, and designer lifestyle companies, including Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Liz Claiborne, and Nautica.
Adrienne Shelton
Senior Vice President / Executive Advisor, Jordan Alliance Group
Adrienne Shelton has over 40 years of leadership experience in the fashion industry and is recognized for her expertise in both merchandising and product development. She held executive roles at leading specialty and department stores that include Ascena Retail Group, Lane Bryant, Chico’s, Christopher & Banks, Macy’s, and May Company. Adrienne is currently the Senior Vice President, Executive Advisor at Jordan Alliance Group, Inc., a minority-owned boutique management consulting firm serving the retail industry and academic organizations.
Alan Spalter
President, Retail Assistance Corporation
After holding executive positions at Bloomingdale's, Alan co-founded the Retail Assistance Corporation (RAC). RAC is a retail activation, merchandising and marketing company with over 1,000 professional employees across the U.S. RAC inspires consumers and drives results through dedicated selling, elevated merchandising, innovative in-store training, and engaging product demonstration. Alan is also a Board Member of L!FE Leaders and Mercado Global.
Haley Steinberg '14
Senior Vice President, PR and Corporate Communications, Authentic Brands Group
Haley Steinberg is an ardent and strategic PR and communications leader skilled in media and talent relations, integrated PR strategy, corporate profile development, crisis management and thought leadership. At Authentic, Haley leads PR and Corporate Communications, collaborating with world-class executives, licensees and retailers to execute integrated media strategies that drive relevancy and growth.
Julie Verdugo
Head of Sustainability + Social Impact, Free People + Urban Outfitters
Julie is currently the Head of Sustainability and Social Impact at Free People and Urban Outfitters, of URBN, Inc. and has dedicated her career to driving change through ethical product creation and community-focused initiatives.
Nick Woodhouse
President and Chief Marketing Officer, Authentic Brands Group
Nick Woodhouse is a marketing and creative executive with a proven ability to launch, reposition, and transform iconic brands. With more than three decades of experience, Woodhouse’s background spans the retail, branding, digital, sports, fashion, entertainment, and marketing industries. As President and CMO, Woodhouse continues to drive new business and brand growth for Authentic and its portfolio of world-renowned brands.
Erica Young '06
Senior Director, Global Digital Marketing, Michael Kors
Erica Young is an award-winning digital marketing executive with over 15 years of experience crafting innovative digital strategies to increase brand equity. Erica has led the digital departments for disruptive emerging brands as well as some of the largest publicly traded fashion conglomerates. This has included orchestrating high-performing digital teams at fashion brands such as Kenneth Cole, Barneys New York, and Michael Kors.
In her current role at Michael Kors, the brand has been consistently ranked in Gartner’s Digital IQ Index as a top 10 digitally “gifted” luxury brand. Erica is a proud LIM College alumna who is dedicated to the College’s continued success, as seen through her work as a mentor, guest speaker, adjunct professor, digital consultant, and, most recently, Co-Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board.
