Board of Directors

The management team of Lela is an expert group with impressive synergies. Together, they have significant experience in structuring, financing, managing and growing private and public companies.

 

Tina Hofer, Managing Director

Tina Hofer founded Lela Designs in January 2006 after recognizing a need for fashionable, eco-luxury women’s golf wear. Under the direction of Hofer, Lela Designs creates fresh, functional apparel produced with innovative, environmentally-friendly fabrics. Hofer has generated considerable industry attention for the Lela concept which sparked a shift into the women’s wear division just one year after founding Lela due to demand for both sport and lifestyle wear. A passionate supporter of the environment and a believer that small acts make a big difference, Hofer follows an eco-conscious lifestyle by recycling, donating clothing and unused products, eating organic and doing as much as she can to conserve natural resources, eliminate waste and bring awareness to environmental issues. Through Lela Designs, Hofer continues these efforts through a charitable partnership with CAMFED International (The Campaign for Female Education). A portion of each garment sold will go to CAMFED to help further African women’s rights to have an education. In addition, Hofer supports a wide variety of local Canadian organizations.

Hofer was born in 1977 in Mission, Canada. After graduating high school, she briefly studied media communications before traveling to Australia and Europe where she spent much of her early twenties and holds dual citizenship. After returning home to Canada, Hofer was a rep for a London-based fashion line in Vancouver for a short time before creating 2BU Living Your Sports, a line of custom performance sportswear. Though the line was highly successful, Hofer sought more creative freedom and the retail fashion industry struck a chord in her.

An adventurous spirit and outdoor enthusiast, Hofer enjoys backpacking through new countries and experiencing new cultures, Bikram yoga, hiking, skiing, golfing, and is actively training for her second full marathon.

Hofer currently resides in Vancouver.

 

Tracey Kidd, VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Ms Kidd is an experienced entrepreneur who has achieved considerable success while developing and implementing growth and communications strategies for companies across a broad range of industries. In particular, she has financed and developed communications and marketing strategies for several successful public and private companies, notably in the television and media space. Ms Kidd has raised millions of dollars of venture capital and has established an expansive network of retail and institutional investors who invest in new technology situations. Ms Kidd has contacts in fashion and media in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Miami. Going forward, she will be focusing her fundraising, marketing and communications efforts on Lela Designs.

 

JANNA BISHOP, PRODUCTION MANAGER AND DESIGN ASSISTANT

Ms Bishop is responsible for executing design and managing the production process with the various contractors. She graduated from the Art Institute of Vancouver with an advanced diploma in Fashion Design and Merchandising in 2006. Since then she has worked in design and production for a high end
children's line based in Vancouver. She has also volunteered extensively, both locally and abroad.

 

Courtney Watkins, Sales

Ms Watkins is responsible for leading the Lela Designs sales program in California as well as conducting sales administration and coordination with the regional Sales Representatives. Ms Watkins will also be launching Trophy Wife to the California market. Ms Watkins has been in sales for the past year and comes to us from the Los Angeles market where she has significant experience working with the top stylists in the city. While in Los Angeles, Ms Watkins has built an extensive contact list and has been using this network to promote and advance the Lela brand in this key market area. Prior to Lela Designs, she worked as Paula Abdul’s personal assistant and also attended The Fashion Institute of Designs and Merchandising in L.A.

 

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