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Outlast Technologies Strengthens Management Team

Furniture World Magazine

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Outlast Technologies, a leader in temperature regulating technology used in the bedding and other industries, announced that the company is bolstering its team in North America and Asia. In North America, Karen Fischer rejoins the company in the role of North America sales manager and Greg Russell has been promoted to business development associate. In Asia, Sachiko Sasayama takes over as the new Asian sales operations manager and Shizuko Okado comes on board in Asian sales operations.
 
Karen Fischer – Outlast North America sales manager. A textile industry veteran, Karen Fischer brings exceptional skill and knowledge to the position of sales director. Not only does she have a strong background in textiles, but also with phase change materials having worked for Outlast Technologies from 1998-2002.  Most recently she served as a senior account manager at Shore to Shore, Inc. in San Francisco, CA, where she managed and developed the company’s western territory. At Outlast, Fischer will be responsible for building North America apparel business including sports wear, active wear and intimate apparel. Her knowledge of temperature regulation technology and keen understanding of the textile industry makes her a great asset to the company. Fischer holds an M.S. in industrial/organizational psychology from San Francisco State University.
 
Greg Russell – Outlast North America business development associate. Greg Russell has been tapped for new business development after completing a year-long internship at Outlast. Russell will act as the primary point-of-contact for client accounts and lead day-to-day management for Outlast customers. Self-driven, hard working and committed to quality, Russell has the right skill sets for building new Outlast business. He holds a B.A. in English literature and a minor in business administration from the University of Colorado.
 
Sachiko Sasayama – Outlast Asia sales operations manager. Sachiko Sasayama was promoted to Asian sales operations manager and is in charge of coordinating all Asian sales, customer relations, product inquiries, orders and shipments. Previous to working at Outlast, Sasayama worked as a client account representative in international sales in both Japan and the U.S. After spending eight years in the U.S. and graduating from San Francisco State University, Sasayama is fluent both in English and Japanese.
 
Shizuko Okada – Outlast Asia sales operations. Shizuko Okada will be based in Outlast’s Tokyo office and is responsible for order issues, product certifications and shipments throughout Asia. Previous to working at Outlast Technologies, she worked for a graphic design company with offices in the U.S. and Japan. Okada graduated from Kobe College in Kobe, Japan.
 
“I’m proud of the global team we are building,” says Heather Listoe Manuel, Outlast North America sales and marketing director. “We’re fortunate to have such a dedicated and enthusiastic group of people who are committed to growing the brand. Heading into 2010, we’re looking forward to building on our current momentum—and with these new additions, I’m excited to see what 2010 will bring.”
 
About Outlast Technologies, Inc.: Outlast Technologies, Inc., a privately held U.S. corporation, is the worldwide leader in developing phase-change materials and applications. As an innovative technology company, Outlast has launched temperature-regulating technology in apparel, footwear, bedding, packaging and labels, and accessories. Originally developed for NASA, Outlast® fibers, fabrics and coatings contain patented microencapsulated phase-change materials called ThermoculesTM, which absorb, store and release heat, providing increased comfort for consumers. For more information, please visit www.outlast.com.