What is your role at CASTUS?  

As a Key Account Manager at CASTUS, I am working closely with our clients to meet their day-to-day needs and help strategize and execute solutions to grow their business and achieve sustainable success. Trusted partnerships are key in this industry and I can’t wait to leverage my experience to form strong relationships with our clients as the newest member of the CASTUS team.

What is your professional background?  

I have spent the majority of my career in merchandising – everything from apparel, to outdoor gear, to food! A couple of years ago, I pivoted into consulting after being fascinated with how quickly small, emerging brands were penetrating the market. The consumer has more access to product options today than ever before, so it’s becoming more crucial for brands to innovate and market in a way that captures their attention quickly and coverts to loyalty. I love using my merchandising experience to help clients identify opportunities and strategize different solutions to ensure growth and success.

What is your education background?  

I graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising, minor in Business. Having been born and raised in Indiana, being a Hoosier was always my destiny. There aren’t exactly an abundance of retail opportunities in the state, so I am forever grateful to my professors for the networking opportunities they provided me early on that set me up for success upon graduation. Many of them (along with alumni) remain advisors and mentors to this day, which is a testament to how important it is to build strong relationships! My very first job out of college brought me to Pittsburgh, and although I still haven’t converted to a Steeler fan, I have never left!

What is your most memorable travel experience in your career?    

I was able to work remotely for a client for a few months when the Air Force deployed my husband to England. Being able to live there and travel all over Europe while doing market research for them was serendipitous and the opportunity and experience is something that I will cherish forever.

What is the most rewarding success story of your career?

I’ve been very fortunate to work on a lot of different brand and product launches in my career. Every single one is as rewarding as the last when you see all of the team’s time, energy and hard work come to life – especially when you start to generate sales and a strong customer following!