Kathy Andersson

Complete operations of start-up company assisting homeowners and supporting realtors, brokers, and investors in quicker residential sales at highest profit by merchandising home through best practices, staging techniques and experienced design skills. Enhance and refresh existing homes with owner's own furnishings through interviewing process (ReDesign) with a focus on resourcefulness and creative problem solving.

Manager of Global Color and Design Center that is an extension of the division’s marketing group. The center is comprised of a showroom, lab, and application area. Oversaw complete operations (2008-2015) comprising development of custom finishes, customer presentations, project management, prioritization and budget. Managed all color and trend-related programs, services and tools within the division and up to 6 employees. During my tenure, the division grew from $350M in sales to $1.3B in sales.

• Enhanced 4 year old styling lab from one that was reactive to one that was proactive and included programs, processes, visual aids, strategies and presentations that repeatedly thrilled customers
• Designed and implemented annual color marketing tools for key focus market segments which contributed to a sales growth of over 100% from 2007 to 2015
• Created and directed production of high-end, tangible color marketing tools for global Electronics market which facilitated entry into target customers and market segments previously denied
• Actively participated in corporate Innovation Excellence conferences and member of Community of Practice for color, a cross-division initiative fostering collaboration and learning among marketing and technical teams.
• Introduced and implemented lab project priority management system realizing a 25% increase in productivity (2009) despite a reduction in workforce of nearly 30%.
• Conceptualized and successfully launched virtual library of custom finished wood styling panel images to broaden reach of design center’s services and capabilities. Library targeted to internal sales force and indirectly to customers
• Consistently operated a minimum of 10% under a budget of $800K
• Known for grass roots initiatives in large pastures

Managed color/styling related technical marketing services. Managed trend research and analysis, coatings development, marketing tools, customer support, and collaboration with technology labs, research and development and suppliers. Supported Consumer Electronics, Appliance, Furniture, Consumer Products, Automotive, Lawn/Garden and Transportation business segments.

• Supported 50% sales growth in Consumer Electronics market from 2001-2005 including growth at a major mobile phone manufacturer of 140% and the addition of several industry leading customers; Leveraged color and styling initiatives to penetrate 3 new markets
• Effectively conceptualized, developed and promoted a styling services brand, including registration in the Americas and internationally. Brand included 5 branded color tools, 2 websites, public relations activities, primers, direct mailers, 2 ad campaigns, customer workshops and palette consultations
• Participated in and presented at PPG Industries’ annual Global Color Shows with Automotive business unit in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in the US and Tokyo, Japan
• Initiated development / commercialization of a new liquid technology targeted to new substrates used in consumer electronic product design and other aesthetically driven markets