Back in August of 2010 (after getting the news that I was a finalist for Shark Tank), I reached out on Linked In to a furniture designer I didn't know in Santa Barbara who is the VP of the American Society of Furniture Designers. Knowing virtually nothing about manufacturing outside of my garage, I asked her if she could give me some advice on figuring out where I might be able to manufacture my products and what that looked like from a cost perspective. Much to my surprise, Katie called me almost immediately. I still remember where I was when I heard her message because I was so shocked she called to help. I have reached out before to many design professionals but either haven't gotten no response or got the standard, "good luck but I don't see how that's possible." From that first call, Katie has been and continues to be an integral part of the growth of Mod Mom Furniture. It was Katie who recognized that Amish manufacturing would be a perfect fit and she introduced me to L&J Woodworking.
KATIE HATCH - Business Development, Design, Sourcing
As the founder of Katie Hatch Design, a Division of Zumus Inc., Hatch’s extensive educational and professional experience facilitates her ability to continually develop new and innovative approaches in designing traditional, transitional, and contemporary furniture and home furnishings.
Hatch’s designs have been sold in numerous retailers including independent stores, mass merchants, specialty stores, big box stores, and club stores. In addition, Hatch provides consulting services to the home furnishing industry including trending predictions, market analysis and international outsourcing, delivering an aesthetic blend of economic efficiency. http://www.katie-hatch.com/
I've known Lauren Tucker since the days of my faux Dorothy Hamil haircut in elementary school. We've gone from spinning on the floor together as kids to developing distribution models for selling modern furniture. And we still have the same belief in each other that we did when we were ten. Lauren is a sought after business development professional who has put her whole heart into helping grow Mod Mom Furniture internationally as well as stateside.
LAUREN TUCKER - Global Trade, Distribution, Logistics
Tucker has more than 15 years excellence in global business development and management. As the managing director of RedigoGlobal, with dual office sites in the UK and United States, her company has yielded growth revenues in excess of $100 million, spanning more than 30 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. In addition, Tucker has effectively managed the service and delivery of high visibility, mission critical projects for U.S. multinational companies such as Intel, Cisco, MBNA, Adobe, and DHL.
Tucker received her MBA from is Brunel University in Uxbridge, England, MBA, with an educational focus on entrepreneurship and management for the future. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Julie Sunich came into my life when I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. She knew me back when I was teaching executives how to use Microsoft Word (one of my many careers.) We lost touch for about twelve years but found each other again through Facebook. I'm so fortunate to have such an amazingly talented woman handling the PR side of Mod Mom.
JULIE MARTIN SUNICH – Public Relations/Communications Strategy
Sunich has over 30 years marketing communications management experience with several Fortune 500 firms including: Apple Computer, Citicorp, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and the New York Times Magazine Group, as well as extensive account management background in the advertising and public relations industry. Currently, Sunich is the principal owner of Full Circle Communications, working as a communications consultant and writer, and as a past professional resource for the Florida Virtual School’s journalism department. Sunich has received recognition for her fiction writing from Western Michigan University and has been awarded several ADDY awards from by the American Advertising Federation. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.
Lastly, there are few words to describe how thankful I am for my father's influence in my life and continued support and guidance with regards to Mod Mom Furniture. My dad, Barry Parsons, is officially the VP of East Coast. In addition to handling manufacturing details and sales and marketing functions, he puts his woodworking skills to use on occasion. In August of 2011, he built the Mod Mom trade show booth by hand in his garage.
BARRY PARSONS – VP East Coast
As an experienced finish carpenter, retired educator, sales and marketing executive, football coach and athletic director in Ohio, Parsons has a keen eye for performance and perfection. As the director of quality control for Mod Mom Furniture’s manufacturing operations in Ohio, Parsons monitors all production procedures and plays an integral role in all national and international sales and marketing events.
