Address: Germantown, Wisconsin 53022 Home: 262.293.3095 Mobile: 262.955.5562 E-mail: RickyaB@aol.

com

RICK BROWN

Linkedin.com/in/rickbrown262
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY Competitive, innovative, and performance-driven executive, with visual merchandising expertise and business management skills, combined with hands-on experience in marketing, sales, fashion, events, and business strategy within retail establishments. Adept at formulating growth management strategies and comprehensive plans to motivate staff, boost productivity, and facilitate personnel development toward fulfillment of organizational goals and objectives. Commendation for leadership disciplines, perseverance, commitment, and dependability that created a positive impact to cross-functional teams and the organization, in general. Proven success in managing and implementing visual presentation programs and directives. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to easily interface with business clients, C-level executives, staff, and other professionals. BA Art/Design PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE KOHLS DEPARTMENT STORES, MENOMONEE FALLS, WI Vice President of Visual Merchandising 20052012

Reported directly to the Senior Vice President of Merchandise Presentation. Led the Visual Merchandising Team for 1,146 Kohls stores in collaboration with the Merchandise Presentation Team. Directed and coordinated the Corporate Senior Visual Merchandising Manager, six coordinators, and a field team consisting of one Territory Merchandising Director and four Territory Merchandising Managers. Managed all relevant budgets pertaining to visual merchandising projects. Established and implemented biannual visual merchandising standards and guidelines. Designed and developed in-store strike point and focal wall strategies to showcase merchandise and to highlight new brand launches and trends for the company. Developed and coordinated recent launches for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Rock & Republic, and Princess Vera Wang brands. Made significant contribution to new store innovation planning toward 1,500 stores by the year 2015. Planned, improved, and implemented new fixture and visual display packages as well as store-wide seasonal trim. Played an intricate role in the development of the companies new eSign system that is currently rolling out to all stores resulting in multi million dollars savings in paper and printing costs. SAKS DEPARTMENT STORE GROUP, BIRMINGHAM, AL Senior Vice President of Visual Merchandising 2000-2005 - Parisian Division of Saks Department Store Group, Birmingham, AL Senior Vice President of Visual Merchandising Provided direct supervision to the Visual Merchandising Department for 42 Parisian stores, including Assistant Visual Merchandising Director, 4 Regional Visual Directors, Cosmetic Coordinator, Vendor Shop Coordinator, Sign and Graphic Production Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, 42 Visual Managers, and staff. Collaborated with the Senior Vice President, Director of Stores. Conceptualized the design of quarterly visual guidelines, standards, and promotional collateral in cooperation with General Merchandise Managers (GMMs), Divisional Merchandise Managers (DMMs), buyers, Regional Director of Stores, Regional Visual Directors, and the Sales Promotion Department. Partnered with Store Managers, Regional Visual Directors, and Visual Managers in overseeing the implementation of established standards and guidelines. Planned and facilitated holiday trim import program in conjunction with the Corporate Purchasing Department and agents in Hong Kong and Shenzen, China. Created rug, fabric, and table cover import programs in Delhi, India. 19912005

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RICK BROWN

Home: 262.293.3095 Mobile: 262.955.5562 E-mail: RickyaB@aol.com Effectively developed corporate fixture and collateral rollouts for new private brands, such as Jane Seymour Home, Jane Seymour This One & That One, Ruff Hewn Mens, Ruff Hewn Womens and Laura Ashley . Designed and streamlined Paint the Town nail bars installations. Handled the design, development, and implementation of quarterly photographic collateral programs for in-store signing support for all private brands. Managed the expansion of customer service efforts by incorporating directional signing, comfort zones, shopping carts, additional mirrors, and improved lighting. Successfully spearheaded store openings, including Parkway Place in Huntsville, Alabama in August 2001; Stonecrest Mall in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2001; Brookwood Mall in Birmingham, Alabama in September 2002; and Rochester Hills, Michigan in October 2002.

1999-2000 - SAKS DEPARTMENT STORE GROUP, BIRMINGHAM, AL Senior Vice President of Visual Merchandising Assumed full management responsibilities in overseeing the Visual Merchandising Department for 249 company PMG stores, including Parisian, McRaes, Herbergers, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergners, Boston Stores, Proffitts , and Younkers. Reported directly to the President and CEO of Proffitts Merchandising Group. Led six divisional vice presidents of visual merchandising directors. Partnered with the EVPs and SVPs of stores, GMMs, DMMs, buyers, sales promotion, and DVPs of Visual Merchandising in establishing and implementing quarterly visual guidelines, standards, and promotions. Created and expanded seasonal trend, event, and themes in collaboration with the Sales Promotion Department and Fashion Offices. Handled the development of new store installations, shop installations, remodels, and retrofits in full cooperation with the Store Planning Department and fixture manufactures. Developed and supervised private brand fixture and collateral package rollouts for Preswick & Moore, Relativity, Cezani, Pursuits, Consensus, and Studio Works. 1991-1999 - MCRAES DEPARTMENT STORES DIVISION OF SAKS DEPARTMENT STORE GROUP, JACKSON, MS Divisional Vice President of Visual Merchandising EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Art/Design UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, LITTLE ROCK, AR AWARDS AND HONORS Alpha Awards New Orleans-Based Competition for Southeast United States Alpha Awards Gold Seasonal Theme Department Store (2) Alpha Awards Bronze In-Store Display Department Store (3) Alpha Awards Silver In-Store Display Department Store (2) Alpha Awards Gold In-Store Display Department Store (2) VM&SD Visual Merchandising & Store Design Magazine Competition VM&SD International Display Competition 1st Place in China; 2nd Place in Intimate Apparel; and 1st Place in Housewares and Intimate Apparel FEATURE ARTICLES Look Catalog Issue 6 2003 Retail Design and Visual Presentation 2003