About our customer support team
COLETTE PERCHES – President / CEO
colette@firstlinegloves.com
 Colette is our original glovegirl, having started the business in 1997. Having built her career in Silicon Valley, she returned home to her family and roots in Solvang, California to provide a “country environment” to raise her children. Continuing in her purchasing and materials career, she worked as a Purchasing Manager at Applied Magnetics, before being recruited as the Vice President of Operations for Absolute Quality Leadership, Inc, a start up clean room glove company.
After several years of learning the glove business from the ground up, she found her true niche in working with the 1st response industry nationwide. Her passion for gloving is evident, and her favorite part of the day is connecting with her “glovee’s.”
Her corporate education was built in the Fortune 500 “big company” environment, where integrity was integral and vital to the relationship process. However, Colette prefers the small business environment, where the personal touch and focus on the EMS market has been critical to FirstLine’s success.
Her “door is always open policy” encourages every customer to call or email at anytime. “I am blessed and my success is 100% due to each and every employee and customer I have had the good fortune to have worked with.”
DUSTIN KNACKSTEDT – Operations Manager
dustin@firstlinegloves.com
 Dustin conducts and manages all of the day to day operational requirements for FirstLine Gloves including Accounting, Purchasing and Materials. In this capacity, he specifically oversees all vendor payables, customer receivables, collections, off-shore wire transfers, as well as cash flow management. Dustin coordinates all operations for FirstLine, including procurement of all necessary supplies for daily operations. He interacts with vendors to obtain competitive quotes, while ensuring that FirstLine receives the highest quality customer service from our vendor relationships.
Dustin is also the manufacturing liaison and works daily with our factories to ensure sufficient stock levels of all FirstLine glove models. He works with the Customer Service team to ascertain customer usages and adjusts production schedules to accommodate the needs of the customer. He oversees the 3rd party quality assurance program, including database management of the comprehensive test data reports issued weekly by 3rd party test laboratories, including all NFPA certifications.
Dustin has been with FirstLine for over 10 years, having started his FirstLine career as shipping and receiving coordinator. He is experienced in all traffic and materials operations, overseeing the import and distribution of all FirstLine’s products.
Dustin is a graduate of Alan Hancock College and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s in Business Administration / Accounting.
JAMIE PITTS – National Account Executive
jamiepitts@firstlinegloves.com
 Jamie joins FirstLine Gloves as our National Account Executive. Having been a regional career salesperson for over 15 years, it’s time she expanded her territory. Jamie has danced in and around the healthcare industry for over 20 years, so this is a natural transition for her.
Prior to coming to FirstLine Gloves, Jamie was the Community Relations Director for two assisted living companies, where she excelled in sales, achieving 120% of sales goals. Through her work with senior citizens, she honed her problem solving skills and detail orientation. Her responsibilities included sales outreach to both the medical community as well as the private sector, event coordinating, development and presentation of marketing plans, budgeting, - maintaining the focus on her clientele's demographics.
Jamie was also effective in all client contact, from the initial tour through the final paperwork obtained from the physician. She was also responsible for review, implementation, oversight and completion of the contract process. She assumed the role of "Teambuilder Extraordinaire", as Jamie knows how extremely important it is for the company to work as a cohesive unit.
Jamie's forte is building quality relationships and will go the extra mile for her customers. Jamie's stance is that “no is not an option when it comes to servicing customers.” Jamie believes in integrity in business and strives for the best for her customers and co-workers alike.
A degree in Communications from Fresno State University is what has made Jamie successful in her chosen career of sales. Jamie will be responsible for all new sales growth and market development for FirstLine.
JAMIE MATHEWS – Western United States Customer Support Specialist
jamie@firstlinegloves.com
 Jamie is our Customer Support Specialist supporting over 200 accounts in the Western United States. Jamie brings to FirstLine 7 years experience in Customer Service. Before joining our team, Jamie worked in the retail industry as assistant to the CEO of a major agricultural distributor, as well as providing customer service to their many accounts. Her ability to communicate and put the customers at ease earned her the title “Director of First Impressions!”
Jamie provides the end user with all essential glove and industry education, including specifications, comprehensive glove comparisons and evaluation criteria, as well as an overview of our quality control program; allowing customers to make informed decisions and ultimately purchase the highest quality PPE. Jamie reviews and submits all bids for her territory and is responsible for all maintenance aspects of her account base.
Jamie has visited many departments providing presentations on our product portfolio, including our revolutionary Bio Safe Skin Protectant line. She has been instrumental in implementing hand regime programs at many agencies nationwide, reducing incidence of skin degradation as a result of chronic hand washing, prevalent throughout the EMS industry.
Jamie is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. She is a newlywed and resides in Buellton with her husband Mike, a proud wearer of FirstLine Gloves at his employer.
KOVENA AVILA – Sales Support Assistant Eastern United States
kovena@firstlinegloves.com
 Kovena is our Sales Support Assistant supporting our Customer Service and Sales team. She is the “FirstLine of Customer Service,” being first on the phones to assist our many customers with order entry and product availability. In addition, she maintains our vendor registration and customer database, assisting in the design and maintenance of all marketing literature, as well as overseeing our ISO document control system.
Kovena offers our glovers 5 years previous customer service experience from a variety of markets, including student outreach education with Santa Barbara City College, as well as counseling at a local state mandated group home facility.
She considers herself a humanitarian and her commitment to service extends beyond her professional career, volunteering for many organizations on the central coast including Teen Court, Children’s Miracle Network and the American Red Cross. Kovena received the Miss Congeniality award at a state scholarship competition and has competed in the Miss California pageant.
She is a current student at Chapman University and will obtain her Bachelors degree in Sociology. She is determined to graduate with honors.
JANA WILCOX – Sales Support Assistant Western United States
janawilcox@firstlinegloves.com
 Jana brings 15 years of Customer Service, Sales and Administrative Support experience to FirstLine Gloves. Before joining the FirstLine team, Jana worked for an international mining company as a Senior Customer Service Representative. She brings in depth experience in order deadline management and has worked in many dynamic and fast paced roles, including Executive Assistant to the Sr. Vice President and General Council.
As the Senior Export Customer Service Coordinator, she was responsible for scheduling, order writing, billing and preparation of pertinent documentation necessary for international export. In addition, she acted as the liaison between company personnel and freight partners and customers for export documentation and status.
Jana's enthusiasm, honest communication and commitment to excellence continue to serve her well in all endeavors, including winning the 2009 Rookie of the Year in her pursuit of a Real Estate career. Service with a smile is her motto at all times.
Jana lives in Lompoc with her husband and 2 young boys and enjoys spending time with them outdoors from the mountains to the oceans. She loves to ride her bike!
Jana is a graduate of Allan Hancock College and continues to pursue her education.
AMANDA CARD – Administrative Assistant
amanda@firstlinegloves.com
 Amanda joins FirstLine Gloves with five years of experience in Customer Service, Sales and HR in industries such as hospitality, telecomm, and cable. Before coming to FirstLine Gloves, Amanda worked for a large call center that represents Fortune 500 companies nationwide. She worked hand in hand with the management team to ensure complete client satisfaction above and beyond their standards. Amanda embraced the art of outbound “warm calling” and was responsible for not only the training of all incoming call center personnel, but also ensured that call center service standards were met by monitoring active calls in progress.
In her sales role with the cable industry, Amanda worked in an inside sales capacity, not only up selling the various product packages, but also engaged in daily new account installation sales. Her engaging personality was instrumental in her success in the sales area. This personality attribute was also the prime quality that made her a natural for a Human Resource position in the hospitality industry, working for a large corporate entity, where she oversaw hiring, retention and training. Understanding and compassionate, yet firm and direct in her approach, Amanda is a go to person for all employees seeking counsel with personnel related matters.
Her vast experience in various facets of business has allowed Amanda to be an instant contributor to the success of the FLG team, where she supports customer service, sales, as well as the executive team in their day to day goals.
Amanda has recently relocated to the Central Coast from San Diego and resides here with her young daughter. She enjoys horseback riding, running and going to the park with her daughter.
CHRISTINA PIRA - Operations Coordinator
christina@firstlinegloves.com
 Christina is our Operations Coordinator extraordinaire assisting our Operations Manager and Shipping Receiving Department. Christina originally joined the FirstLine team as our Administrative Assistant where her excellent accounting skills earned her a promotion in October 2009 to Operations Coordinator. Her previous experience includes full charge bookkeeping for a local guest ranch, having honed her accounting and customer service skills in the service industry, including banking.
Christina is responsible for all daily accounting activities, including all accounts payable and receivable, preparation of all tax statements, as well as all other general bookeeping activities.
Christina oversees our literature stock and allocation program, as well as all office equipment and company vehicle maintenance. She is well versed in many aspects of daily operations and with her administrative experience, provides overflow assistance to the sales and customer service teams with any customer requirements.
Christina resides locally with her boyfriend and young son, where they enjoy all outdoor family activities, spending lots of time at local parks.
MENG HER – Shipping Receiving Coordinator
meng@firstlinegloves.com
 Meng is our glove stud in the warehouse. He oversees all offloading of containers for entry into FirstLine’s inventory pipeline. He accurately processes all piece and pallet load shipments for delivery to our customers throughout the nation. He is charged with ensuring product is shipped in accordance with specific customer instructions, including pallet height requirements, stack patterns, and binding or strapping.
Meng interacts with our customers on a daily basis to provide product tracking status, damaged shipment recovery and return, as well as overseeing all RMA’s. His can-do attitude and meticulous work ethic has set the warehouse standard to an all time high for processing orders without any mis-shipments.
Meng is the newest addition to the FirstLine shipping team and his extensive background in the shipping receiving industry brings an ability to spatially organize and maximize the warehouse density. His dedication to maintaining his work environment to proper medical standards assures our customers that product will meet their cleanliness and packaging expectations.
THOMAS HANG – Shipping Receiving Clerk
 Thomas assists in the warehouse to prepare all daily piece and pallet shipments. He is our primary container un-loader and is responsible for all cleanliness standards in the warehouse. He prepares the warehouse for inbound inventory, allowing for first in first out inventory control.
Thomas currently attends college full time and is pursuing his degree in Criminal Justice.
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