GK Elite. Engineered for Cheer.

Elite Sportswear, L.P., the world’s largest manufacturer of gymnastics leotards and a leading provider of cheerleading uniforms, has announced the restructuring of the company’s Senior Management for Operations.

Donato Casciano has been hired as Executive Vice President of Operations.  Donato comes to Elite with 35 years of apparel manufacturing experience.  Most recently, he was the Director of Operations for Boathouse Sports, Inc., a niche manufacturer of rowing apparel.  Formerly the Director of Global Production for Under Armour, Donato’s leadership was integral to the company’s early stages of rapid growth.

In a series of related moves, Jeff Fields has been hired as the Production Manager of Cutting and Sewing.  Jeff brings 30 years of garment manufacturing experience to Elite, most recently with American Apparel in Los Angeles. There, he implemented quality control, auditing procedures and production lead times for on-time delivery within 22 facilities.

Nan Hurlburt was named to fill the newly-created position of Technical Design Director.  Nan comes to Elite with broad-based manufacturing and business experience from owning DesignWorks, a cheerleading and dancewear company in Massachusetts.

Mark Bowers, the new Quality Control Auditor, will oversee all quality processes including a beefed-up quality control department. Mark previously was Director of Quality Control at Ardmore Blouse in New York.

According to Dan Casciano, President and CEO, these changes will position Elite Sportswear for future growth in its gymnastic and cheerleading business units.  “The demand for our gymnastics products has been remarkable, given that we already are the market leader.” Casciano added, “We’re very excited to have these associates join our Elite family to help serve the gymnastics and cheerleading markets with greater innovation, quality and efficiency.”

GK-Elite Sportswear is the world’s leading supplier of gymnastics apparel and is recognized around the world for superior variety, quality, fit and service. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Elite Sportswear, L.P., the company behind the GK and adidas brands, continues its commitment to American-made quality and continuous innovation in designs for gymnastics leotards, cheerleading uniforms, and dance team apparel.