TESSA JULIET KENNEDY
Email: tessajkenendy@gmail.com
Location: Philadelphia, PA
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Experienced design & production director with a passion for:
- Creative project management
- Implementing sustainable manufacturing practices
- Supply chain ethics
- Product prototyping, stock creation, and inventory tracking
- Developing advanced organizational strategies
- Project scheduling and deadline management between numerous departments
- Build and maintain an efficient, cost-conscious, and agile production plan
EDUCATION
MFA, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 2012
BFA, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2005
Regents Diploma, Marcellus High School, Marcellus, NY, 2001
EXPERIENCE
2018- Present, Production & Design Director, Bario Neal, Philadelphia, PA
- Employee Management
- Manage direct reports (inventory coordinator, jewelers, CAD designers)
- Hiring, on boarding, and staff reviews, handle issues with individual employees
- Prepare employee timesheets for payroll and analyze contractor rates and billing
- Run all department meetings, attend Directors meetings and meetings with owners
- Manage twenty+ external contractors (stone setters, bench/laser mechanics, enamelists, engravers, platers, casting companies, stone cutters, and appraisers)
- Product Design & Management
- Design products with owners and delegate production of new styles to team
- Organize and implement production of new designs, in store demos, and stock jewelry
- Define lead times and rush rates for all collection pieces
- Negotiate and track cost of goods for new products
- Organize work needed for photoshoots
- Work with Creative Marketing department to ensure our website has accurate information about gemstone care, product descriptions, and imagery
- Production
- Maintain and build on relationship with our main refinery and manufacturer
- Plan, organize, and manage all work orders
- Manage numerous inventories:
- Stock fine jewelry
- Materials
- Components
- Supervise diamond and gemstone Inventory Coordinator
- Build organizational systems and documents
- Ensure all our materials are recycled or Fairmined
- Maintain all purchases of Fairmined gold, usage, record sale of, and handle audits
- Design master, mold making, mass finishing, polishing, raw material, component, cast and milled product ordering processes
- Manage timelines and relationships with their reps
- Strategize
- Recommend equipment acquisition
- Staffing needs
- Solutions to technical design problems
- Have a bird’s eye view of department functionality
2017-2018, Production Coordinator & Jewelry Designer, Bario Neal, Philadelphia, PA
- Design engagement rings, wedding bands, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in conjunction with my team and company owners
- Organize all design work and log all information in a digital maker’s guide and pricing guide (weights, production methods, model and mold making, CAD file numbers, diamond and gemstone specs, etc.)
- Project manage new designs from conception to release on our website.
- Manage production of stock fine jewelry and inventory (earrings, necklaces, and bracelets)
- Merchandising strategies: in store case design that excites customers, choosing web images, targeting special custom designs that attracts attention
- Manage all external contractors, delegate their work and hold them to deadlines
- Build our CAD sector. Transition from local castings companies to our own in house designers, training them, purchasing software, utilizing new wax printing and major refinery services.
- Institute a new, company wide software program, BrightPearl
2014- 2017, Production Coordinator, Bario Neal, Philadelphia, PA
- Manage 150-400 rolling web, direct, wholesale, and custom orders
- Track all production steps, and coordinate contractors producing work
- Track Fairmined gold usage
- Design in conjunction with owner/designers
- Design organizational documents and data entry
- Work with CAD designers to make computer generated printed waxes for casting
- Fine Jewelry inventory (earrings, necklaces, cocktail rings, and bracelets)
- Visual merchandizing of in store stock
- Jeweler, bulk holiday stock
2014, Jeweler, Paul Morelli Jewelry, Philadelphia, PA
- Made collection and one of a kind pieces in 18 karat gold and precious gemstones. Used advanced fabrication techniques: soldering, building spring mechanisms, laser welding, general repairs
- General studio maintenance
2012-2015, Owner & Designer, New Histories Jewelry, Philadelphia, PA
- Managed all operations including, but not limited to:
- Design and production
- Wholesale contracts
- Inventory and material ordering
- Visual merchandising and display for retail and wholesale trade shows and PR showroom
- Style web design, photography, and design branding, concepts
2013-14, Youth Program Instructor, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA
- Small scale metal fabrication techniques: traditional and experimental design
- Give lectures on historical and contemporary practice
- Portfolio building
2011, Adjunct Professor, JAM 271 Intro to Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
- Taught introductory level skills such as: Sweat soldering, chain making, filagree, ring making and stone setting, chasing, resin techniques, plastic carving, riveting, forging, patinas, and etching
2009-2012, Instructor of Record, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
- Instructor of record for JAM 271 Intro to Jewelry and Metalsmithing
- Teaching Assistant to JAM 272 Intro to Metal Casting
- Was responsible for organizing metals studio inventory, ordering gas tanks, display, and maintained a working studio for over 100 students
2007-2008, Administrative Assistant, Independence Blue Cross, Philadelphia, PA
- Manage the Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Assisted the HR Benefits Department
- Ordered office supplies
- Schedule meetings
2005-2007, Office Administrator, Buddakan, Philadelphia, PA
- Worked with Special Events to organize private parties
- Maintained reservation books
- Took between 500-1000 calls per day
- Ordered office supplies
2005-2007, Jewelry and Enameling Instructor, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
- Taught numerous vitreous enameling techniques for copper and silver, including: sifting, stencil, cloisonné, bastille, gold leaf with transparent enamels, and Champlevé
2005, Adjunct Professor, Introduction to Enameling, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
- Taught numerous vitreous enameling techniques for copper and silver, including: sifting, stencil, cloisonné, bastille, gold leaf with transparent enamels, and Champlevé
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
Google Drive
- Sheets
- Docs
- Slides