Jim Copeland


EXECUTIVE/DIRECTOR/ /COO

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 
Strategic Innovative Leader with 15 years of experience in developing and
leading high performing teams in achieving excellence. Successfully led diverse
teams including 1500 store national consulting team and $2.1B/8000+ employee
Chicago/Milwaukee retail operation. 

Talent for building high-caliber, diverse leadership teams. Collaborative leader
that received consistent outstanding employee opinion satisfaction surveys and
improved core retention in each of my teams. 

Results focused leader that has an excellent track record for exceeding
expectations. Achieving bottom line results while creating sustainable
shareholder and customer value. 

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Target Corporation- Minneapolis, MN 1994-2008
Regional Director Mundelein, IL 2006-2008
Director of a $2.1 billion; 8000+ employee retail operation in Illinois,
Michigan, & Wisconsin; Target’s 3rd largest market in the United States.
Engineered strong business turnaround in Milwaukee and Chicago markets. Built
high performing teams that have delivered the best operational, financial and
customer satisfaction results historically. Established stronger community
relationships through Hope Worldwide and Chicago Children’s Choir Board
leadership. Strengthened our relationship and talent pipelines with key
universities including the University of Madison, Marquette University, and
Northern Illinois University. 
? Increased comparable sales by more than 6% over prior year
? Improved workforce productivity by 6.5% over prior year 
? Improved overall operational measures by 15%+ over prior year
? Achieved company leading customer service score improvements over last 2
years
? Delivered best talent recruitment results in market history
? Developed and promoted 3 senior leaders; a 1st for market
? Opened 5 new stores; including 2 large Super Target formats
 
National Stores Merchant Director, Minneapolis, MN 2005-2006 
Merchandise Director leading 8 senior consultants. Responsible for facilitating
the development, implementation, and execution of all merchandise strategies in
all stores. Regularly strategized and collaborated with Senior Leaders; including
liaison role between the EVP of Stores and the President. Team functioned as a
conduit between the robust merchandising and store organizations. Through the
utilization of pioneering strategies, partnerships, and technology, ensured
consistent improvement from design through store presentation.
? Redesigned Stores Merchants strategic role as key thought leaders for
merchants & store leaders 
? Reengineered Transition Scorecard to increase effectiveness of delivering
merchandise strategies in stores 
? Improved merchandise presentations execution by over 40% in stores while
reducing transition workload by 8%

District Team Leader, Detroit, MI 2003-2005
District Team Leader for a $360 million; 1500+ employee market. Chosen to lead
turnaround effort in the lowest performing market in the nation. Rebuilt an
entire team of store team leaders and store teams in record time. Achieved
financial profitability within 12 months. 
? Improved significantly on all key financial, operational, and customer service
metrics
? Reduced team turnover by 20% for two consecutive years
? Earned coveted “Golden” financial award; the first in the 16 year market
history
? Awarded National District Leader of the Year 


District Team Leader, St. Louis, MO 2002-2003
District Team Leader for a $420 million; 2000+ employee market. Led major store
renovations, relocations and new store expansion. Cultivated a successful talent
acquisition plan to fuel expansion. 
? Increased comparable sales by more than 8% over prior year
? Achieved profitability in all stores
? Successfully remodeled 2 stores and opened 2 new stores
? Developed leadership performance document (Leadership Status) currently used
in stores 
? Developed DSD Vendor Scorecard to improve accountability, collaboration, and
results from several dozen vendors

Store Team Leader, Minneapolis, MN 2001-2002
Store Team Leader for a $55 million; 275+ employee operation. Took helm of
underperforming flagship store operation and turned it into an efficiently
operating and profitable store in 6 months. Hosted over 100 headquarter visits
including multiple CEO and officer walk-throughs as the official Target test
store. Developed the Back to College School Event strategy, in partnership with
University of Minnesota. 
? Increased comparable sales by more than 6% over prior year
? Improved significantly on all key financial, operational, customer service
metrics
? Increased workforce productivity by 7% over prior year
? Awarded Most Valuable Store Leader of the Year

Regional Operation Leader, Minneapolis, MN 2000-2001
Operation leader for a $1.5 billion Midwest market. Developed and implemented
key operational initiatives in collaboration with store leaders to improve
profitability. Achieved all objectives through thorough planning, rigorous
execution, and consistent follow-up. 
? Increased workforce productivity by more than 7%; best in the company
? Exceeded profitability goals

Store Team Leader, Winona, MN 1999-2000
Store Leader for a $24 million; 150+ employee college town store. Built
successful executive training program. 
? Increased comparable sales by more than 10% over prior year
? Reduced team turnover by 20% over prior year
? Increased workforce productivity by 5% over prior year
? Achieved best customer service scores in district
 
Executive Leader, Minneapolis, MN 1994-1999
Executive Leader for a $50 million operation. Managed in a variety of roles
including logistics, hardlines, softlines, training, and customer service.
Recruited and trained over 100 executives through an innovative training program.

? Delivered best operational processes in the district (1996)
? Achieved district leading customer service scores (1997)

EDUCATION

M.B.A. Management Concentration– University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
B.A., Entrepreneurship & Human Resource Management – University of St. Thomas,
St. Paul, MN 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS/AFFILIATIONS

World Renowned Chicago Children’s Choir Board Member 2008 (Present)
Hope Worldwide Board member 2003, 2004, and 2008 (Present) 
United Way Volunteer/Contributor 1994-2008
Sharing and Caring Hands Volunteer Manager 1985-2002 

References upon request