Textiles & Apparel Industry Leadership Board

Sammy Feingold is Director of Talent Acquisition at Aritzia, where she plays a key role in scaling teams and supporting the brand’s continued expansion across the United States. A graduate of the Textiles and Apparel program at The University of Texas at Austin, she has over five years of experience across talent acquisition, growth strategy, and retail operations. Known for building high-performing teams and people-first hiring strategies, Sammy is passionate about developing future industry leaders and helping emerging talent launch meaningful careers in fashion.

Ashley Gill is Chief Standards Officer at Textile Exchange, where she leads the organization’s standards system and the implementation of the Materials Matter System. Since joining in 2010, she has helped shape key industry standards, including the Recycled Claim Standard, and has initiated the development of Textile Exchange’s Materials Matter Standard, driving the transition to transform how we produce, choose, and reuse materials to benefit the people and places at the source.

Kelsey Hendershot is the Director of Global Consumer Revenue at Vogue, where she drives subscription growth, memberships, and other consumer initiatives across all marketing channels. She brings expertise in digital marketing, paid media, and brand strategy, having previously led multimillion-dollar campaigns across the Condé Nast portfolio. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Marketing and a focus on Textiles & Apparel, she is passionate about the intersection of fashion, technology, and consumer engagement. She has played an active role in producing industry events and community-building initiatives.

Tim Hershey is a transformational leader with over 30 years of executive experience at industry-leading brands, including The Gap, Nike, and Gucci. Tim studied at Arizona State University and Harvard Business School. His career focuses on direct-to-consumer retail (digital and in-store), product management, sales, marketing, and merchandising. Known for creating and leading high-performing teams, developing top talent, and building strong brands, Tim has successfully led businesses across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

Jessica Kohn is a graduate of the Textiles and Apparel program at The University of Texas at Austin and has nearly 20 years of experience in supply chain management and product development. Her career spans multiple categories, including home textiles, knit apparel, woven apparel, intimates, activewear, and swimwear. She has extensive expertise in manufacturing processes, cost engineering, and brand collaboration. Jessica is committed to operational excellence and advancing strategic sourcing within the global apparel industry.

Marta Miller is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and the owner of Lefty Production Co., a full-service apparel development and manufacturing company based in Los Angeles. In 2022, she expanded operations by acquiring Stitch Texas in Austin, creating a combined enterprise that offers design-to-production services across the U.S. and internationally. Marta is known for her leadership in apparel development, collaboration with emerging designers, and commitment to supporting TXA students.

Liv Pederson is the new Vice President of Footwear and Accessories Design at DÔEN, where she was brought on to establish and scale the brand's footwear and accessories divisions. She is focused on building these categories into key pillars of the business, bringing her expertise to evolve the emerging offering into a distinctive and integral part of the brand. 

Previously, Liv was the Senior Design Director of Women's Footwear, Handbags, and Non-Apparel at J.Crew, where she spent 19 years shaping and growing the accessories department into what it is today. With a BFA in Design from the University of Texas and a postgraduate degree in Fashion from Parsons School of Design, Liv has driven visionary design, elevated product, and built a strong commercial foundation. Her work blends creativity with strategy, and she is passionate about mentoring emerging talent and fostering innovation in the fashion industry.  

Christopher Pham is an Expert Apparel Designer at Nike, where he leads design for Kids Lifestyle. He has more than a decade of experience with Nike, Under Armour, Vineyard Vines, and Prabal Gurung, contributing to major initiatives including the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics. His expertise spans performance apparel, uniform design, textiles, and the integration of 3D and AI design tools. Christopher also holds a Certificate in Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship from FIT and a Master’s in Design Management and Communications from Georgetown University.

Michael Sanchez is a New York-based fashion stylist with over 15 years of experience in leading creative direction, styling, and production for global campaigns and editorial content. He has built his career at Michael Kors, where he advanced from Creative Marketing Assistant to Fashion Director of Global Creative, overseeing styling strategy, global advertising campaigns, and cross-functional brand initiatives. Earlier in his career, he collaborated with renowned fashion editors and publications, contributing to high-profile editorial, runway, and commercial projects. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Textiles & Apparel with concentrations in Apparel Design and Business Management from the University of Texas at Austin.