Alumni
IMPD Grad Marty McKenna Hired as Product Developer at Adidas Golf
A graduate of International Manufacturing & Product Development (IMPD) and Merchandise Product Development, Marty McKenna is now celebrating his six-month anniversary at Adidas Golf as a product developer. Marty has been golfing since the age of two, so it couldn’t be a better fit. As a student at FIDM, Marty participated in our special industry partnership with Red Bull, designing apparel for the Wings Team. He said, “I one-hundred percent accredit FIDM for my position.” We caught up with him to find out more.
Tell us about your position at Adidas Golf: I am responsible for developing golf apparel for women’s and kids. This entails conducting fit sessions, costing, updating tech packs, and effectively communicating all pertinent information with our factories overseas. In addition, I took part during the Adidas Women’s Golf on-site trip this past fall where I visited our factories in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
How do you feel FIDM prepared you for this? I feel that FIDM prepared me for my position at Adidas through its detail-oriented curriculum and all of the collaborative opportunities that were provided. By choosing a specific area of interest from the beginning of my college experience, I was able to learn a wide variety of skills from the start and also apply them through projects with large companies. This introduction to the industry was a great ice-breaker for everything that comes my way at my job.
More specifically, I was lucky enough to take part in the International Manufacturing & Product Development program at FIDM. This program gave me the crucial international development experience I needed to understand the position I am in today. I was able to closely observe the small production operations which taught me how the apparel industry operates on a global level.
How did FIDM Career Advisor Simona Williams assist you in getting this interview? When I originally saw the posting of the position, I went directly to Simona and she was able to connect me with her contact at Adidas. From there, I was immediately called in for the interview.
Tell us a little about the interview process: The interview process consisted of four interviews in which I spoke with several counterparts of the Adidas Golf business unit. The final interview was held at the Adidas Golf headquarters in Carlsbad, CA, where I met with the Sr. Women’s Designer, Sr. Women’s Product Marketing Manager, and the Sr. Production Managers. After presenting the portfolio I had produced throughout my time at FIDM, they were speechless!
Why did you feel it was a good fit? I felt that this position was a great fit for me because it combined two areas of great interest to me. I have been golfing since the age of two, and even caddied for six years throughout junior high and high school. In addition, I had obtained my A.A. in Merchandise Product Development and Advanced A.A. in International Manufacturing & Product Development. Having that said, when I saw the posting for an apparel developer for Adidas Golf, I knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up.
Categories: International Manufacturing & Product Development Merchandise Product Development Alumni
