Richard "Eddie" Friend
About Richard "Eddie" Friend
Richard 'Eddie' Friend serves as the Senior Product Manager for Fasteners at The Hillman Group, where he oversees new product development and manages a $300 million business portfolio. He has held various product management roles in multiple companies and possesses an extensive educational background in business and political science.
Work at The Hillman Group
Richard 'Eddie' Friend has been serving as the Senior Product Manager for Fasteners at The Hillman Group since 2015. In this role, he oversees new product development within the fasteners category. He manages a business portfolio valued at $300 million, focusing on strategic direction and growth. His responsibilities include collaborating with a diverse team that consists of channel managers, designers, engineers, and third-party agencies to meet business objectives.
Previous Experience in Product Management
Prior to his current position, Eddie Friend held several product management roles. He worked at Meredith Corporation as a Product Manager from 2006 to 2007 and later as a Brand Manager from 2007 to 2008. He also served as a Product Manager at NSG Pilkington from 2011 to 2012 and at Everyware Global, Inc. from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, he began his career at Meredith Corporation as an Assistant Product Manager in 2006.
Educational Background
Eddie Friend has an extensive educational background. He earned an MBA in Marketing and General Management from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying from 2004 to 2006. He also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, completed between 2001 and 2004. Earlier, he obtained a Master's degree in Political Science from Marshall University in 2000 and a Bachelor's degree in Social Science and Natural Science from Shawnee State University.
Experience at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
From 2008 to 2011, Eddie Friend worked at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company as an Assistant Brand Manager. During this time, he contributed to brand management strategies and initiatives, enhancing his expertise in product and brand development.