Randy Harward is Sr. Director of Research and Quality at Patagonia, Inc. As an employee and distributor of Patagonia for the last 35 years his is role is and has been broad with involvement in all aspects of development, product, service operations and management. He manages the company's advanced development work in materials and design, he approves the quality of all products and raw materials in development, he audits all potential new Patagonia factories world-wide, he manages Patagonia's global quality systems for raw materials and finished goods, he helps assess environmental impacts, and he collaborates in the development and successful implementation of more sustainable strategies. His education is in Botany and Plant Physiology at Florida Tech and San Jose State University.