Zeal Optics promoted Zeal Intermountain Rep TJ Bottom to the role of North American director of sales. In the new role, Bottom will draw on his deep industry experience to structure the sales strategy for the brand and develop a coordinated approach for growing it worldwide.

Over the past two years, Bottom has grown sales in his region impressively and responsibly by leveraging relationships with key accounts that he’s cultivated in the industry over the last decade, working with brands such as Burton, The Program, Electric and Nixon before joining the Boulder-based Zeal Optics family.

“As a small brand, Zeal is a family, and I am pleased to promote from within to fill this key role with a member of our team,” said Zeal President John Sanchez. “TJ’s talents, connections, and drive are exactly what the brand needs to capitalize on its growth here in the States and the 19 countries we expanded to over the last year.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to take on this new role,” says Bottom. “Zeal has a cause and a purpose. We pay close attention to our approach and how we bring that cause to life. Whether that be our 100% plant-based sunglass materials, or breathing life into products that make life outdoors more fun, we believe in our cause and that actually living a life outdoors is the most important part to selling an outdoor lifestyle.”

Bottom, who describes himself as the exact demographic for the Zeal brand, is diving into his new role by dedicating 2014 to supporting the current Zeal retail base, which has expanded rapidly over the past two years.

“I want to start by getting a feel for our retail partners’ current perception of the brand and want them to feel as much a part of Zeal as an athlete, or an ambassador. My goal is to ensure that they do. I will strive to be attentive to communication, involvement, and participation in relation to our growing community,” explains Bottom. “Most of our retail partners are pretty happy, and my goal is to improve their satisfaction in order to grow further, together.”

As we head into the holidays and trade show season, swing by the Zeal Optics booth at Agenda Long Beach, Outdoor Retailer, and SIA to catch up with TJ, slap some high fives, and see the new line of goggles and sunglasses that has the Zeal Optics family fired up for an amazing year.

Zeal Optics is know for its sustainable sunglasses made from renewable plant-based materials. Zeal is also known for its ski goggles with the HD Camera Goggle and the original GPS goggle.