Our Team
Charles Adams (Chuck)
CEO - Product Evaluation Partners - Management, Innovation and Market
Currently I am the Founder and CEO of Product Evaluation Partners (PEP) headquartered in Berkeley, CA. As the lead for PEP I have the responsibility of managing the firm, leading the product research and evaluation and overseeing any resulting product development work. I also have assembled a small number of world-class product related experts, for all of whom the pursuit of great product solutions is aligned with their passion.
My over-arching goal in my work life is to affect the success and profitability of companies by reviewing, evaluating, researching and proposing improvements to their product offerings either by adding value through a redesigned features profile or by conceptualizing and designing market-expanding line extensions.
I co-founded a market leading consumer goods company with a focus on cooking and outdoor entertaining. I was involved in, or oversaw, the conceptualization and execution of more than 120 patents over 35 years as well as directing the development, sale and delivery of more than $1,000,000,000 of product sales at retail. Product is my passion!
When not busy working or engaged with product development tasks, I am a market hound, always looking and researching what sells, what drives revenue and what excites the consumer.
After you have read a bit about me and the rest of our team, I would be happy to speak with you regarding your potential need for our expertise. I look forward to connecting.
Education
UC Berkeley, BA Philosophy Degree, 1976
Experience
The Companion Group, Berkeley, CA – Co Founder
Vice President (1984 – 1989)
President (1990 – 1998)
CEO (1999 – 2020)
Sue Pippy Kron
Product Evaluation Partners - Merchandising, Product Mix and Planning
I am an industry leading multi-channel merchant, who uses both art and science to identify key growth opportunities and to build solid financial plans and strategies. I think “outside the box” on innovative ways to drive the overall business and the resulting customer satisfaction. Additionally I am a straight shooter, cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships and making a positive impact to the bottom line. I possess over 30 years of experience in merchandising and planning, from Buyer, Manager of Planning, Regional Merchandiser, as well as Director level jobs. I was most recently the Director of Merchandising – Home for Zulily. My passion has always been around product, product assortments, white spaces, as well as improvements to existing products, creating a reason for overall customer demand. I use an innate sense of upcoming trends and how to maximize those trends early. The “Frozen” trend is a great example, as I was the first in my industry to jump on the trend based on early results, pretty much owning the business for the first 5 months, then started backing off as the rest of the industry caught up and the business started to decline. Other Key accomplishments include pioneering a “Color in the Kitchen” program, integrating cohesive color palettes that were updated 4 times yearly that created visual newness, doubling sales. Additionally, I also developed an exclusive “Things Cooks Love” tools, as well as spearheading the building of a private label BBQ business that delivered 12 X growth in less than 3 years. Lastly, I am a leader who thrives when given a challenge by bringing a fresh new way to look at the business. When tasked with a new category, I become a steward of that business, assessing opportunities and making recommendations that deliver results. It is all about product, timing, right stock levels, and execution. I care about getting the job done.
Education
University of Illinois, Champaign – Urbana, Bachelor of Science Degree in Retail Buying
Experience
ZULILY, Seattle, WA,
Director of Merchandising (2014 - 2019)
Merchandise Manager (2012 – 2014)
SUR LA TABLE, Seattle, WA
Buyer, Senior Director of Merchandising and Operations (2004 – 2010)
STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY, Seattle, WA - Director of Global Merchandise (2016 - 2017)
PIPPY PRODUCT AND SALES, Seattle, WA - Owner and President (2011 - 2012)
Cory Borovicka
Product Evaluation Partners - Product Design, Development and Sourcing
With 20 years of product development experience, starting at technology consulting firms and large corporate appliance companies. Those positions were followed by more than a decade with The Companion Group in the housewares industry, I have brought hundreds of consumer products to market through the process of design and manufacture. The key to successful product development is asking the right questions throughout the process. Additionally, I have learned as much from the great ideas that did not sell as from the products that couldn't be kept in stock.
As I have learned by overseeing products designed from that classic napkin-sketch that went into large scale production, one of the challenges is selecting which to bring forward, and how to go to market. Which ideas meet the criteria of all the stakeholders? Is it the right market timing, investment of resources, retail cost, profit opportunity and fit for customers? Committing to critical self-questioning at each stage of the design process focuses one on getting the right products into the market. I provide the experience needed to include all critical factors at the design table to ensure we are asking the right questions to reach appropriate solutions and develop timely, desired, profitable products.
Education
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island. BFA in Industrial Design, 2000
RISD/MIT Sloan School Product Development Program, 1999
RISD/Brown Engineering Industrial Design Collaborative, 1998
NASA Professional Design Studio, 1998
Experience
The Companion Group, Berkeley, CA - Vice President, Product Development (2006-2020)
Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex, Inc., Richmond, VA - Industrial Designer for large household appliance manufacturer (2004-2006)
Argyle Design, Berkeley, CA - Industrial Designer for small product development consulting firm ( 2000-2003)
Blank And Cables, Inc., San Francisco, CA - Staff Designer for small furniture design, fabrication company (1999-2000)
Katie Brown
Product Evaluation Partners - Trend, Fashion and Women
I am a trusted lifestyle expert with over 20 years fo experience. I have worked as a product designer and been involved with product development with multiple Brand partners. I have a clear understanding of trend and fashion as related to the home and to women consumers.
Author of Six Bestselling Books
Katie Brown Entertains, 16 Menus, 16 Occasions, 16 Tables
Katie Brown Decorates, 5 Styles, 10 Rooms, 105 Projects
Katie Brown Weekends Making the Most of your Two Treasured Days
Katie Brown Celebrates, Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round
Katie Brown Outdoor Entertaining, Taking the Party Outside
DARE to SEE, Finding God in the Everyday
Education
Cornell University , Ithaca, New York , BS in Art History
Activities and Honors
Gracie Award Winner, Audie Book Award Finalist
Experience
Yahoo Inc. –Santa Monica, CA - Senior VP/ Editor and Chief of Yahoo Makers (2014 - 2016)
Lifetime, Style, A&E, and PBS - TV Host and Producer (1998- Current)
Katie Brown Inc. - Brand Partnerships (1998 - 2017)
Meijer Stores - Product Development (07/2018 - 08/2019)
New York Times - Syndicated Columnist (2000 - 2005)
