Spyder Active Sports is preparing itself for strategic growth by adding key positions through a new hire and several promotions. The company has had 30-40% sales growth over the past few years and these new positions are designed to maintain that pace.

Jake Jacobs, formerly vice president of merchandising, is now senior vice president of product. He will oversee the merchandising, development, and production departments and manage the overall brand strategy. Jacobs plans to build a platform to triple volume growth by 2010.

Kate Saunders, previously director of merchandising, has been promoted to VP of merchandising and design and will lead internal and external designers and merchandisers. Her talent in design and merchandising created the unique “Spyder look” now recognized worldwide. Saunders’ directive is to ensure continued success in proven product lines and to establish new categories. She brings over ten years of experience to this new position.

Kathy Carroll has been appointed as director of marketing. Carroll has been in sports marketing since 1985, and was Spyder’s director of marketing from 1997 until 2001. From 2001 until the present time, she remained involved with the company on a project basis.

The new face on the team, Joe Vernachio, joins Spyder as VP of development and production on May 1. His background includes posts at Nike, Patagonia, and Roots. He will lay the foundation for new production strategies as the company’s product offering increases.

Spyder Active Sports is preparing itself for strategic growth by adding key positions through a new hire and several promotions.

Jake Jacobs, formerly vice president of merchandising, is now senior vice president of product. He will oversee the merchandising, development, and production departments and manage the overall brand strategy. In ten years with the company, he effectively structured the company’s product and manufacturing systems, paving the way for worldwide leadership in its category. His prior experience was with Nike as development director of the Asia-Pacific Apparel Organization in Hong Kong. Jacobs plans to build a platform to triple volume growth by 2010.

Kate Saunders, previously director of merchandising, has been promoted to VP of merchandising and design and will lead internal and external designers and merchandisers. Her talent in design and merchandising created the unique “Spyder look” now recognized worldwide. Saunders’ directive is to ensure continued success in proven product lines and to establish new categories. She brings over ten years of experience to this new position.

Kathy Carroll has been appointed as director of marketing. Carroll has been in sports marketing since 1985, and was Spyder’s director of marketing from 1997 until 2001. From 2001 until the present time, she remained involved with the company on a project basis. Carroll brings a clear brand vision and multifaceted business talents to the position.

The new face on the team, Joe Vernachio, joins Spyder as VP of development and production on May 1. His background includes posts at Nike, Patagonia, and Roots. Vernachio has experience in planning, organizing, and implementing systems for fast growth from a production standpoint. He will lay the foundation for new production strategies as the company’s product offering increases.

David Jacobs, president and CEO, welcomes the changes. “Over the past few years, we’ve had thirty to forty percent sales increases,” he said. “It is a constant challenge to manage those levels of growth and to build our infrastructure to carry us to the next level. These changes will support our goals.” The fact that three long-term employees, including his eldest son, have been rewarded with new responsibilities is an obvious source of pride for the senior Jacobs, adding, “These are talented people who have been instrumental in our success.” In the past year, Spyder has added over 12 staff members to the Boulder, CO office, bringing the total number of local employees to about 90.