Bridgette’s professional experience includes strategic planning, product and project management, brand development, process excellence and organizational effectiveness for both consumer and B2B professional sectors. Prior to her current role, she supported a community non-profit dedicated to competitive chess for scholastic and community participants in Metro Detroit. Bridgette served as the Director of Product Development and Product Management for KellyOCG, an outsourcing and consulting firm focused on staffing and recruitment with global headquarters in Troy, MI. Her 25-year career includes roles as Product Engineering & Packaging Scientist, Procurement Manager, Global Product Franchise Manager, and Director of Global Trademarks for companies including 3M, M&M/Mars, and Johnson & Johnson Consumer ProductsCompany. In her roles, Bridgette worked on numerous projects bringing new products to launch and managing large scale capital and process improvement initiatives.
Bridgette has managed some of the world’s most famous iconic brands including Post-It®, Snickers®, Milky Way®, Starburst®, REACH® Toothbrushes, K-Y®, Stayfree®and Monistat®. Bridgette holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Packaging from Michigan State University. Bridgette also obtained a Green Belt certification in Process Excellence and a certification in New Product Development (NPDP). Bridgette is also a Parliamentary Procedure practitioner and holds membership in the National Association of Parliamentarians. In addition to her professional success, Bridgette has a strong presence in the Detroit area community, serving in various leadership roles in non-profit organizations. She has held leadership roles in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (30+ yr member), Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Detroit Chapter, National Society of Black Engineers, Product DevelopmentManagement Association and the Detroit City Chess Club. Bridgette was the Regional lead for all-conference planning execution for the Mid-Western Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Bridgette is currently on the Board of Directors for Detroit City Chess Club/Young Detroit Thinkers, a 501c3 with a mission to provide year-round services that enable MetroDetroit youth to excel academically by developing focus, discipline, creative thinking, special reasoning, character, and strategic planning through education, arts, language, fitness, and leadership programs and through the game of chess. Bridgette has managed operations for local, regional and national chess tournaments for more than 10 years and was instrumental in the success of dozens of local youth winning many awards including four national championships.