CHRISTINE HOLLAND JOINS UH’S COLLEGE
OF TECHNOLOGY
AS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Retail Management Veteran Offering Experience,
Expertise to Consumer Sciences Students
HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2006 – After 20 years of managing multi-million
dollar businesses, Christine Holland definitely has some stories
to tell. Fortunately for University of Houston students, she’s
sharing these executive experiences in the classroom.
Holland, a former senior vice president for Foley’s department
stores, is the first executive in residence in UH College of Technology’s
Human Development and Consumer Sciences (HDCS) Department. She’s
currently offering her professional insight to students in the HDCS
course “Introduction to Merchandising,” which focuses
on the principles of retail management and merchandising.
“The College of Technology is delighted to welcome Christine
Holland as an executive in residence,” said William Fitzgibbon,
dean of the College of Technology. “Her extensive experience
in retail and merchandising is invaluable to our efforts in providing
state of the art knowledge and experience to our students.”
Holland previously served as senior vice president and general
merchandise manager for women’s apparel at Foley’s.
In this role, she managed $360 million in annual sales for 72 stores
in five states. During her time with Foley’s she also served
as vice president and divisional merchandise manager for women’s
accessories. She was a key figure in revitalizing the company’s
sales of women’s sportswear and launching Mirasol, the successful
private label line of women’s casual wear. Holland also developed
innovative merchandising strategies through effective store presentations.
In her class, Holland covers topics such as customer relationships,
management, buying processes, consumer behaviors and financial strategies.
Her long career in the retail industry has allowed her to recount
personal experiences with these subjects.
“Having firsthand knowledge of these topics is helpful,”
Holland said. “Even the best textbook can’t go into
enough detail on a subject like ‘firing a customer,’
which happens when a customer’s demands become too outrageous
or costly to an organization. Having been down that road allows
me to touch on a very delicate and sometimes necessary practice.”
Likewise, Holland’s insight into industry trends helps her
communicate the varied career options that await HDCS graduates.
“Because so many stores are becoming consolidated, there
aren’t as many jobs as buyers,” she said. “On
the flipside, there now are more opportunities for store managers
and planner/allocators, who support buyers by forecasting seasonal
wear and researching demographics.”
She’s also bringing industry professionals into the classroom
from disparate yet interconnected areas such as human resources,
management and purchasing.
“I think it’s very important for students to have
a feel for what jobs in this field are really like,” Holland
said. “Too often, there’s a misconception about the
retail industry. Many people equate it with folding sweaters at
a department store, but this class helps students understand that
it’s much more than that. By featuring different professional
guests, the course helps students better understand the inner workings
of the industry and focus their career choices.”
Holland is no stranger to UH or working with students. In 2002,
she served as a guest lecturer for a merchandising course taught
by Barbara Stewart, HDCS professor. Last year, Holland also was
among the panelists at HDCS’s Fashion Forum titled “Movers,
Shakers and Makers,” which offered different retailing and
merchandising perspectives to UH students, as well as those from
local high schools and colleges.
“I’ve always had a productive relationship with UH,”
Holland said. “In addition to working with HDCS on classes
and events, I’ve recruited its students for the Foley’s
Executive Training Program.”
During the upcoming spring semester, Holland will work with Shirley
Ezell, associate professor of HDCS, to develop new coursework. She
will also lend her expertise to the department’s Merchandise
Star awards in January, 2007, which honors outstanding contributions
to the fashion industry.
When not working with UH students, she serves as a member of the
Houston Symphony Board and marketing committee, the Houston Zoo’s
advisory council, the United Way’s allocations’ committee
and the Women’s Initiative steering committee.
“Christine Holland presents the dynamic changes in the world
of retailing and offers a view of the future for our students,”
Ezell said. “She is as dynamic in the classroom as she is
in the Houston community.”
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit
the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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