Haritina Kakaules
Shiepis Chiropractic Clinic

I graduated from KSU with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising in 1981. I then went into the family bridal business and enjoyed a career combining the world of fashion and business.

This past March I sold the business and have since accepted a job at Shiepis Chiropractic Clinic handling their marketing and advertising.

I feel my degree from KSU has been an invaluable tool in helping me run my own business. The variety of different classes has also been helpful to me relative to my current public relations/marketing position.

Star Rial Klem
Teacher, Wardrobe Stylist, etc.

After graduation from Kent State University I took a job at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a print and pattern designer. I worked at Target for a year and then decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee and pursue other goals. Since moving to TN, I have been doing many things. I work at a local boutique doing alterations for customers, along with one-of-a-kind creations upon request. I am also establishing myself as a wardrobe stylist for both photo shoots and video shoots, working with such artists as The Benjamin Gate, Rebecca St. James, Newsboys, ZoeGirl, and Twila Paris.

In January, I will begin teaching a construction class at a private design college here in TN for spring semester. If it weren’t already obvious, I enjoy having a full plate and doing many different things. The best part about everything I do is having the proper training. I truly feel like my education at Kent State University was well rounded, allowing me to have all these opportunities. The education and training I received were broad enough to allow me to be versatile, yet focused enough to also allow me to be good at what I do. In an industry as big and competitive as fashion that is an amazing skill to have and one Kent State University helped in developing.

The photos are of POSH – the boutique I work in. Here I am helping a customer with styling and fit.

Nancy J. Miesle
Owner, Bella Equestrian Clothing Inc.

The Fashion School at Kent State University was the best investment I have ever made in my life. I value my education mainly for the school’s structure, disciplines, knowledge, and abundant resources such as the fashion museum and patternmaking lab classrooms. I found my experiences at Kent prepared me for the real design world and industry. I realized that my teachers at Kent were very honest and fair. These disciplines carry on with you into your career, and it is easier to strive for the best, especially after you graduate from the School of Fashion Design at Kent State University.

Last year, I incorporated my business Bella Equestrian Clothing Inc. I designed a unique line of Equestrian inspired clothing and accessories, which I will be launching for Fall 2003 in New York City to many interested companies such as Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s. After sending these companies my press kits, per their request, I will be showing in the Femme show in May 2003. I am very hopeful that I will be able to sell my designs to many unique boutique stores as well.

Molly Kearns
Associate Designer, Charter Club RTW division of Federated Merchandising Group

I am responsible for the design, development, selection and approval of materials, silhouettes, colors and patterns for our collections. These collections are delivered on a monthly basis, with 25 – 65 styles in each group. Additionally, I attend fit sessions to review and approve counter samples for design silhouette and prepare line and presentation material for line previews and buy meetings. Also part of my job is to seek new merchandise/trend ideas and design inspiration.

Federated is one of the nation's leading department store retailers, with more than 460 stores in 34 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, under the names of Macy's, Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, Burdines, Goldsmith's, Lazarus and Rich's.

Jennifer Ksenich
Merchandiser, Gap Inc.

Since graduation from Kent in 1995, I have had a few different roles within the retail industry. In the fall of 1995, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia and began working for Rich’s/Lazarus/Goldsmith’s department stores. During my five years in Atlanta, I worked my way up from a sales manager to assistant buyer, and eventually associate buyer. In the spring of 2000, I accepted a merchandiser position with Gap, Inc. in San Francisco. As a merchandiser, I manage the concept, production and financial strategies within my departments with the goal of delivering sales and profit margins every season.

I feel that my education at Kent State University has been invaluable to my success. From the very beginning of my career, I used the skills learned in professional seminars to successfully interview and negotiate my first job offer. The strong business requirements of my fashion merchandising degree provided the knowledge necessary to run large volume businesses and to effectively manage people. Once in the buying office, my knowledge of retail math and the seasonal planning process put me ahead of other recent graduates in similar programs from other schools. Participating in the internship and European study tour programs sponsored through the fashion school also provided the experience necessary to be successful in a very competitive and international business environment.

Although I love fashion, I also wanted to get involved in Interior Design as well. I went back to school at Marymount University receiving a second degree in Interior Design. With my textiles background from KSU this enabled me to quickly move into the Interior Design profession. While attending Marymount University I managed the Mastercraft Interiors Store at Fairoaks Mall, learning the furniture and interior design industry. After completing my degree from Marymount in December of 2000 I went to work for Scalamandré. I was again falling back on my KSU roots in textiles! Scalamandré is the world’s renowned textile and passemeterie Design House. After six months I found myself being promoted to the Scalamandré Metro Representatives position.

Scalamandré has been the key player in over 900 historical restoration projects, including The White House under every administration since Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush and currently markets fabrics, wall coverings and trimmings under licensing agreements from the Preservation Society of Newport County RI; the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford CT; the Treasury Building in Washington DC; the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s home in Nashville TN; the great Virginia plantation, Prestwould in Clarksville VA; the National First Ladies Library in Canton Ohio and the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

I am affiliated with such organizations as ASID, IFDA, and IIDA and have served as a guest speaker at the Corcoran Gallery of Art School in Washington, DC. In addition to Scalamandré I have my own Interior Design Business, Capital Creations. I am currently working on designing my own home on 12 acres of land in Middleburg, Virginia. Always dabbling in fashion I have launched a handbag line, which was just recently displayed at the Washington Design Center and auctioned off for charity!

Once you graduate from KSU's School of Fashion Design and Merchandising it
never leaves you and you realize what a precious and valuable experience it
was to graduate from such a prestigious school!