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Julie Cridler began working at IRN in 1994, first as an intern and then as a full-time Market Analyst following her completion with distinction of the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program at Grand Valley State University. From August 1998 through August 1999 she worked at Haworth Inc., a maker of office furniture in Holland, Michigan as a Product Specialist involved in a new product development and launch team. In August 1999, Julie returned to IRN as a Senior Market Analyst.
Julie has done work in a variety of product areas within the automotive industry. For example, she has conducted market studies covering several interior trim systems, exterior trim and ornamentation, vehicle electronics, and underhood components. She has investigated the potential for carbon fiber usage in the automotive industry as well as analyzed the market trends and outlook for truck and SUV bumper technology. In addition, she developed an expertise in sources of information on foreign markets for a project on global automotive component sourcing. Other project work has included evaluation of contracts for a component supplier and research support for several strategic planning engagements.
Outside of the automotive field, some of the clients that Julie has assisted with market information and strategy include a manufacturer of printing equipment, a theater seating company, and a capital equipment company that was diversifying from automotive into various new markets. Industries where she has developed a deep knowledge include aerospace and defense and recreational vehicles including motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles.
Julie is also IRN’s primary internal resource for graphic design of reports, presentations, and marketing materials. She also writes an automotive column on a bi-monthly basis for MiBiz West magazine.
In addition to her M.B.A., Julie also received her Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Accounting from GVSU in 1993. While working on her M.B.A., Julie was granted a Graduate Assistantship at GVSU’s Seidman School of Business. In 1995, she became a member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. During her academic career at GVSU, Julie received the American Production and Inventory Control Society Outstanding Student Award and the Seidman School of Business Outstanding M.B.A. Student Award. | 