Assistant General Manager of Operations
"I see an exciting future for us as we continue to grow. You can tell as you walk through the store that people are excited to be working at Macy's South and it shows in the service we provide. We are all happy and excited about the direction that the company is going."
 | Why did you join Macy's South and why have you stayed? |  |
I joined because I enjoy the service aspect of the company. I like the customer interaction, both internal and external. I love walking the floor and talking with customers. It's fulfilling to be able to assist customers in whatever their needs are. I look forward to making people's overall experience here at Macy's enjoyable.
| What do you enjoy most about what you do and what are your overall job responsibilities? | |
Being able to interact with customers is most enjoyable for me. My overall job responsibility is the operation of the store. On an average day, I look at shipping and distribution needs, and everything from merchandising to lighting to the store exterior. I also manage the overall operational budget of the store. I employ a full-time electrician, a full-time painter and a full-time carpenter to handle any updates or repairs that need to take place. Any maintenance or supply issues fall under my responsibility.
| What contribution do you make to your division and how does this contribute to the company's overall success? | |
My overall contribution is my 16 years experience in the service industry. I have a blend of sales and operations experience that gives me a great deal of insight into this business. I think that my knowledge of this industry is what has benefited me the most. I've been working with the general public for the past 16 years and I have learned a great deal along the way. I bring new ideas that make the overall organization run better. This starts with my store here and hopefully extends beyond that to the organization as a whole.
| What has been your most memorable moment since joining the company? | |
The warm reception I received from the senior staff when I first arrived was very memorable. That is what I remember most of my time here. Everyone has been very warm and open all through my six months here at Macy's South. They promote a great team atmosphere and that's important in this business. The company promotes team wins rather than individual stars. We all realize that the team is what makes us all successful.
| How has the training you've received since joining the company benefited you? | |
The training has been very beneficial. I spent some time in Atlanta for training when I was first hired, as well as some time here working with the senior management at my store. My regional manager has also helped me a lot in my transition. One of the most helpful aspects of the training was being able to talk with the operations managers at other stores and get a feel for how they run their operations.
| Is community involvement important to you, have you been involved in any projects in your division and was this something you considered when joining the company? | |
Community involvement is absolutely important to me. Since I've been here I've attended Urban League events and a diversity workshop. Community involvement and diversity are both vital to our company as we continue to grow. Macy's South's commitment to the community and diversity is going to continue to grow moving forward. I could tell that the company was very committed to these things and that really helped my decision to join the team.
| What do you like best about your work environment? | |
I think what I like best is the fast-paced and ever-changing environment. It's not a slow job at all. Generally there is something different going on every day. You'll find that there is a different need or a different opportunity for resolution on a daily basis. It keeps you on your toes and makes you feel excited about coming to work. That's really what I enjoy the most.
| What personal interests/hobbies do you have and how do you balance them with your work? | |
I like playing golf and basketball. I think that my general manager is very good in promoting a balance between work and personal life. The entire management team is highly committed to this and it is apparent to the entire store. Macy's South definitely promotes a balance by having manageable hours. They focus on maintaining the needs of the store through the development of the sales manager and other people on the senior team. We all work as a team so that no one person has to be here 16 hours a day, every day.
| What advice would you give to a new employee joining the company in a position similar to yours? What helped you establish yourself and move ahead with your career goals? | |
The advice that I would give to new operations managers is to make sure to ask lots of questions from your regional team manager and senior team manager. It's a position where it is important to stay extremely organized. What has helped me establish myself are my people skills. When I first started here, I sat down with each individual person that reported to me and introduced myself. I met with every person from the dock team to the gift-wrap team. It's important that your people know who you are and that you are accessible.
| What do you see in the future for Macy's, Inc. and specifically for Macy's? | |
I see an exciting future for us as we continue to grow. You can tell as you walk through the store that people are excited to be working at Macy's and it shows in the service we provide. We are all happy and excited about the direction that the company is going. It's great to be a part of it.
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