Craig A. Herr Email & Phone Number

Bentonville, Ar, Us

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

Washington, Dc, Us

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

As Divisional Vice President of the Central/West Division at Five Below, I've utilized my extensive industry experience to drive transformative growth and operational excellence. Overseeing a vast territory comprising five regions and 78 districts, I've led initiatives that have reshaped the retail landscape and propelled the brand to new heights. One of my key achievements has been the substantial expansion of our brand presence within the Central/West Division. In just five years, we've witnessed remarkable growth, escalating from 682 stores to over 1,600, a testament to our commitment to innovation and customer experience enhancement. Central to my role has been directly managing business operations across diverse regions and districts. I've spearheaded initiatives that drive sustainable growth and profitability with a focus on entire Profit and Loss (P&L) accountability, staffing optimization, and ensuring unparalleled customer experiences across various store formats. At the heart of our success lies our people. I've prioritized cultivating high-performing, empowered teams dedicated to achieving organizational objectives. By fostering a culture of excellence and accountability, we've nurtured talent, empowered leaders, and fueled a dynamic work environment conducive to innovation and growth. Talent development has been a cornerstone of my leadership approach. I've been deeply involved in nurturing the growth of our team members and grooming future leaders. Through mentorship programs, skill-building initiatives, and continuous learning opportunities, we've consistently driven year-over-year sales growth and productivity enhancements while mitigating operational risks.

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

As the Regional Director for Five Below's Florida, Texas, Mid-South, and Southeast regions from 2018 to 2023, I led multifaceted initiatives that drove operational excellence and propelled the company's growth trajectory. Spanning 21 districts, I assumed the responsibility of profit and loss (P&L) and customer experience, overseeing various store formats and sizes. I spearheaded the successful execution of complex market projects, including remodels, expansions, and new store openings, significantly expanding our brand's footprint and market presence. A key driver of our success was the implementation of aggressive growth strategies aimed at elevating brand standards and enhancing our competitive edge. We achieved remarkable milestones by fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement and contributed to the company's overall success. Central to my role was talent development. I actively mentored and developed five Regional Directors and played a pivotal role in hiring and promoting 31 District Managers. Through strategic coaching and mentorship programs, we cultivated a pipeline of skilled leaders poised to drive future growth and success. Recognizing the importance of operational efficiency, I continuously refined systems and processes through strategic design/redesign efforts. We significantly improved productivity and cost-effectiveness by optimizing front-end and back-room efficiency and enhancing inventory management practices. Innovation was at the forefront of our efforts. I led the development and implementation of innovative STORE-FLOOR-DOOR, BOPIS, and Curbside pickup models across the entire chain, seamlessly integrating digital and physical customer experiences. These initiatives enhanced customer satisfaction and drove revenue growth and market share expansion.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

During my brief but impactful tenure as the Regional E-Commerce Director at Walmart Stores, Inc. in 2018, I spearheaded initiatives that revolutionized our online presence across Central and South Florida, aligning digital and physical operations to meet evolving customer preferences. One of my primary responsibilities was expanding the e-commerce business, a task I approached with strategic vision and innovative thinking. By seamlessly integrating digital and physical operations, we aimed to enhance the overall customer experience and drive sustained growth in the online retail space. Leading a team of seven E-Commerce Market Managers, I orchestrated all facets of the E-Commerce department, ensuring a cohesive and practical approach to our online initiatives. Through collaborative efforts, we analyzed market data and operational processes to identify areas for improvement and align our strategies with key performance indicators. A significant aspect of our efforts involved optimizing the digital customer experience within our physical store locations. By designing and implementing online initiatives such as online grocery pickup, pickup today, ship from store, and site-to-store services, we aimed to provide customers with convenient and flexible shopping options. In just six months, we achieved remarkable results, expanding from 32 hub and online grocery locations to 106, a testament to our rapid growth and market penetration. This expansion broadened our reach and strengthened our position as a leader in the e-commerce landscape.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

During my tenure as a Market Manager/District Manager at Walmart Stores, Inc. from 2013 to 2018, I had the privilege of overseeing a dynamic team of 11 Store Managers, managing over 140 salaried managers, and supervising 4,400 associates. This role afforded me significant responsibilities and opportunities to drive operational excellence and foster a culture of growth and development within the organization. One of my key responsibilities was ensuring our market operations' profitability. With annual sales exceeding $950 million and profits totaling $64 million, I was accountable for managing the total profit and loss within my designated area. We consistently achieved our financial targets through strategic planning and effective decision-making while focusing on sustainable growth and profitability. My expertise in metro market operations proved invaluable as I navigated various store sizes and formats while undertaking complex market projects. From overseeing remodels and expansions to spearheading new store launches, I demonstrated a keen understanding of the intricacies involved in retail operations. Through meticulous planning and execution, we successfully enhanced the customer experience and optimized operational efficiency across all our stores. In addition to my operational responsibilities, I prioritized HR and talent development initiatives to nurture a culture of growth and development among team members. I facilitated collaboration and alignment with organizational strategy by leveraging practical networking skills and fostering meaningful relationships at all levels. Through mentorship programs and skill-building initiatives, we empowered our associates to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our collective success.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

During my role as the Director of Innovations at Walmart Stores, Inc. from 2010 to 2013, I orchestrated transformative initiatives tailored to drive operational excellence and strategic growth within the Florida/Puerto Rico Division. With a laser focus on aligning company strategy with operational objectives, I oversaw a vast portfolio, including $17.6 billion in annual sales across 309 stores in 35 markets and four regions. I intricately developed, implemented, and refined key processes, programs, and technical applications to propel us toward desired company goals. This involved establishing robust Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), business unit growth strategies, and product strategies geared towards driving success and maintaining competitive advantage. My adeptness in problem-solving and analytics translated insights into actionable strategies for operational excellence. Leveraging data-driven approaches, I identified operational bottlenecks and spearheaded initiatives to optimize processes and bolster overall performance. Initiating impactful programs such as Inventory Management, Store Manager Recap program & Reports, and Lottery sales implementation, I streamlined operations, fostered accountability, and propelled revenue growth. Moreover, I introduced Front End Operations Scorecards, Metrics that Matter Reports, and OSA Reports (Shelf Availability Report) to track performance metrics and unearth areas for optimization, thus enabling informed decision-making and proactive problem-solving. My tenure was underscored by collaborative engagement with Senior Directors, EVPs of Operations, Human Resource Teams, Operations Teams, and Vendor partners. By nurturing robust relationships, we ensured strategic alignment of goals and initiatives, driving cross-functional synergy and achieving shared objectives.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

During my tenure as the Divisional Compliance Director at Walmart Stores, Inc. from 2006 to 2010, I oversaw compliance for 260 units, encompassing Walmart, Sam's Club, and Distribution Centers in Florida and Puerto Rico. My role involved multifaceted responsibilities aimed at ensuring adherence to company policies, procedures, and regulations. I led a team of six regional compliance managers, emphasizing the importance of upholding compliance standards across all operational facets. We maintained robust relationships with regulatory agencies, facilitating ongoing environmental compliance assessments and promptly addressing any identified issues. Collaborating closely with Risk Management, Internal Audit, and Employee Services departments, I directed compliance matters to appropriate channels for investigation and resolution. This collaborative approach enabled us to develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and enhance compliance effectiveness. Furthermore, I worked closely with corporate attorneys to resolve complex legal compliance issues, leveraging insights from regulatory requirements and industry standards. Implementing policies and procedures to mitigate compliance risks and ensure organizational integrity was essential to my role. Throughout my tenure, I remained dedicated to upholding the highest standards of compliance, fostering a culture of accountability and integrity within the organization. My efforts aimed to ensure Walmart Stores, Inc. operated ethically and responsibly while achieving operational excellence in a dynamic regulatory landscape.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

As the Regional Risk Control Manager at SAM'S CLUB DIVISION, INC. from 2004 to 2006, I spearheaded various initiatives to enhance safety and security within the Northeast and Central U.S. regions. One of my primary responsibilities was implementing comprehensive safety programs and strategies to reduce accidents and incidents across our operations. I closely monitored and managed the execution of these programs to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and effectiveness in mitigating risks. I proactively identified loss trends and developed mitigation strategies tailored to our regional operations to address emerging safety and security concerns. We could implement targeted interventions to minimize risks and prevent undesirable events by analyzing data and trends. Collaboration was critical to our success, and I worked closely with regional teams to strengthen risk control measures and enhance safety standards. Through regular assessments and audits, we identified areas for improvement and implemented corrective actions to address safety gaps effectively. Furthermore, I played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of safety and security within the organization. By promoting awareness and accountability at all levels, we created an environment where safety was prioritized and embraced as a core value. Overall, my tenure as the Regional Risk Control Manager was characterized by a relentless commitment to ensuring the well-being of our associates and customers while safeguarding the company's interests. We significantly enhanced safety standards and minimized risks across the regions through proactive measures and collaborative efforts.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

During my tenure at WALMART STORES, INC., US FINANCE DIVISION from 2000 to 2004, I held the role of Arbitrator/Senior Team Lead, where I was entrusted with significant responsibilities aimed at ensuring efficient claims processing and optimizing financial performance. As Senior Team Lead, I managed a diverse team of over 20 licensed claims adjusters across various lines of business. My primary focus was ensuring compliance with federal and state laws governing claims processing and arbitration, mitigating legal risks and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements. To drive financial performance and enhance profitability, I implemented strategic initiatives to reduce litigation cases and associated costs. By optimizing the open-to-close ratio and controlling claim costs, we improved overall financial performance while maintaining high standards of service delivery. In addition to financial oversight, I oversaw all aspects of team operations, including budgeting, workforce planning, and administration. By maintaining a focus on human relations, I fostered a positive and productive work environment conducive to achieving organizational goals and objectives. Providing exceptional customer service was a cornerstone of my role. I ensured clients and stakeholders received timely and accurate information while managing corporate communications effectively. We enhanced trust and credibility with our stakeholders by facilitating transparent and efficient communication channels. Central to my responsibilities was the efficient processing and resolution of claims. I played a crucial role in ensuring that claims were processed efficiently and resolved by regulatory requirements and company policies. We upheld the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in claims management through meticulous attention to detail and adherence to best practices.

Washington, Dc, Us

Jacksonville, Fl, Us

Master Of Science - Ms, Business Administration

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Human Resources Development

Education record

Education record

Business Curriculum