Steve Neilsen Email & Phone Number

Denton, Texas

Greater St. Louis Area

Men's DivisionContinued to expand responsibilities within J.C. Penney, managing three senior allocation managers and nine inventory planners as direct reports, indirectly supporting 28 business analysts. I worked in collaboration with merchants to drive execution of key company localization initiatives related to climate, demographics, and size. Key achievements include:▸ Reviewed choice count productivity and optimized assortment by store grade for stores and eComm, in… Show more Men's DivisionContinued to expand responsibilities within J.C. Penney, managing three senior allocation managers and nine inventory planners as direct reports, indirectly supporting 28 business analysts. I worked in collaboration with merchants to drive execution of key company localization initiatives related to climate, demographics, and size. Key achievements include:▸ Reviewed choice count productivity and optimized assortment by store grade for stores and eComm, in collaboration with Inventory Planning Team and merchants.▸ Guided Inventory Planning Team through analysis of size performance and optimization of size profiles for stores and eComm; also, reduced initial set percent to optimize flow consistent with sales curves. ▸ Partnered with logistics and supply chain for optimal method and placement of inventory.▸ Streamlined assortment planning process; eliminated non-value add functions to provide more time for business analysis which resulted in 20+ hours of additional time to create value-added processes. Show less

Children's , Women's and Home DivisionsUpon moving to an Allocation Director role, I worked in multiple areas, overseeing three senior managers with 12 replenishment managers and 13 business analysts reporting to direct reports. I developed and trained senior managers with succession plans to ensure quality bench strength and long-term success. Key achievements include:▸ Collaborated with divisional leadership to develop and execute allocation and assortment strategies; worked… Show more Children's , Women's and Home DivisionsUpon moving to an Allocation Director role, I worked in multiple areas, overseeing three senior managers with 12 replenishment managers and 13 business analysts reporting to direct reports. I developed and trained senior managers with succession plans to ensure quality bench strength and long-term success. Key achievements include:▸ Collaborated with divisional leadership to develop and execute allocation and assortment strategies; worked closely with corporate planning and allocation directors to ensure best practices were maximized for total company benefit.▸ Partnered with merchants to conduct basic assortment reviews and ensure intended actions supported company and business area goals.▸ Drove a consistent allocation strategy with defined initiatives across division related to flow, localization, and climatic sets; this helped to increase in-stocks and inventory productivity within assigned area of responsibility. ▸ Served as both an informal and formal mentor to numerous associates to help them develop the skills necessary to further their careers—witnessed multiple team members go on to become senior managers and directors. ▸ Worked with select cross-divisional associates on In-stock Committee with the goal to improve auto-reorder system; presented findings and recommendations to SVP of Allocation. These efforts resulted in a ‘never out’ methodology. Show less

Intimate Apparel, Active, Swim, and OuterwearHere, I served as the point-of-contact for allocation for the division; I coordinated communication to the allocation team, ensuring consistency in allocation processes and initiatives. I liaised with corporate planning for store planning, store grades, and store eligibility. Key achievements include:▸ Oversaw seven replenishment managers, ensuring consistency with best practices across entire division. ▸ Managed auto reorder… Show more Intimate Apparel, Active, Swim, and OuterwearHere, I served as the point-of-contact for allocation for the division; I coordinated communication to the allocation team, ensuring consistency in allocation processes and initiatives. I liaised with corporate planning for store planning, store grades, and store eligibility. Key achievements include:▸ Oversaw seven replenishment managers, ensuring consistency with best practices across entire division. ▸ Managed auto reorder merchandise for basic merchandise to ensure optimal item inventory level, by location, for assigned merchandise items. Show less

Men's DivisionAs I continued to progress, I managed two senior managers and indirectly oversaw four e-commerce planners and 16 e-commerce analysts reporting to direct reports. Here, I worked with the senior management and buying teams to determine division demand, sales, and profit direction, objectives, and strategies. Key achievements include:▸ Developed Internet financial plans for inventory, turnover, overstock, and customer service levels for assigned divisions. ▸… Show more Men's DivisionAs I continued to progress, I managed two senior managers and indirectly oversaw four e-commerce planners and 16 e-commerce analysts reporting to direct reports. Here, I worked with the senior management and buying teams to determine division demand, sales, and profit direction, objectives, and strategies. Key achievements include:▸ Developed Internet financial plans for inventory, turnover, overstock, and customer service levels for assigned divisions. ▸ Managed development, analysis, planning, and execution of strategies that directly impacted sales, inventory, and profit plans for the Internet portion of the Men’s Apparel business. ▸ Assisted in improving sales and profit performance by directing and coordinating analysis and long-range planning. Show less

Children's, Soft HomeProgressed to an allocation role, managed allocation process in support of entity sales, gross profit, inventory productivity, and operating profit objectives. I hired, coached, trained, and developed a quality allocation team; managed team of eight allocators. Key achievements include:▸ Drove pre-season and post-season analysis and reviews to uncover opportunities and risks across merchandise categories. ▸ Developed team mission statement process… Show more Children's, Soft HomeProgressed to an allocation role, managed allocation process in support of entity sales, gross profit, inventory productivity, and operating profit objectives. I hired, coached, trained, and developed a quality allocation team; managed team of eight allocators. Key achievements include:▸ Drove pre-season and post-season analysis and reviews to uncover opportunities and risks across merchandise categories. ▸ Developed team mission statement process where teams identified a specific allocation mission and tactics to attain team vision; process was later adopted into the NTP Allocation Manager as a best practice.▸ Selected, with four allocation managers (>30 in company), to develop allocation training for allocators and NTP allocation managers; this included allocation theory as well as interpersonal skills to help develop associates with impact and influence. Show less

Children'sHere, I managed six store planners; hired, mentored, and oversaw development and training of all store planning associates. I was tasked with developing division-level store plans, reconciling bottom-up entity sales, receipts, and inventory plans, and forecasting with top-down plans into a comprehensive divisional store plan. Key achievements include:▸ Developed ‘GP Plan Builder’ to formulate store class level sales plans; as a result, store pre-season sales plans were… Show more Children'sHere, I managed six store planners; hired, mentored, and oversaw development and training of all store planning associates. I was tasked with developing division-level store plans, reconciling bottom-up entity sales, receipts, and inventory plans, and forecasting with top-down plans into a comprehensive divisional store plan. Key achievements include:▸ Developed ‘GP Plan Builder’ to formulate store class level sales plans; as a result, store pre-season sales plans were built based on earned sales which improved profit and inventory productivity.▸ Created new store opening process where opening inventory targets were based on like-store (demographic, box size); this enabled allocation teams to work more efficiently when executing new store openings.▸ Served on cross-divisional store planning committee to garner learnings for best practices to prime consistency in methodology in all merchandise divisions. ▸ Won 2007 Chairman's Award for contributions to the new store planning process; this award is the highest honor bestowed to associates who contribute to the business from an impact and results standpoint—received as an individual award. Show less

Career Note: Previous positions within JCPenney included Senior Merchandise Planner, Store Planner, Basic Inventory Analyst, District Basic Market Manager – Warwick, RI, Assistant Store Manager – Farmington, CT, and additional store management positions of increasing responsibility.