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Luxury industry leaders convene at Raleigh-based Merz for GLM board meeting

Eighteen global luxury industry leaders convened May 1 at Raleigh-based specialty healthcare company Merz North America for the Spring 2015 meeting of the NC State Global Luxury Management Industry Advisory Board. The Global Luxury Management program is a one-year dual-degree graduate program, offered in partnership between NC State University’s Poole College of Management and SKEMA Business School.

The Industry Advisory Board represents sectors including luxury accessories and jewelry, apparel, beauty, communications, consulting, financial services, healthcare, home furnishings, hospitality, shoes and transportation; and is instrumental in enhancing the GLM students experience – from hosting student and alumni networking events to facilitating company visits to providing career guidance.

Board members meet in person twice per year to contribute perspectives related to the global luxury market, as well as opportunities for enhancing the GLM program content. Outside of meetings, Board members have opportunities to interact with the students for mentoring, career development, as well as to participate in faculty and student activities, including guest lecturing, company tours, and career management functions.

Attendees included (left to right in the photo, back row listed first):

  • J. David Weiss, founder and president, DesigNova Creative Associates
  • Gregory Furman, founder and chairman, Luxury Marketing Council
  • Edward Tognoni, president, CEO, owner, Nettleton Shoes
  • Bob Shullman, founder and CEO, Shullman Research Center
  • Jim Blair, president and chairman, Individualized Apparel Group
  • Gaurav Patel, president, Eschelon Experiences
  • Ryan Stone, founder and co-chairman, Jetpool
  • William Humphries, president and CEO-America, Merz North America, Inc.
  • Lyn Conger, partner and co-founder, Taylor Richards & Conger
  • Alberto Milani, CEO-Americas, Buccellati
  • Jerome Espinos, president, Footwear & Accessories, Ralph Lauren
  • Adam Coremin, vice president, Precept Wine
  • Anthony Robins, global luxury industry consultant
  • Millie Graham, vice president, marketing, Peter Millar
  • Ellen Rhode, chairman, Global Luxury Management Industry Advisory Board and president, ELR Group
  • Jim Beley, general manager, The Umstead Hotel & Spa
  • Heidi L. Steiger, private client management executive
  • David Gwyn, president and principal, French West Vaughan

Read about the most recent additions to the GLM IAB

See a full listing of GLM Industry Advisory Board members

About the Global Luxury Management Program

Global Luxury Management (GLM) is a unique academic program offered as an option in the Master of Global Innovation Management (MGIM) program in the Jenkins Graduate School at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. The GLM option was developed and is offered as a partnership between NC State's Poole College of Management and SKEMA Business School's Sophia Antipolis, campus in France, in collaboration with the NC State College of Textiles. The rigorous one-year dual degree graduate program provides students with a solid foundation in global luxury management coursework combined with experiential activities – to prepare future leaders for the dynamic global luxury marketplace. Students earn two masters degrees, one from NC State and one from SKEMA, during the one-year program. www.poole.ncsu.edu/glm

About Merz North America

Merz North America is a specialty healthcare company that develops and commercializes innovative, high-quality treatment solutions in aesthetics, dermatology and neurosciences in the U.S. and Canada. As part of the Merz Pharma Group of companies, our ambition is to become the most admired, trusted and innovative aesthetics and neurotoxin company. By developing products that improve patients’ health and help them to live better, feel better and look better, we will continue to make significant contributions to the well-being of individuals around the world. Founded in 1908, Merz Pharma Group is a privately-owned company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. For more information about Merz and the Company’s U.S. product portfolio, please visit www.merzusa.com