Michael J.

Vining
Home 843-884-0133 1500 Hopeman Ln.
Cellular 614-296-8866 Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
mve55c60@westpost.net
Executive Profile
Retail operation executive with over twenty (20) years of experience. Successful
ly assembles championship field/store supervision and corporate based support te
ams to produce operational and financial results. Proven ability to develop, tr
ain, and manage highly competent teams of retail managers to achieve high levels
of proficiency in rapidly changing environments. Develops organizational capabi
lities and effectiveness to consistently generate sales, reduce expenses, and ra
ise profits by improving processes and putting business solutions in place that
sustain financial success.
Professional Experience
VP Field Merchandising Shoes/Jewelry Divisions 2005 to 2008
Value City Department Stores Columbus, OH
Accountable to corporate and field operations for 122 stores in 14 states with $
150 million in annual revenue. Areas of primary focus were in development of mer
chandising and marketing strategies to increase sales and market shares. Provide
d my professional assessments of the day to day operations for the shoes and jew
elry division to the field management teams. My guidance was key in improving pr
oductivity and efficiency.
VP Field Merchandising Division 2002 to 2005
Value City Department Stores Columbus, OH
Created a new division within the department stores to assist allocation/buying
staffs with proper placement of
targeted products for merchandising purposes. Divided the company into four (4)
regions and assigned regional
managers to report the needs of the departments to the allocation and buying sta
ff.
Created the following programs to aide the buying staff and increase store sales
:
a "Never Out" programs
a Store demographic profile
a Departmental store capacities
a Instrumental in expanding special needs departments:
a Big & Tall Department
a Ethnic Store Program
a Juniors Plus Department
a Team Department
VP Store Operations 1993 to 2002
Shonac Shoes (acquired by Value City Department Store May 1998)
Columbus, OH
Responsible for all facets of leased operations and served as a member of the se
nior executive team.
Managed 155 leased departments in 15 states with over $200 million in annual re
venue, field staff consisting of 2
regional managers, 11 district supervisors, 155 department managers and over 1,0
00 store associates.
Scope of my responsibilities included profit and loss performances, expense cont
rol, merchandise allocation,
associate and management development, communications and loss prevention. Estab
lished partnerships with
Human Resources, Loss Prevention, Merchandise Allocation, Buying, IT, Store Cons
truction, Store Operations
Department and all department stores management team. Increased Comp Store Sales
for 9 consecutive years.
a Developed a tracking system to reduce payrolls expenses
a Inventory and Margin Management
a Loss Prevention/Reduced shrink percentages for chain by implementing store a
udit programs
a Merchandise Buying & Presentation
a Process Improvement & Cost Reduction
a SOP Policy Development & Implementation
a Developed Associate & Management Training Programs
a Organizational Communication & Strategic Planning
a Created & Implemented Awards/Recognition Programs
a Created & Implemented Management Bonus Programs
Operations Manager 1985 to 1993
Shonac Shoes Columbus, OH
Promoted from a District Manager supervising 12 stores in OH & PA to Operations
Manager at the Corporate Office
supervising 35 stores. In this 8 year period the company grew to over 80 stores.
Sales grew from $35 million to
$100 million annually. Assisted in creating a relationships between the leased s
hoe division and the individual
departments within the Value City Department Store Corporate Office. Developed s
olutions as part of quality
management team. Helped prioritize work schedules and delegated assignments. Des
igned custom spreadsheet
programs for internal use.
a Financial Planning/Management with P & L responsibility
a Expense Reduction
a Budgeting/Planning
a Store Layout and Design
a Talent Acquisition
a Team Building & Leadership
a Customer Service Initiatives

Professional References
James Lee - VP Merchandising Shoe/Jewelry Divisions ~ 860-424-1071
Ray Blanton - Executive VP Leased Divisions DSW ~ 614-872-1050
John Willey - Senior VP of Stores Value City Department Stores ~ 941-408-3795