Dana Mckinney Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago

We want to change the way you shop for groceries! Chicago Market is a start-up food co-op we're building on the north side of Chicago. We have over 2,430 Owners and an active community of engaged supporters.Chicago Market will be a big, bright, beautiful, community-owned and democratically-run grocery store featuring local, sustainably-farmed produce, meat, and dairy products, as well as all of the other staples you'd expect from your market - dry goods, frozen foods, household items, and wine, beer, and liquor. We'll have a large bulk department, delicious prepared foods, and fresh-baked goods. Chicago Market will be a community hub where shoppers can grab a coffee or sit and enjoy our prepared foods selections while attending workshops, classes, meetings, and performances.Chicago Market will provide farm-to-table transparency about food, its origins, and its processes. It will educate its community about nutrition, ingredient sourcing, and methods of food production. The Market will support sustainability and integrity in all areas, including environmental stewardship, fair labor practices, abiding by the cooperative principles and working towards systemic justice. It will be devoted to the triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Prosperity.I am currently serving my third term on the board of directors and was elected by my fellow directors to serve as vice-president of the board for a third term as well. I chaired our General Manager Search Committee and was the primary author of our 2024-2026 DEIJ Strategic Plan which outlines our efforts to address systemic injustices and build a more inclusive culture at the co-op. I joined Chicago Market as an Owner because I believe a community-owned and mission-driven food co-op *can* change the local food landscape. I am an engaged director on the board because I want to be an active part of making our dream grocery store a reality.Learn more about our project! www.chicagomarket.coop

Chicago

Born out of Crate & Barrel, CB2 offers a curated collection of modern, high-quality home furnishings and housewares at an approachable price. My role was to develop our talent to its full potential to drive sales, ensure the brand provided best-in-class service, and was positioned for scaling the business and growing the company through opening new retail locations and offering new design services.In my work I...• designed and developed training programs for new hire orientation and onboarding, selling and service skills, clienteling, product knowledge, and interior design services• facilitated leadership development programs for store and corporate leadership• assisted with new store openings, including coordinating all training activities and assisting new employees with acclimating to their new roles and the company• developed processes and resources to ensure the store teams had access to the tools they needed to be knowledgeable and ready to tackle any challenge

Chicago, Il

As the Senior HR Trainer for this multi-platform, global toy company, I researched, planned, designed, and facilitated training programs for all levels of employees. This encompassed a wide curriculum of training content, with topics such as leadership development, team building, self-awareness, new hire on-boarding, product knowledge, sales and service, point-of-sale system usage, safety, information security, and basic computer skills.I sat on various cross-functional teams assisting others with understanding the retail channel's role or procedures, and utilizing my problem solving skills to help design processes and create plans that were well thought out and took a holistic view of the organization in mind.In my work I...• fostered strong employee engagement throughout all levels of the organization• advised retail leaders at locations throughout the country and shared best practices• developed emerging leaders through learning opportunities that gave them a strong foundation of management skills• provided store teams with the resources and learning development they needed to be their best• provided insights to senior leaders to inform strategic planning efforts• supported initiatives in functional areas across the entire organizationI was most proficient at driving cultural understanding and encouraging staff to embody the values of the organization. When they needed someone to speak... to the media during store openings, to outside business partners joining us on projects, or to customers with challenging service problems... and they needed the speaker to unequivocally uphold the American Girl brand... they came to me.

Chicago, Il

As the Customer Service Manager at the flagship location of this experiential toy retailer, I was responsible for ensuring girls and their families enjoyed their ”best day ever” during their visits.In my work I...• directly supervised 50+ team members in 4 different departments• instructed all levels of staff, from front line associates to the General Manager, in the resolution of customer issues• was a key member of the team that created the American Girl Service Guide, outlining the exceptional customer service standards and expectations for which we were known• created, developed, and managed the Doll Hair Salon from its inception generating sales from $48,000 in its first year to over $378,000+ in my last year as manager (a 687% increase)• created, developed, and managed the Personal Shopping department creating a clienteling/CRM system, service standards and expectations, and generating $2.2M+ in sales• identified and developed five direct reports to eventually move on to management positions at retail locations across the country

Chicago, Il

As the Human Resources Generalist for the Chicago flagship location of the iconic toy retailer, I sourced, recruited, interviewed, and hired all necessary staffing for our store, up to 250 employees seasonally, in all functional areas and assisted with the performance management process for the team.In my work I...• developed the store culture to maximize customer service and sales productivity• created and facilitated training programs for all staff including new hire on-boarding, selling skills, and continuing education for all positions• designed and facilitated a leadership training program to develop Sales Lead team as bench strength for management roles• established parameters for and monitored payroll budget at the store level to stay within corporate guidelines• upheld all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to employment• acted as the store representative for all local public relations situations, including several television interviews highlighting “hot toys” for the holiday season

Chicago, Il

As the Floor Manager at this high-end, specialty toy retailer, I managed one of three sales floors consisting of an average of 8-12 departments generating $4,000,000+ in sales annually.• Supervised staff of up to 65 people, including supervisors, sales associates, cashiers, and product demonstrators• Developed and trained staff in sales, customer service, and product knowledge, including creating training tools such as scavenger hunts and demonstration programs• Analyzed merchandise sell-through, communicated with buyers, and orchestrated floor moves to maximize sales and take advantage of selling opportunities• Promoted several times during tenure (from Associate to Lead to Floor Manager)