The Mission of RMA
The mission of the Retail Management Association is to help Anderson students develop an understanding and working knowledge of retail and how it functions in various industries. Specifically, the club supports students' desire to enter the retail sector (apparel, luxury, hard goods, supermarkets, restaurants) or to launch their business in one of these fields.
Our goal is to make UCLA Anderson a premier source for the training of academic and professional leaders in the retail, design, luxury and apparel industries. We believe that through hands on involvement, direct interaction with executives, and exposure to real world managerial challenges, we heighten the quality of academic exploration for our members as well as the greater Anderson community. As interest in retail continues to grow among business school attendees, the RMA hopes to provide the necessary programming that will increase the depth of our growing professional associations and add value to the learning at Anderson.
THINKING ABOUT ANDERSON?
We understand the importance of choosing the right business school. If you've recently applied or are thinking of applying to UCLA Anderson and have scheduled a campus visit, please be sure to let us know. If you would like to find out more about the RMA or would simply like the perspective of an current RMA members, please feel free to email us.
Charity Fashion Show
The members of the Retail Management Association, in conjunction with UCLA Anderson School of Management, are proud to be in its 7th year of hosting the Anderson Charity Fashion Show. Originally conceived to leverage the distinct style and flare found within the Los Angles community, the show has been a growing success year after year attracting talented designers whose clothing designs grace the covers of leading fashion editorials.
This year's show, entitled LAUNCH, will be constructed around a travelogue of different locales, featuring a wide mix of fashions. The show will be held on Thursday, May 15th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and will culminate with a fabulous after hours party.
Historically the RMA fashion show has attracted some of the largest crowds and is touted the event du jour of the Spring Quarter. We have been fortunate to receive tremendous support from students, faculty, and administration. Most importantly, corporate sponsorship and the generous donations from alumni and other private donors have played a large role in making the show a reality.
Fashion Show Board Members this year include:
- Celia Adelson Production Director
- Johnny Lee Production Director
- Jeni Wu Fashion Director
- Erin Poulson Fashion Director
- Kacy Qua Corporate Sponsorship
- Joyce Kao Marketing Director
- Faye Yu Marketing Director
- Selale Zaim Silent Auction Director
- Kyle Villegas Fashion Coordinator
The model search has officially begun. For those who are interested in participating, and perhaps feel brave enough to enter themselves into the Anderson Top Model Contest, please fill out this brief survey and submit your entry to Joyce Kao.
TOP MODEL SEARCH, HOW IT WORKS…
A school-wide race will be held next quarter to determine one male and one female as this year's Top Models. Think Ms. Universe meets Wall Street. Here's how it works: email the Fashion Show Committee with a nomination – you can nominate either yourself or someone else. The deadline for this nomination process will also be by March 14th. The fashion committee will then send the nominated candidate an email explaining that he or she has been chosen as a potential model. Those who respond will be placed on an online ballot, and Decision 2008 will commence. Those who have signed up to be a general model will still be eligible for the Top Model spot. The Anderson community will vote for their favorites and the winners (one guy and one girl) will be crowned "Anderson's Next Top Model."
Leadership
Announcing New RMA Board Members for 2008-2009
- Johnny Lee, President
Johnny Lee is a native New Yorker and holds a B.A. in Theater/History from Dartmouth College. He is currently in his first year at UCLA Anderson, focusing his studies in marketing and business development. Prior to attending UCLA, he worked as a Marketing Director for an Italian designer of 18K gold fine jewelry. His other club involvements include: Section G LGBT Business Network President, Marketing Association, and Entrepreneur Association. Over the summer, he will be working at American Express in their Marketing Strategy GMS Group; however, after Anderson he plans to continue his pursuit in retail management, and hopes to start his own apparel company some day. (john.lee.2009@anderson.ucla.edu)
- Celia Adelson, VP Alumni Relations
Celia grew up in Montreal Canada and Providence Rhode Island. She earned my Bachelor's in Human Biology from Brown University. After college, she began working in retail clothing companies including Christopher Totman, in New York City, and CP Shades, a national retailer. She has also worked in a specialty stationery and high end gift store in Berkeley, CA. Following her stint in retail she switch to brand strategy consulting, and worked in San Francisco for several years before starting business school. Celia is now focused on returning to her interest in healthcare. All the same, part of her heart will always belong to retail, and she us excited to be apart of the RMA Board, and is looking forward to putting on the fashion show this year.
- Jeni Wu, VP Development
Jeni Wu spent half of her life in Nebraska, a quarter in California, and a quarter in New York. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and has returned to Anderson to get some more business education from the UC system. Jeni started her career at an economic/financial consulting firm. After getting her fill of regressions, she decided to pursue what she had always been interested in, the retail fashion industry. She started working in Distribution for J.Crew, which was one of her favorite companies despite the fact that she was not a prepster from the Northeast. She eventually joined the Merchant team because she wanted to work more closely with products and with the new CEO/Merchant Mickey Drexler, who was turning the company around. Jeni came to Anderson to pursue more entrepreneurial opportunities in the retail fashion industry - whether the entrepreneurial part happens immediately after school remains to be determined.
- Faye Yu, VP Events
Faye Yu grew up in Shanghai, China, and earned her B.Sc. in Computer Science from Fudan University in Shanghai. Prior to Anderson, she worked as a sales consultant for Oracle in Shanghai for three years. Currently she is a first year full-time MBA student at UCLA Anderson focusing on marketing and strategy. She acquired her passion for fashion and design from helping her family business in apparel manufacturing. She is pursuing entrepreneurship opportunity in the industry to combine her knowledge in IT and passion for retail. She is also owner manager for the Entrepreneur in Residence program at Entrepreneur Association, which connects students with local entrepreneurs.
RMA Board Members 2007-2008
- Mandy Schort, President
amanda.schort.2008@anderson.ucla.edu - Kimberly Cayce, VP Events
kimberly.cayce.2008@anderson.ucla.edu - Deb Sng, VP Alumni Relations
deb.sng.2008@anderson.ucla.edu - Marissa Mazzoncini, VP Development
marissa.mazzoncini.2008@anderson.ucla.edu - Chi-Chien Hou, VP Career
vincient.hou.2008@anderson.ucla.edu - Amit Runchal, VP Operations
amit.runchal.2008@anderson.ucla.edu