Ing. Nicole Stopka-Nichols

Lead Advanced Sales & Commercial Development for fabrics at the OEM & Tier levels. Lead quoting & pricing strategy to achieve business acquisition, as well as support team with commercial management afterwards to maintain or increase margins. Development of strong customer relationships & provide “voice of the customer” to Global Team. Preparation & presentation to Adient Top Management of Program Financial Information & Sales Forecasting Data.

Design and Development of a 7,000 SF mixed-use property on Michigan Avenue in Corktown, Detroit. SteelHaus is an exciting mix of commercial space and loft apartments, being built using eleven 40-foot high cube cargo shipping containers as the main structural element.

Grow & manage relationships with key customers such as Ford (Global KAM), Tesla, FCA & Honda. Work cross functionally with internal global team of designers & engineers on sales quotes, customer negotiations, market trends & sale conditions. Assess customer needs to select best product options & business opportunities.

Promoted to create, implement and lead the new Research & Development Department. Researched, sourced, priced and commercialized market trends and new technologies. Spotted areas of growth to achieve company sales targets.

Developed fit and constructions from size sets to production based on buyers techpacks. Conducted fittings and directed changes on patterns and workmanship to ensure desired outcomes were being met. Ensured best technical solutions. Trained suppliers for fitting, pattern and construction knowledge.

Developed fit and constructions from prototyping through production based on buyers techpacks. Conducted fittings and directed changes on patterns to ensure desired outcomes are met. Trained suppliers and employees for quality standards and pattern knowledge. Monitored factories’ sample rooms and production lines.

Sent by headquarters to problem-solve Supply Chain transparency issues with focus on Chinese Supply Base. Developed and implemented optimization concept / Risk Management Tools, and trained Supply Base and co-workers on new process. Resulted in higher understanding of leading factors of sub-contracting practices and improved relationship to Supply Base.

Supported the team with the entire product development of garments, textiles and accessories from prototyping through production, including sample fittings and creating of techpacks. Communicated with and directed suppliers and agencies in China, India, Turkey and Portugal. Responsible for AZO testing.

Apparel & Textile Technologies, Supply Chain Mgmt, Product Mgmt, Business Economics, Pattern Development ||| Dissertation title: "Sustainable Supply Chain China - Improving Transparency through the Development and Implementation of Risk Management Tools on Behalf of Marc O'Polo"