Michael Chester
RETAIL EXECUTIVE
Strategic Process Development / Field Leadership / Operational Execution
WORLD KITCHEN, LLC
July 2010 – Present
VICE PRESIDENT, STORE OPERATIONS, 2010 – Present
World Kitchen, LLC – Rosemont, Illinois
Responsible for store and home office operations supporting 91 retail stores under the Corningware Corelle & more banner in the United States and Canada.
- Full P&L responsibility for the chain
- Managed team of 8 district managers, 4 home office managers and 850 store associates
- Developed and executed a real estate strategy to expanded into full price centers
- Implemented new store redesign to highlight brands and leverage cooking occasions
- Designed a new selling model that capitalizes on brand knowledge to improve service and basket size
- Implemented a business intelligence solution to deliver sales and key metrics to the field and home office teams allowing for faster and more informed decisions
SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
1986 – July 2010
DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS & FINANCE – mygofer, 2008 - 2010
Sears Holdings Corporation – Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- mygofer is a new retail format that combines the benefits of an online retailer with the convenience of a brick and mortar location. The first location opened in May 2009.
- Ideated, built and launched a new multi-channel retail concept with the goal of developing an operational model that would drive customer convenience with a new level of merchandise delivery speed and inventory accuracy.
- Responsible for the development and implementation of all operational processes for new retail format.
- Developed a new operational model that drives 99.6% inventory accuracy and delivers merchandise to customers well below traditional time thresholds.
- Designed organizational structures, selection, and assessment tools, compensation design as well as associate engagement approaches.
- Accountable for the financial planning of the format as well as the capital and expense planning for the overall project.
- Partnered with strategy, store operations, finance, IT, marketing, on-line, merchandising, customer experience and inventory management as well as SHC executive leadership to create and build the concept.
DIRECTOR – FORMAT RENEWAL TEAM, 2007 - 2008
Sears Holdings Corporation – Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- Responsible for developing a new operating model for six Sears market transformation stores in the Cincinnati market based on customer segmentation.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans for a new operational model, compensation plan and selling model for the 6 pilot stores.
- Developed and implemented a custom kitchen and bath installation business that has since been adopted into 6 new Sears locations
- Designed a new selling and compensation model for the consultative selling team and introduced new selling aids including a tablet PC to aid in selling via the website.
DIRECTOR OF STORES, 2005 - 2007
Sears Holding Corporation – Chicago, Illinois
- Held full P&L accountability for a district of 8 Sears stores in Chicago with $220 million in annual sales and 1400 associates.
- Led execution of strategic initiatives related to merchandising, operations, home services and human resources.
- Created recruitment plans and implementation for all salaried positions within the market
- Trained and mentored 2 new Assistant Directors of Stores
- Achieved the best sales improvement in the region in 2005.
- Improved inventory performance by 70 basis points in 2 years.
REGION OPERATIONS MANAGER, 2004 - 2005
Sears, Roebuck & Co. – Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- Responsible for all operational activities for multi-state, 120-unit region with over $3 billion in revenue. The stores made up the North Central region of the Sears full-line format.
- Guided activities for operational strategies and execution.
- Led a field organization of 10 district operations managers.
- Achieved best region improvement in expense control in 2004.
- Partnered with home office support team to develop receiving process improvements that were rolled out to the chain.
STORE MANAGER, 1999 - 2004
Sears, Roebuck & Co
Glen Burnie, Maryland – 2003 - 2004
- Annual Sales: $45 million
- Turnaround store.
- Recruited and developed management staff, re-instituted processes and standards, and developed customer service focus.
- Achieved $3 million sales improvement in one year.
Bel Air, Maryland – 2002 - 2003
Annual Sales: $23 million
- New store opening.
- Responsible for recruiting and hiring store team, merchandising new store, implementing new full-line format model.
- Exceeded 1st year pro-forma by $2.6 million.
Cumberland, Maryland – 1999 - 2002
Annual Sales: $18 million
- Developed store management capabilities, drove store process execution and standards, and developed management bench strength
SALES MANAGER & OPERATIONS MANAGER, 1991 - 1999
Sears, Roebuck & Co. – Maryland/DC
- Held several salaried manager roles in 3 stores in the Maryland/DC market. Responsible for driving sales and customer service, recruiting and selection, process execution, expense control, and facility maintenance.
EDUCATIONMaster of Business Administration (MBA), 1999 – University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MarylandBachelor of Science (BS), 1991 – Towson State University, Towson, Maryland