International Market Solutions, LLC
HomeContact

IMS Leadership Team


                                Managing Directors | Board of Advisors | Associates Network


The IMS leadership team is comprised of its Managing Directors, the IMS Board of Advisors, and IMS Associates. Leadership team members are listed below with thumbnail bios and links to more detailed descriptions of background and experience.


A Managing Director will have ultimate responsibility for each and every project undertaken by IMS. Individuals making up the Advisory Board have substantial experience in one or more areas of international business and may take an active role in projects as needed. IMS Associates are key individuals with international experience and functional skills—and take an active role in IMS projects to meet specific requirements.

 

The IMS Associates Network (IAN) currently comprises 20+ professionals with long experiencein textiles and other fields and covers a wide range of functional expertise in marketing and sales, manufacturing, research & development, and general executive level management--as well as market research, finance, and website design and analysis.

Together with its Managing Directors and Board of Advisors, the IMS Associates Network provides a powerful base of professional resources for clients seeking entry or expansion in international markets


MANAGING DIRECTORS


Jorman Fields B.Sc.
Jorman Fields, B.Sc. - Mr. Fields is Managing Director of IMS. In addition to his role as project director for IMS, he is President of Textile Network Concepts, Inc., a company headquartered in Greensboro, NC that imports and exports fibers, yarns, and fabrics for a wide array of domestic and international companies. In his 25+ year career, Mr. Fields has held various senior and executive technical and marketing positions, beginning with J.P. Stevens and eventually with Unifi. He was one of the key employees that formed the original limited partnership that became Unifi, the largest yarn processing company in the United States. Mr. Fields is also the President of TNC Global Consulting and a Managing Partner of TNC/Lovell Global Consulting, LLC. His consulting assignments include numerous on-site manufacturing feasibility studies in China and other countries, covering a wide range of industries. He is a North Carolina Textile Foundation Board Member.


Mr. Fields is a graduate of North Carolina State University, majoring in Textile Technology. >>more



Darrel Collier B.ScDarrel Collier, B.Sc. - Mr. Collier is Managing Director of IMS. In his more than 25 years with DuPont, Mr. Collier led several major businesses and sales organizations in both the domestic and international arenas. He has more than 15 years of international market and management experience, including more than seven years developing and leading large businesses and joint ventures in foreign countries as an expatriate. Other international experience includes global sales and procurement, government trade negotiations, developing and refining global supply chains, and international M&A projects.


Mr. Collier is a graduate of Virginia Tech and along with his wife Mary, and two sons, resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. >>more



Stephen Metzger Ph.DStephen Metzger, Ph.D. - Mr. Metzger is a Managing Director of IMS. In his 26 years in market research and as a management consultant, Mr. Metzger has analyzed a wide range of industries and markets, including fibers and textiles, apparel, consumer electronics, home medical instruments and products, jewelry, and low speed electric vehicles. He has consulted with major international firms in developing market entry strategies and expansion feasibility. Mr. Metzger’s corporate experience, prior to his consulting activities, includes executive and management positions in corporate planning and business development. He is founder and Principal of International Competitive Assessments, a market research and consulting firm focusing on internationally competitive industries. He is an adjunct professor of economics and international business at Iona College and Mercy College in Westchester County, New York.


Mr. Metzger is a graduate of Yale University and has a Ph.D. in economics from Rice University. >>more

<<top of page



IMS BOARD OF ADVISORS


IMS is pleased to have on its Board of Advisors, distinguished businesspersons, educators, and professionals with extensive experience in the international field. The role of our Advisors is to provide support and guidance to the Managing Directors and project leaders, and to help establish and maintain relationships in the global business community.



Paul Gillease
Director

Mr. Gillease retired from the DuPont Company as Vice President of the Nylon Division, in 1993, where among his duties in this capacity, he oversaw a major acquisition from ICI, a United Kingdom based public traded entity. Prior to this involvement with DuPont, Mr. Gillease served as Vice President & General Manager DuPont Textiles, where he had worldwide responsibility for “Lycra, Nylon, Dacron, Orlon” operations, managing annual revenues of $4 Billion with 23 manufacturing sites, 14 of which are located outside the United States. In addition, among positions held during a thirty two year employment with DuPont, he represented DuPont on several foreign joint venture boards, served as a Business Director of DuPont’s Dacron fiber Division and served as a Director of Corporate Marketing, Specialty Products, Fabrics and Finishes. After DuPont, Mr. Gillease served as a Consultant Board Member to Guildford Mills, Inc., Galey & Lord and Pillowtex/Fieldcrest Cannon, all New York Stock Exchange listed companies. Mr. Gillease has also recently served as a Board Advisor to Joan Fabrics and American Textile, both privately held companies. Mr. Gillease received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from St. Peter’s College, New Jersey and an MBA from Seton Hall University.


Larry Himes
Larry Himes has held many executive positions with Burlington Industries which included President of Performance Wear Division and Precision Fabrics Division and COO of the Burlington Furniture Division. He was also President of Precision Fabrics Group, Inc., which was formed in a LBO from Burlington Industries. Larry was CEO and President of Duro Industries/Duro Textiles LLC. He has been a Board Member for SwiftGaley, Bomar and Glenoit and a Senior Advisor/Consultant to Hartwell Classic Apparel, 180's (a specialty apparel design and distribution company), and Duro. In addition, he has been a Consultant to Asheboro Elastics, White Knight, Actinic, and Nilit. Mr. Himes received his BA in Economics from Dartmouth College and his MBA from Darden School of Business at University of Virginia.


Edward W. Kallal, Jr.
Partner, Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan
Atlanta, Georgia

Mr. Kallal has focused his practice in corporate law, international law, mergers and acquisitions, securities and private equity. In dealings in the international field include cross-border joint ventures involving companies from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, France, and Singapore. Mr. Kallal has led his firm’s China initiative. Mr. Kallal is a member of the American and Atlanta Bar Associations. >>more


James C. Leonard III (Jim)
Former Deputy Assistance Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce
Jamestown, NC

Mr. Leonard was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods for the Department of Commerce by President George W. Bush in March 2002, having over 40 years experience in the textile industry. In his capacity as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Jim chaired the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), the interagency group that negotiates and implements all textile/apparel trade agreements. Mr. Leonard left that position in 2006 to return to private consulting. His experience in the government sector was preceded by over 34 years with Burlington Industries, including in his most recent position, Director of Government Relations.


While working for Burlington, Mr. Leonard was a cleared advisor to the government, acting as an advisor for the NAFTA and the WTO agreements. He participated in negotiations as a part of the Uruguay Round (GATT) at the request of the U.S. Government. >>more


Yoshiomi Onishi
Former President of Toray Industries (America), Inc. &
Executive Advisor to Toray Corporate Business Research/Tokyo, Japan

Yoshiomi Onishi has extensive experience in global fiber and textile markets and has been instrumental in developing new business alliances and strategies for Toray in a variety of senior level executive positions, including President of Toray Industries (America). His marketing and business development activities extend from the Middle East to Asia, to North America, and to Latin America, and involved market development for both apparel-related and industrial/technical textiles. >>more


James K. Weeks
Dean, Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

James K. Weeks is a professor of Information Systems and Operations Management and dean of the Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Under his leadership as dean, the Bryan School has expanded international programs and activities, expanded degree offerings including two Ph.D. programs, established the Office of Business and Economics Research, and increased its endowment funding by five fold.


The internationalization of the Bryan School includes the establishment of a Center for Global Business Education and Research, an undergraduate degree in international business studies, a dual MBA degree program with a non-U.S. business school, and bilateral agreements for student and faculty exchanges with fifteen non-U.S. business schools. >>more

<<top of page



IMS Associates Network


Peter Ameijide - Mr. Ameijide is a professional website designer and is founder of 360 Design Studios. He has consulted to many corporations and, among others, designed the website for a major housing complex and apartment management company throughout the State of New York. Mr. Ameijide is the principal designer of IMS's website. He resides with his wife and two children in Carmel, New York.


Vince Bertarelli - Mr. Bertarelli operates an M&A consultancy based in Hong Kong focusing on helping companies establish or expand their presence in China. His broad, hands-on experiences in China include an acquisition, an equity purchase to form a joint venture with an existing company, establishment of new wholly-owned and joint venture companies, licensing technology and evaluating facilities and technologies. Recent experience includes providing a full range of consultancy services to a client seeking to acquire distressed assets in China. Mr. Bertarelli has over 30 years experience with leading multinational companies in the synthetic fiber industry.


Don Bretches Ph.D.- Dr. Bretches is a retired Research Fellow from DuPont with more than 32 years of experience in urethane and aramid polymer chemistry, film, fiber formation, processing technology, and technical and project management. Don's varied international experiences included four years in Singapore as senior polymer technologist with responsibility for design, construction, startup and operation of a new Lycra* manufacturing plant and liaison duties with the Singapore Department of the Environment and Ministry of Labor. Dr. Bretches earn his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Purdue University and currently resides with his wife in Waynesboro, Virginia.


Bill Brown - Mr. Brown is president of W.J. Brown Communications and has more than 30 years in corporate and institutional communications with expertise in media relations, marketing communications, public relations, public affairs, issues management, crisis management, and speech writing. He is a regular contributor to leading trade magazines in a variety of business sectors. Bill is a graduate of University of Michigan and also holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Temple University and resides in Delaware.


Joseph W. Carroll Jr. - Mr. Carroll has over 40 years experience working for DuPont in the fields of polymers, fibers and textiles. In addition, he has 30 years experience in international trade, sales and marketing with a focus on Asia and specifically China. During that extensive experience, Mr. Carroll has developed a strong network of contacts throughout Asia. During his last 7 years with DuPont he was Global Business Manager for DuPont Sorona* polymer, a new polymer platform based upon renewable raw materials. Specific duties for Sorona* included defining and developing market opportunities for new or existing products, especially in Asia and licensing technologies globally.


Marc Cesare - Mr. Cesare has an extensive background in market research covering a broad range of industries and products, including textiles and small, electric- and gas-powered vehicles (golf cars, utility vehicles, and neighborhood electric vehicles). He consults for the Elliot Group which specializes in website effectiveness evaluations. Mr. Cesare has an MBA from Columbia School of Business and resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and three children.


Joey Fields, B.A. - Joey Fields began his textile career more than ten years ago living in Italy and working in sales for Manifattura di Legnano, which at that time was the largest spinner of long staple fine cotton yarns in the world. Following that, he began working for TNC, Inc. where he oversaw sourcing and purchasing for fibers, yarns, and fabrics for the apparel, home textile, and nontraditional textile markets. In 2003 he helped TNC set up and run their first China office in Shanghai. In 2005 Mr. Fields moved his family to Shanghai and started TNC Global China. TNC Global assists US and European Companies that are investing in China and helps Chinese companies bring their product quality up to international standards. TNC Global also acts as the Representative Office for International Market Solutions (IMS). Mr. Fields has headed up many major projects for multinational companies in China and abroad. Some of these include a JV in Chong Qing and the investment of a needle punched nonwoven factory by a multinational Hong Kong based company; an investment working with the Rudong County Government of Jiangsu Province for Geotextiles for infrastructure building; the setting up of a supply chain for a major US knitter of medical fabrics in China (yarns, machinery, and finishing- scouring, bleaching, re-wetter agents, cutting); due diligence and market studies of potential partners in Asia for the world’s largest manufacturer of woven geotextile fabric; providing services, processes, and design for continuous process dry spinning spandex yarn companies in Zhejiang and Shandong Provinces; managed the hiring of staff and HR for a French multinational narrow woven fabrics producer setting up operations in Hangzhou, China.

Additionally, Mr. Fields has written and researched many market studies in the traditional and nontraditional textile industries.

Mr. Fields supervises the marketing of Services and Technology Transfer in Mainland China and other parts of Asia.


Charles Dan Forney, III - Mr. Forney is President of his own computer service firm specializing in networking, repair, training and upgrades for computer systems and software. He has more than 30 years experience in computer systems and software development and management. Mr. Forney is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering and currently resides in Greensboro, North Carolina.


Leonard Furlough - Mr. Furlough has more than 35 years in the textile industry with extensive experience in research and development, product/process development, quality control and improvement, and sourcing/purchasing in Greige Manufacturing. Mr. Furlough is a graduate of North Carolina State University with an B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering. He also has a master's degree from the Institute of Textile Technology in Textile Engineering. In his most recent role as President of his own consulting company, Mr. Furlough has developed extensive expertise in short and long staple yarn manufacturing.


John Hagewood Ph.D. - Dr. Hagewood has 41 years experience in applying the techniques of engineering, science, and management to create and improve products, processes, and services to the benefit of industry leaders such as DuPont, Boeing, and Hills, Inc. His career spans involvement and contributions to the Saturn V rocket design to technical and general management in the chemical fibers industry. Dr. Hagewood received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University and currently resides in North Carolina.


William Harazin, PLLC - Mr. Harazin has his own law practice with extensive experience in corporate law, business and international trade, contracts, franchising, licensing, leasing, commercial litigation, and unfair trade practices. Additionally, Mr. Harazin serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Textiles at North Carolina State University. Mr. Harazin received his law degree from Illinois State University and currently resides in North Carolina.


Jens Peter Husemann - Mr. Husemann has extensive knowledge of chemistry and technical textiles. He was with the Henkel group for many years with various positions including marketing and sales in addition to being a board member of their Italian group. Mr. Husemann was the CEO of Ferro GMBH and Vitrulan, and also was a member of the Managing Board of Mehler. Today he is the founder, owner, and President of JP International Industrial Consulting. Mr. Husemann has a degree in Chemistry from University Hochechale Niederrhein.


Dick Inglis - Mr. Inglis has over 30 years of senior management experience in manufacturing operations, and product/technology development in the global vertical transportation industry with major multi-national corporations. Prior to founding his management consulting business, Mr. Inglis’ corporate positions included: President; CEO China Operations; VP Engineering; Director R&D & Product Planning; Senior R&D Program Manager; and Manager of Industrial Design. He has conducted business in the major countries of the world with a major focus on - joint venture feasibility and development; acquisitions; and product/technology transfer and integration. Mr. Inglis has a degree in Industrial Design and is an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business.


Jagdish Joshi - Mr. Joshi is President of Globiz Synergy Inc, a Lilburn (Atlanta) Georgia based sourcing and export consulting company. Mr. Joshi has more than 30 year textile industry extensive experience in sales, marketing, and general management in Asia, Africa and USA for global synthetic fiber and textile companies including Tolaram, Reliance Industries and Arvind Mills. Additional expertise includes export/import, sourcing, cost containment and project management.


Michael Kraft – Mr. Kraft has over 25 years experience in the development and implementation of strategic market initiatives in the telecommunications field and related industries. Mr. Kraft utilizes a broad range of skills to support his clients, including business/product development, market assessment, relationship development, communication planning, legal/regulatory compliance and process management. Mr. Kraft, along with his wife and daughter, is a resident of New York City.


Maike Liekweg - Ms. Liekweg is president and owner of her own consulting company specializing in strategic marketing and market research in the technical textile industry. Ms. Liekweg has her MBA from Drake University and currently resides in North Carolina.


Gary A. Lodoen Ph.D. - Dr. Lodoen retired from Dupont as a Research Fellow R&D and Team Leader in spandex new product/process development and commercialization. Gary's expertise also includes polyurethane and spandex compositions as biomaterials, copolyether and copolyester polyols product design and process development, reology/solvents and dry/wet spinning processes. He has consulted worldwide, has seven spandex patents and numerous publications. Dr. Lodoen earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Cornell University and postdoctoral in Organic Chemistry at the University of Iowa.


Pablo Lorenzana - For 6 years Mr. Lorenzana served as Marketing Manager for the Textile Division of DuPont for Central America and the Caribbean. Additionally, he has 4 years of experience working in the apparel manufacturing industry and 3 years working as a apparel representative, entrepreneur and consultant for the textile and apparel industry as well as for other non-related industries such as the sugar and energy businesses. Mr. Lorenzana has 5 years working as a volunteer on the Board of the Exporters Association of Guatemala. He has been a speaker on free trade opportunities at Material World at the Miami Convention Center and at different Apparel Sourcing Shows (Central America and the Caribbean yearly textile and apparel fair). In 2000 he was awarded by DuPont with a "LYCRA(R) Award for Excellence" for the completion of a rapid market assessment study in the textile industry in Central America and the Caribbean.


Jean Claude Mazingue - Mr. Mazingue is founder and CEO of JCM & Associates which advises clients on cross-border joint ventures, acquisitions, outsourcing and other corporate and commercial transactions in the US, Europe, and Sub Saharan Africa. He has worked for textile companies in Madagascar, France, and the US and is currently residing in South Carolina.


John McGowan - Mr. McGowan has over 25 years of experience as a sales and marketing executive and consultant to international clients in the textile, nonwoven, and filtration industries, specializing in the development of new product applications and business development strategies for his clients. Most recently he was President, Director, and Group Manager of The Woolmark Company. His sales experience includes having been a Senior Sales Representative for Mitsui Textile Corporation, a Marketing Representative of Eastman Chemical, and a Sales Representative for Milliken and Company. Mr. McGowan's manufacturing experience includes having been a Division Manager at The James Thompson Company. He received his M.A. degree in Management from Central Michigan University and his M.B.A. in Marketing from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.


Patricia Moore - Ms. Moore is founder and president of her own consulting company that focuses on helping companies plan, coordinate and implement strategies for introducing new products and concepts to traditional and non-traditional customers and segments. Ms. Moore's experiences span domestic and international work with companies like DuPont, Amoco Fabrics and Fibers, Tietex International, Cosmo Hong Kong Ltd, Mogae Textiles, and Hanyoung Industry.


Dave Morgan - Mr. Morgan is President of Dialogue Power Consultants LLC. focused on helping US and international clients develop sales, marketing/branding, marketing communications and market segment strategies. Mr. Morgan worked 36 years with DuPont as a marketing manager, strategy manager and segment leader in the nylon, spandex and polyester business units. Mr. Morgan is a graduate of Philadelphia University and currently resides in Greensboro, N.C.


Hardy Poole - Senior textile industry executive with 25+ years experience as the U.S. textile industry's senior technology manager who represented the industry nationally and internationally on a broad range of technology issues including engineered products and their performance, safety aspects of products, product specifications, and related issues within the textile industry complex. Represented the U.S. textile industry on all technical issues before the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy and other federal agencies with interest in high-performance textiles. Experienced textile professional who managed complete cycle of military item research and development (R&D) functions from identification of candidate materials through product production. Has extensive knowledge in government contracting and proven skills in guiding companies through the R&D process within the DoD, leading to government contracts.


Judith Russell - Ms. Russell is President of Markethink, Inc, a NY-based marketing and strategic planning consulting firm. A 25-year veteran of the soft goods business, she spent almost a decade at DuPont, working in product development, marketing and strategic planning, before launching her consulting practice 15 years ago. She specializes in helping domestic and foreign companies identify and capitalize on opportunities in the US apparel, furnishings and related markets. Past clients have included retailers, apparel brands and textile manufacturers such as WalMart, Kohls, Calvin Klein, Milliken & Co., Liz Claiborne, d'Elias, Cotton Inc., Wools of New Zealand, DuPont, trade associations such as the AAFA and NRF, and many others.


Joe Schmid - Mr. Schmid has over 35 years business experience with 20 years experience in international expansion, startup, and management including operations in China, Singapore, Mexico, Argentina, the USA, and Europe. Joe has extensive experience in change leadership, TPS/Lean operations implementation, and developing high-performance self managed organizations. Joe has held multiple positions as Plant Manager, VP of Manufacturing and Engineering, VP/GM, and as a corporate officer. Joe is a facilitator in Strategic Planning and Implementation, and a trainer in 6-Sigma tools as well as ISO 9000 Series Registered Assessor Qualified; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and EFQM Assessor Trained. Joe earned his Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Detroit. Joe is the Managing Principal of Oak Leaf Consulting, LLC. Joe earned his Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Detroit.


Sherry Sutton - Ms. Sutton has more than 25 years experience in leading large business and sales organizations in polymers and fibers, as well as specialty chemicals, nonwovens, and industrial supply businesses. She has had P&L responsibilities for very large international businesses located in North America, Europe, and Asia in companies such as Polymer Group, Grainger, Honeywell, and Hoechst Celanese. Ms. Sutton has an MBA from Clemson University and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.


Jean Tran - Mr.Tran is Managing Director and owner of Joint Ascent a synthetic fiber/textile consulting company located in Hong Kong. Prior to founding his consulting company, Jean worked more than 20 years for Dupont in synthetic fibers sales and marketing leadership roles in Asia. Joint Ascent specializes in assisting companies seeking partners for joint ventures, commercial business relationships, agents, and distributors in the synthetic fibers, textiles and apparel industries. Mr. Tran is a graduate of the University of Washington with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering.


Robert Webster - Mr. Webster has more than 35 years experience in sales, strategic planning, general management with P&L responsibility, and acquisition integration in the multiple industries including plastics, glass, heavy equipment, and financial services. Mr. Webster has is BA in Political Science from Pennsylvania Military College and currently resides in Kingwood, Texas.


James Whetstone - Mr. Whetstone is President and Founder of his own consulting company working with textile companies in both the domestic and international marketplace. Prior Mr. Whetsone worked approximately 40 years with various textile companies including Milliken, Knit-Away Inc., and Unifi in production management, product development, and quality control. Mr. Whetstone is a graduate of the Citadel and currently resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Mr. Whetstone is currently involved with service to the Textile Markets relative product and market development, via his company Source Int. LLC. He spent the majority of his career with Unifi Inc., as Director of Corporate Product and Market Development for domestic and international markets. This included the apparel, home furnishings, industrial and automotive markets. The previous included direct relationships with fiber companies, fabric producing companies and downstream users including the leading designers and major chains. He also was employed by Milliken and Company as well as by Knit-Away Inc. His background includes extensive experience in yarn development, fabric development, dying and finishing, and specific fabric after treatments as well as advertising and promotion.


Linwood Wright - Mr. Wright is a retired Vice President of Quality and Development from Dan River, Inc. with more than 50 years of experience in the textile industry. His industry experience includes involvement in the crosslinking of cellulose (both U.S. patents and technical publications), the water repellency of textiles (both U.S. patents and technical publications), physical testing of yarn and fabrics, marketing interface of fabrics and end use manufacturers, and managing and directing Research, Design, Quality Control, and Customer Service Departments for Dan River, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Wright served as Vice-Mayor of the City of Danville from 1990-1996 and Mayor from 1996-1998. Mr. Wright earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Duke University and his Doctor of Science from Averett University.


<<top of page

Press Releases

IMS is pleased to announce the addition of Linwood Wright to its team of Associates.

IMS publishes new study of small vehicle market PDF

IMS is pleased to announce the addition of Paul Gillease and Larry Himes to the IMS Board of Advisors.

Event to Focus on Expansion of Trade in the NC Textile & Apparel Industry

IMS Leadership Team In the News

IMS opens new office in Vietnam to be run by Joey Fields.

Offices in China, Germany brought on board.

Extensive market survey
of Latin America nears
completion.


New mode of transportation could arise from high gasoline prices/energy shortages.

Studies Available/In Process

IMS publishes new study of small vehicle market PDF