Bob Thacker Email & Phone Number

Coach, mentor, advisor for business leaders who are seeking guidance and insight.

Minnesota

Leading is lonely. Nobody alone can have all the answers. I know this firsthand. As a former CEO I wish I’d had a Vistage experience. That’s why I’m excited to be a Vistage Chair. I want to create a safe, open and honest space where senior leaders come to listen and share and help each other find success. Vistage is all about the power of peer to peer experience.Membership in Vistage is by invitation only and limited in size. Members gain fresh perspective and find solutions to their most pressing challenges and opportunities through:• Ongoing professional development• Sharing of best practices• Confidential help in critical situations• Access to a global brain trust for current thinking on business issues• Peer to peer interaction and exchanges• 1 to 1 coaching• Expert speakers and workshops• Member-only conferences• Online private website and database• A global network

United States

Championing a cause to erase teacher-funded classrooms. At present, teachers provide three fourths of the materials needed to teach our children. This adds up to $4 billion annually. I pledge to make the population aware of this disgrace and help raise funds to help our beleaguered educators everywhere. Our future depends on exceptional schools. We can't rely on underpaid teachers to make this happen.

Greater Chicago Area

For 7 years, I oversaw all marketing and advertising initiatives for this $13 Billion retailer. Responsible for strategic direction of both retail and contract businesses. Directed a staff of 150 people and created a unique structure that was regarded as one of the most creative and productive in house marketing departments in retail. I oversaw the creation of ElfYourself. One of the five most successful viral marketing campaigns of all time. I was twice recognized by Advertising Age is one of the most influential marketers in America. I was also profiled by Business Week.

Provided vision, direction and experience for BBDO Minneapolis. Responsible for ongoing strategy of the agency and it's clients. Led a team of more than 50 advertising professionals.

Led and directed all marketing for Sears Department Stores. Managed a $3 billion advertising and marketing budget for more than 800 retail stores across the United States. This included strategy, marketing tactics, planning, cross functional direction, research and execution for what was the second largest retail chain in the United States.

As Vice President of Marketing, I was an architect of the Target Brand. At the time I joined Target we had only 200 stores regionally. When I left, Target had more than 1,000 stores from coast to coast. I was responsible for key initiatives including introducing internationally acclaimed architect Michael Graves to Target. This led to a multi-multi million dollar partnership and more than 2,000 products. During this time I was also inducted into the Retail Marketing Hall of Fame and honored by Advertising Age as one of the top !00 marketers in America.

Oversaw a large group of creative people who created work for more than half of the agency's clients. Clients included General Mills, Pillsbury, Wells-Fargo bank (then Norwest), Honeywell, Kimberly-Clark and others.

I led the entire creative department for nearly 10 years.

Bachelor Of Arts And Sciences, Journalism-Advertising

Bachelor Of Arts And Sciences, Journalism-Advertising

Activities and Societies: Editor of the College YearbookI was very active in student leadership. I was editor of the Cornhusker yearbook..