Essense of Australia
Mike Rodriguez has a strong background in creative and marketing roles. Mike started their career as a Creative Manager at Gear for Sports in 1992 and worked there until 2001. Mike then joined Hallmark Cards as a Creative Director from 2001 to 2009. Following that, they worked at Staples as a Creative Director from 2009 to 2016. Currently, they hold the position of Senior Director of Creative and Store Experience at Essense of Australia, a role they have been in since September 2022. Prior to that, they were the Director of Creative Marketing at the same company from 2016 to 2022.
Mike Rodriguez's education history includes an associate's degree in Graphic Design from Johnson County Community College. Following this, they pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic/Package Design from ArtCenter College of Design. The specific start and end years for both programs are not provided.
Essense of Australia
Essense of Australia is a leading international bridal design house and wholesaler that creates and manufactures award-winning gowns for independent bridal retailers throughout the world under labels Stella York, Essense of Australia and Martina Liana, as well as private label collection Oxford Street and bridesmaid label Sorella Vita. The Essense journey began more than 20 years ago as a shared adventure that took place when Wayne and Martine Harris met - thus establishing the love affair with bridal that would go on to build the worldwide industry leader that is Essense of Australia. The union between Wayne’s talent for business and Martine’s experience in bridal design - brought together by their personal love story - has since fused two passions which changed the way our industry approaches and values the relationship between designers, retailers and brides. Innovative design combined with a passion for creating an exceptional experience has propelled Essense of Australia forward as a world-renowned company, allowing its international team to flourish in an environment that encourages living one’s best professional and personal life. Now employing more than 250 partners worldwide, the Essense team is truly valued as the heart of its growing success as a global company. The company’s Lenexa, Kansas office serves as northern hemisphere headquarters and showroom while its office in Perth, WA, Australia serves as the southern hemisphere headquarters and showroom. Additional offices located in the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Canada help complete the Essense global footprint. The Essense of Australia family of brands can be found at more than 1,200 retailers worldwide including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. For more information about Essense of Australia and available positions, please visit www.essensedesigns.com/careers.