Vasque promoted Kyle Rackiewicz to director of product development for outdoor brands at Red Wing, its parent. Rackiewicz has been with the Red Wing group for over five years, first as product manager at Irish Setter and then overseeing design for both Red Wing Outdoor brands, Irish Setter and Vasque.
Rackiewicz will coordinate design and development team activity and create the overall road map for product development.
Chantelle Schneider, who has been with Vasque for close to a year, will
continue in her role as product manager with an emphasis on the
multisport and kids collections. New to the team is fellow product
manager, Jay Kovacs. Kovacs has formerly worked for New
Balance, Nike, Reef and Hurley. Ann Tebbe, a 4 year veteran of the Red Wing lifestyle brand, rounds out
the production team.
“We've assembled a powerhouse product development team that is already making a positive impact at Vasque,” says Rick Appelsies, Vasque general manager. “As a company, we are excited about the advantages this enhanced department will provide the brand, and more importantly, our customers, as we prepare the 2011 and 2012 collections.”
“Working with such a strong and knowledgeable team within the Red Wing group is a win-win situation,” says Rackiewicz. “With the larger group we have more ideas generated, additional eyes on timelines and new strategies and tactics that are improving our overall effectiveness.”
