Jeremy Lott

Owner & President

A picture on SanMar's very first catalog cover with a two-year-old peddling a big wheel proves it — Jeremy has worked at SanMar for nearly his entire life.

Today, as President of the family-owned business, Jeremy works in partnership with his father, Marty and his brother, Jordan. Over the years Jeremy learned the business from the inside out, from pulling orders to purchasing. After college and a stint studying in Hong Kong, he launched his career as an analyst for investment bank Piper Jaffray's technology team. Jeremy moved to Chicago in 2001 to earn his MBA, and then joined SanMar full-time. Adding strategy to vision, he continues to steward the company toward long-term growth and health. Proud of the opportunities given to so many tenured staff members to thrive, he often spends time "table-hopping" at the company's on-site café. He learns a lot during those casual conversations because, he says, employees have the pulse on what's really going on in their arenas.

The father of six children, Jeremy discovered that a work/life balance holds the key to maximum productivity. He enjoys spending time outdoors — skiing, hiking, boating and generally staying active.

Favorite SanMar Item: "The Port Authority^® K500 — when we created this product 20 years ago it was highly innovative. It delivered performance, didn't shrink and held its color. We've sold millions of them and it's an enduring shirt for us.

Go-to Inspiration: "Peter Drucker said, 'Culture eats strategy for breakfast. 'We spend a lot of time building a workplace where people are happy to come every day, because they take great care of our customers."

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Emory University, Goizueta Business School; MBA, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Pat Noonan

Chief Product Officer
Joined SanMar in 2007

An ROTC scholarship recipient and former Navy submarine officer, Pat launched his career at SanMar with solid leadership skills in tow.
 
A key lesson he learned in the military — to seek to understand first before making changes — has served Pat well. During his tenure, SanMar has added several warehouses nationwide, from which 4,000 employees serve the customer behind the scenes. Pat first joined SanMar as Distribution Process Manager and has held a variety of roles in distribution, IT and logistics. Today, he oversees SanMar’s merchandising, sourcing, quality assurance, planning and logistics teams, helping to ensure that we have a singular focus on exceptional product from creation to delivery.
 
Pat often cycles to work with his favorite SanMar item along for the ride — the OGIO® Torque Pack. After hours, he and his wife, both outdoor enthusiasts, show their young family the sights around the Pacific Northwest. Their hands-down favorite: Washington's San Juan Islands.
 
Favorite SanMar Family Value: "'Make a difference.' I worried about transitioning to the private sector and missing that sense of purpose. It's been wonderful to land at SanMar, where the mission to serve the customer is such a driving force."

Go-to Inspiration: "We're here to serve, and set an example of service."

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry & Philosophy, Cornell University; Master of Engineering, Old Dominion University

Renton Leversedge

Chief Customer Officer
Joined SanMar in 2009

A former university soccer player, Renton understands the importance of solid teamwork and dedication to a common goal.

His SanMar history includes launching our first affiliate overseas sourcing office in Hong Kong and working to develop our manufacturing hub in Central America. SanMar indirectly employs thousands of workers, including at a flagship plant in Honduras — one of the first in the world to run almost exclusively on renewable energy. SanMar's support of orphanages, hospitals and schools in communities where our products are manufactured is a particular point of pride for Renton. Today, he leads the strategic planning efforts of SanMar’s sales, marketing and pricing teams, helping to drive better integration and alignment between these three key customer-supporting groups.

After hours, Renton enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, and logs as many hours as possible coaching their soccer teams. You're likely to find him wearing his SanMar favorite — District Made® Men's Perfect Tri® Crew Tee, DM130.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "'Do the right thing.' It starts with always being honest with customers, suppliers and our staff."

Go-to Inspiration: "I played a lot of sports, and I learned the value of having the right player in the right position. We work hard to build a team of diverse talents that truly enjoy coming to work together each day."

Education: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia, CPA (retired)

Jennifer Larson

Vice President, Human Resources
Joined SanMar in 2016

Jennifer says that SanMar's most important assets aren't the products in its distribution centers they are the dedicated and talented employees who make the company one of the best places to work in the industry. She leads the charge in championing SanMar's Family Values and in growing the company's culture as a preferred employer.

Jennifer came to SanMar from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center where she worked for 15 years in the Human Resources department. Jennifer was integral in the organization's expansion into infectious disease research in Africa, establishing the human resource practices and operations required overseas. She also has apparel industry experience from her days in the HR department at Eddie Bauer.

While Jennifer doesn't yet have a favorite SanMar product, she is familiar with our styles, having purchased many t-shirts, hoodies and vests for teams at Fred Hutch. When she's not working, Jennifer escapes to the great outdoors as much as possible, hiking with her husband on local trails and traveling to points around the globe. She's also the proud mother of four.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "'Do the right thing.' If you do the right thing, you're likely following all the other SanMar Family Values too!"

Go-to Inspiration: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This quote from Maya Angelou shapes how Jennifer interacts with people while at work and at play.

Education: University of California, Riverside

Mike Knapick

Chief Information Officer
Joined SanMar in 2014

With technology evolving every day, Mike takes a measured approach. His call to harness technology for the company focuses on its value for our customers.

Mike's team serves our customer first by ensuring our robust systems efficiently process business transactions. Mike joined SanMar in 2014 after heading IT departments and projects of every scope and size at posts including Expedia, where he launched the company's inaugural CRM system. Today, he leads SanMar's major software implementations and guides his team's mission — to provide useful technology solutions to empower our customers to be more successful. When it comes to leadership, Mike says he empowers his team with plenty of opportunities to learn and grow.

After hours, you can find this active father of three cheering on the sidelines, or squeezing in a quick game of pick-up basketball. Chances are he's sporting one of our OGIO^® Endurance shirts, his top-pick of SanMar's active apparel.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "Our motto is 'Do the right thing.' That means we don't just impose a random deadline to finish a project; we take the time necessary to get it done right for the benefit of our customer."

Go-to Inspiration: "Never underestimate the value of time spent thinking."

Education: Bachelor of Science, Math, Long Beach State University; Master of Science, Math, University of Illinois

Paul Whyatt

Chief Financial Officer
Joined SanMar in 2017

Paul Whyatt brings to SanMar a long history of strategic planning, finance and leadership roles, coupled with a competitive drive to help take the company to the next level. As the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Paul oversees SanMar’s operational expenses while leading the finance, accounting and credit teams. 

Prior to joining SanMar, Paul served as CFO at Merrill and Ring Forest products, a large family-owned forestry company. He also held a variety of senior finance and operations positions at Weyerhaeuser and managed finance and operations for a couple Seattle-area start-up companies. Today, Paul helps to connect SanMar’s customers with the resources they need to bolster their businesses while ensuring that we practice timely and prudent financial stewardship.

The Northwest native enjoys shooting hoops, snowboarding and traveling when he’s not chasing after his young son. 

Favorite SanMar Family Value: “’Make a Difference’ because it’s about being a good team member and contributing to the organization by proactively bringing your skills and experience to the table.”

Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University; MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.

LAURA SCHUERMAN

Vice President, Production Planning
Joined SanMar in 2012

Laura has spent her career making sure customers get what they need when they need it. She and her team at SanMar are responsible for buying the right amount of product at the right time and getting it to the right location. And she loves her job.

Laura managed inventory at Eddie Bauer for 23 years across several product categories. She then brought this experience to SanMar, first responsible for forecasting at the item level on the Demand Planning team, then ensuring inventory depth and providing projections to vendors with the Production Planning group. Now she oversees these aspects as well as the SanMar Allocation and Purchasing teams – all critically important to keeping products available.

Laura and her husband of 26 years have two children, and you’ll often find them visiting family or relaxing at the beach on Whidbey Island, whenever they can get away.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "'Be Nice' seems so simple, but it is so important in how we do business and how we treat each other. It is about being kind and thoughtful in hard conversations. It’s a reminder to listen and to be a good partner!"

Go-to Inspiration: A reminder from writer, naturalist and 26th American President Teddy Roosevelt: "Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are."

Education: Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Washington State University

MARK SZKUDLAREK

Vice President, IT Operations
Joined SanMar in 2022

Responsible for everything from IT infrastructure to cybersecurity and the devices our employees use to communicate and collaborate, Mark and his team live at the technological heart of the company.

With years of experience building data centers and infrastructure solutions at companies such as Novelis, Aleris and Kellogg Company, Mark brings the expertise to make technology an enabler for how employees and customers do business at SanMar. An Army veteran, Mark believes his time with the Army Field Artillery has given him a global perspective that helps him appreciate and integrate differing points of view into successful outcomes.

When not at work, you can find this dad of two supporting his kids’ interests in theater, music and gaming after cooking breakfast in the morning. Chances are he's sporting one of our OGIO® Endurance shirts, his top pick of SanMar's active apparel.

Go-to Inspiration: A quote from Mark’s friend and former CEO of Gamestop, Paul Raines, "When things are working, look out the window at those who contributed and thank them. When things are not working, look in the mirror."

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame

Melissa Nelson

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Joined SanMar in 2008

Melissa Nelson says her team's most important contributions happen under the radar, finding ways for SanMar to say "yes."

Helping take our business goals from vision to reality, Melissa's efforts to flag risk, increase transparency and protect trademark, brand and intellectual property ensure SanMar's sound business practices. Before joining us, Melissa logged eight years at Perkins Coie in Seattle, and also served as clerk for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Her expertise led SanMar to the forefront of adopting the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), not just in our industry but retail apparel in general. Today Melissa also oversees SanMar's top-level status with the Fair Labor Association (FLA), keeping a watchful eye to confirm safety, integrity and regulatory compliance across our supply chain.

After hours, Melissa and her husband and children enjoy theater and travel. She and their extended family of 18 head to Disneyworld together every other year and Melissa outfits the entire clan with matching apparel. Most recently she chose her latest go-to pick — Port & Company's^® Fan Favorite, the PC450 tee.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "Be Nice. We take 'Be Nice' to heart with everyone we deal with — not just SanMar employees and customers, but outside vendors and even opposing counsel."

Go-to Inspiration: "Learn by doing. I like to challenge my team to tackle work that makes them a little bit uncomfortable, because that's how people learn and grow."

Education: University of California, Berkeley, NYU Law School

Brian Thompson

Vice President, Distribution
Joined SanMar in 1995

Brian Thompson is a former Navy veteran who has worked at SanMar for almost 25 years. During his Navy career and early days at SanMar he always tried to learn as much as possible about the operations. “I used to follow people around and asked a ton of questions. I probably drove them crazy.” Brian credits his success to his curiosity and always doing the best he could in his current role.

His SanMar career started back in 1995, when he took a role as a call center rep taking orders from customers. Shortly after, he moved into the training department and eventually into a leadership position. In the early 2000s Brian switched his focus to distribution and was involved in opening several new distribution centers, eventually landing as the General Manager of SanMar’s Dallas facility in 2004. In 2015, after living in and raising their two sons in Texas, he and his wife moved to the Seattle area where he became a Regional Distribution Director. He took over as the Head of Distribution in 2017.

On the weekends you’ll either find Brian in the woods toting his camo Ogio Excelsior backpack or on a golf course with his wife wearing one of his favorite Nike polos.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: “Make a Difference - I think this truly encompasses all of the Family Values. Whether you’re being nice, investing in each other or serving our customers, you’re always making a difference in peoples lives. To me that’s what the Family Values are all about.”

Go-to Inspiration: “Lend a hand, don’t point a finger.”

Education: U.S. Navy

Shelley Renning

Vice President, Merchandising
Joined SanMar in 2007

It was stitched into her DNA from the beginning — finessing the customer experience.

Growing up, this native Northwesterner cut her teeth taking care of customers in her family's retail store. That experience propelled Shelley's career to posts in buying and merchandising at Hanna Andersson Children's Clothier and Nike Golf (where her dad joked she "dressed Tiger Woods"). At SanMar, Shelley and her team design modern, classic apparel and activewear that make perfect canvases for decoration. It's working toward that superior customer experience that still inspires Shelley to keep her finger on the pulse of trends and an eye on what works. Turning an exciting vision into products that resonate keeps her reaching for the next big idea.

On weekends, you'll find Shelley mostly spending time with her husband and their young daughters. It's even better, she says, than all those hours she logged on golf courses and trails before the two arrived on the scene.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "'Do the Right Thing.' In publicly held companies, you've go to do the right thing for the shareholders. At SanMar, we do the right thing for the customer first."

Favorite SanMar Item: A busy mom and professional, Shelley's a fan of the District Made^® brand. "It makes an easy fashion transition from work to play."

Education: Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Business, Oregon State University

David Smith

Vice President, Technology
Joined SanMar in 2022

The options for utilizing technology to help our company and our customers are many and ever-changing. David takes a collaborative and transparent approach to solving problems and unlocking business value.

David’s strategic mindset helps the team prioritize and look for opportunities to help the company grow and be more efficient. David joined SanMar after leading enterprise application teams at T-Mobile and Travelocity. While he started his career in the world of Finance, he has spent most of his career in Technology. Over the years, he has found that while the impact his projects have on companies can really make a positive difference, what has mattered most are the relationships he’s made and the people he’s mentored. His advice to those just starting out? Be curious and don’t be afraid to seek out diverse work experiences.

When he’s not at work, David is often exploring trails, training for ultramarathons or working on perfecting the backyard pizza. He likes to recharge in the mountains or on the water in the Pacific Northwest.

Go-to Inspiration: We are all capable of much more than we think we are, so aim high, start small and keep going!

Education: Bachelor of Finance & Accounting, University of Washington; Master of Business Administration, University of Washington

Steve Cuthbert

Vice President, Sales
Joined SanMar in 2021

A sense of adventure is second nature to Steve Cuthbert, who brings 23 years of experience in the outdoor industry to SanMar. With his love of exploring new terrain, Steve leads the company’s robust sales department with a vision for SanMar’s continued growth.

Steve knows what it takes to discover new opportunities. After being the National Sales Manager at PrimaLoft and the Director of Sales at Polartec, he spent eight years at The North Face working as both Sales Director and Vice President of Sales. It was at The North Face where his path first crossed with SanMar. “I had a conversation with Marty Lott and he said, ‘We run the business on Be Nice and Tell the Truth.’ To have that be the North Star of your business—I was very taken by that and gravitated toward it.”

Though Steve calls Colorado home, he loves to travel with his wife and two teenage sons. He also loves cooking, especially a good eggplant parmesan, and hopes to someday perfect both the piano and his golf swing.

Go-to Inspiration: Words of wisdom from his father: “Rest in position. Don’t rest and then need to catch up. Get in position and then rest.”

Education: Bachelor of Science, Philadelphia University; Master of Science, Textile Technology, Institute of Textile Technology

Shelley Williams

Vice President, Marketing
Joined SanMar in 2019

Shelley does not shy away from a challenge. She is artistically savvy and well-versed in large-company branding, technology and marketing. Shelley’s background is tailor-made to lead SanMar’s Marketing Department.

She joined SanMar in the summer of 2019 after more than 20 years in creative and marketing roles at companies like Alaska Airlines and Disney. During her tenure at Alaska Airlines she led brand strategy and creative, including a comprehensive brand refresh, as well as the campaign announcing the acquisition of Virgin America. She also steered the creative strategy and design for a portfolio of websites for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, driving significant business to their online booking experience.

Shelley loves to see the world with her favorite traveling partner — her husband. Maui is her “happy place” but they also love traveling together to new places they’ve never been. She enjoys paddle boarding, documentaries, and neighborhood walks with her fluffy Miniature Schnauzer, Rex.

Favorite SanMar Family Value: "Without a doubt, it is Be Nice. Once you master that, the rest just falls into place.”

Go-to Inspiration: “Wise words from Oprah Winfrey: Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world.”

Education: Bachelor of Fine Art, Visual Communications, University of Oklahoma