Global Luxury Management Program Announces New Members of Industry Advisory Board

The North Carolina State University Global Luxury and Management (GLAM) Industry Advisory Board announced four new members at its spring 2019 meeting, held April 3 at the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

Joining the board are:

• Philip H. Kowalczyk, managing director, Deloitte Management Consulting
• Matthew Landman, director, new product integration and quality assurance for Tiffany & Co.
• Michael Niemtzow, co-founder, chairman and president of WindowsWear
• Edie Rodriguez, chairman of the Americas, brand ambassador for Ponant Cruises and former chief executive officer and president for Crystal Cruises Corporation.

“Our new board members’ extensive leadership experience and expertise in the jewelry industry; hospitality, lifestyle and travel; and luxury market intelligence complement the collective expertise of our 14-member board, which represents all sectors of the global luxury market,” said Kristie McGowan, Ph.D., director of the program.

The NC State GLAM Industry Advisory Board meets twice a year, in New York City and Raleigh, to review the program’s successes and discuss opportunities for ongoing program evolution and innovation, including academic curriculum, experiential learning and industry engagement and placement.

“This kind of industry support assures that this dual degree program continues to evolve and deliver the impactful, innovative experiences and solid academic and business foundation that our students need to succeed in the exciting and challenging global luxury market,” McGowan said.

“I am very pleased to welcome these newest members of the Industry Advisory Board,” said William D. Humphries, executive vice president and company group chairman of Ortho Dermatologics and chairman of the GLAM board. “Their experiences and expertise will help assure that the program continues to provide our students the preparation they will need to excel in the global luxury marketplace,” said Humphries, who hosted the April 3 meeting.

New Global Luxury and Management Board Members

Philip Kowalczyk
Managing Director at Deloitte Management Consulting

“The undeniable influence of international influence on luxury comes to life in the GLAM program,” Kowalczyk said. “I am delighted to be joining this board because the very foundation of the program is set up on two continents and in partnership between two amazing educational institutions. Combining those factors with the business perspective of the advisory board will help the students in this program to gain valuable knowledge and also have invaluable experiences. It is innovation at its best!”

Kowalczyk is an experienced board member with a demonstrated history of working in the fashion industry. He is a strong business development professional, skilled in business planning, retail, team building, market research, and management. He has an MBA focused on finance and marketing from Indiana University Bloomington.

Matthew Landman
Director, new product integration and quality assurance for Tiffany & Co.

“It’s an honor to be included on the Industry Advisory Board for the Global Luxury and Management program,” Landman said. “I’m looking forward to working with my fellow advisors, the program and faculty staff as well as the students themselves, sharing knowledge gained throughout my career and helping to guide the program and shape the future that the graduates will be creating upon entering the workplace and continuing their professional journeys.”

Landman, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in marketing, both from the University of Rhode Island, has built a career applying both areas of expertise to leadership roles at global luxury companies. He currently is director of new product integration at Tiffany and Co., where he oversees the industrialization of design concepts into production for Tiffany’s internal manufacturing facilities within the U.S. He joined Tiffany & Co. in 2010 as the manager of strategic product development, then served as director of watches and director of replenishment planning, overseeing the Asia region as well as all Love and Engagement jewelry globally. He previously had roles as senior manager of watches at David Yurman, and managed product development at the mountain bike component company Crank Brothers and the watch company Nixon.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, restoring and riding vintage Harley Davidson motorcycles, being sure to live each day to its fullest, and standing by his philosophy that “Monday is the best day of the week.”

Michael Niemtzow
Co-founder, chairman and president, WindowsWear Inc.

Realizing that there is power and value in bringing fashion and art together to create amazing displays and retail environments, Michael Niemtzow created WindowsWear in 2012, with Jon Harari and Raul Tovar. Today, WindowsWear is the leading visual design resource used by top brands, designers, and fashion programs at schools worldwide. Niemtzow received his bachelor’s cum laude from Tulane University. After serving four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy with two deployments to the Middle East, he earned his MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He is a frequent speaker at family and consumer sciences conferences nationwide and serves as an advisor on various academic fashion advisory boards including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Berkeley College, Jefferson University, High Point University, and now the NC State Jenkins Global Luxury and Management board.

Edie Rodriguez
Chairman of the Americas, brand ambassador for Ponant Cruises and former chief executive officer and president for Crystal Cruises Corporation.

“I’m a firm believer in perpetual evolution and learning. Technology and tastes change rapidly and people need to be empowered with education to stay ahead of the curve,” Rodriguez said. “I was humbled and honored when GLAM asked me to join their board. This is a great educational program for people wanting a career in the luxury industry. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to ensure this program continues to be world class.”

As a “mobile global” executive and positive disrupter with strong corporate governance, financial and business acumen, Rodriguez has honed a 35-plus year career across sales, operations, marketing, digital, and social distribution channels to transform some the world’s most recognizable brands: Crystal Cruises Corporation, Royal Caribbean’s Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Corporation’s Cunard, Seabourn and Carnival brands and Ponant Cruises. In her role with Ponant Cruises, she provides strategy, direction and implementation, and twice guided the team into receiving the prestigious Travel & Leisure Magazine World’s Best Award. At Crystal Cruises Corporation, she guided the company’s strategy, operations, finance, and customer focus and drove its digital and social media strategy. She received her bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, and completed executive management programs at Wharton Business School, Stanford University and the Harvard Business School.