Born in Iran as his father was a major in the Korean Airforce and working overseas, Gene had the unique experience of living in Sudan, Africa, and Seoul, Korea until immigrating to the US at the age of five. Growing up in San Diego and later moving to Los Angeles for college and the first half of his career, Gene immersed myself in the Fashion and Design Industries. He also built multiple businesses within e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail up until 2013.

In 2013, Gene joined Target in Minneapolis, starting within their Product Design Organization. This role led to an exciting expat assignment in Seoul, Korea, where he led multiple initiatives from 2015 to 2018. Upon returning to Minneapolis, Gene built a new team and capabilities within the product design organization. He is currently leading Product Design, Trend, and Print/Pattern development across many of their Owned Brand portfolio businesses.

Gene’s professional philosophy centers around innovation, collaboration, and the belief that great design can transform the customer experience. Passionate about global trends and cultural influences, he strives to integrate diverse perspectives into every project.