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Samanta Cortes Executive Profile
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cortessamanta@gmail.com +1-551-206-8005
OVERVIEW:
Experienced in all aspects of sales, production, management and creative direction with a strong ability to open effective channels of
communication and provide leadership to coworkers and clients. Formal and professional delivery combined with a positive and friendly
attitude that secures repeated business. Effective in detailed assignments managing difficult to please patrons, ensuring they are fully
satisfied without compromising company resources.
LANGUAGES:
Fully bilingual; Spanish and English
EXPERIENCE:
TX
Institute NYC Garment Center/International
Industrial education center 2012 to Present
Founder, Executive Director
 Establishing a network of partners to develop opportunities and relationships with governmental and educational institutions, arts
associations and textile machinery companies.
 Formulating and promoting the opportunities to develop a well-educated, globally minded, highly skilled workforce while
creating workshops in universities as well as seminars in trade shows.
 Leading technology innovation, research and development as a main pursuit of the Tx
Institute online educational platform.
 Managing the organization’s financial assets while ensuring compliance with all federal and state requirements.
Fashion Design Concepts NYC Garment Center
An artisan to industrial embroidery/embellishment manufacturing studio 2000 to 2013
Founder, Creative Director
 Conducted comprehensive research on emerging fashion trends resulting in embellishment concepts and embroidery inspirations
for designers in various markets including women’s, men’s, bridal, interior and home.
 Worked closely with design and merchandising/sales teams to formulate concepts and develop new collections for the various
price points from the retail to the NYC fashion runway.
 Promoted and marketed the company by coordinating seminars and providing presentation at trade shows and special industry
events.
 Managed a staff of designers, sales executives and production mangers with the goal of providing the best quality service to
clients.
 Work closely with clients to assess products and provide design recommendations that increased revenue, reduced production
cost and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Save The Garment Center NYC Garment Center
A coalition of industry professionals formed to preserve and protect the garment center 2007 to Present
Founder
 Started a campaign to raise awareness of the immediate threat that gentrification is posing on the NYC Garment Center.
 Motivated universities, manufacturers and designers to get involved in the cause through meetings, seminars and other activities.
 Created the face of the organization including website, press releases and social media campaigns.
 Generated national press attention including articles in the New York Times and an HBO documentary.
 Persuaded the NYC government to analyze the current situation and recognize the potential long-term impact on the NYC
Garment Center.
Fashion News Workshop NYC Garment Center
A nonprofit organization formed to the exchange information relevant to the fashion industry 2008-2009
President
 Coordinated with the executive committee to establish monthly activities for the organization.
 Scheduled meetings and events that included field trips to fashion and textile museum exhibits, self-guided tours of new retail
districts, networking get-togethers and panel discussions on current industry topics.
 Redesigned the image of the organization including all related media content.
 Enhanced the visibility of the organization by coordinating speaking engagements with industry leaders such as Micheal Kors,
Isabel Toledo and Michael Gould (CEO of Bloomingdale’s).

2. 2
Samanta Cortes Executive Profile
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Paulo Lace Cliffside Park NJ
Schiffli Embroidery Company 1998-2000
Sales Executive
 Generated new business for the company through presentations to clients.
 Work with the production managers to develop preproduction plans and corresponding production schedules.
 Provided onsite supervision of the production process and communicated progress to the clients.
Komar New York City, NY
Sleepwear Company 1996-1998
Production Coordinator
 Developed products by creating clear instructions to factory technicians including detail specifications.
 Negotiated prices with contractors to implement production cost controls and create pricing structures.
 Coordinated domestic and overseas production including travel to facilities to monitor and resolve manufacturing problems.
EDUCATION:
Sacred Heart University San Juan, PR
Majored in Communications 1990- 1996
International Fine Arts Miami, FL
Majored in Fashion Design 1991-1993
ASSOCIATIONS:
Save the Garment Center 2007-Present
Founder
Stitches (Textile design magazine) 2007- Present
Editorial Advisory Board
NY Green Festival 2013 (20,000+ attendees) 2012-2013
Organization committee
Fashion News Workshop 2007-2009
President
Color Association of the United States 2005-2007
Color Advisory board
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Exintex 2014 Puebla México March 13, 2014
Iberoamericana de Puebla México Arte, Diseño y Arquitectura Departamento de Textil September 1-3, 2014
Dimensional workshop combining several technologies to motivate the creative minds.
Fashion Law Institute of Fordham Law School May 24, 2012
Fashion Law Boot Camp, a summer intensive program for law students, lawyers and industry professionals.
PremiereVision The world’s premier fabric and fashion trends show. 2007 to Present
Fashioning The American Dream, a rally to support immigrant garment workers May 1, 2007
Featured speaker along with Danny Glover, Actor and Activist, Bud Kondheim, CEO of Nicole Miller and several high level NYC
government officials.
SOFTWARE SKILLS:
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, QuickBooks Pro, WordPress, Photoshop, Illustrator.
PORTFOLIO, PRESS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS