Military Recruitment
True Stories
 Don Germano
Senior Vice President, General Manager, Kmart Stores
“I served as a Marine for 5.5 yrs with tours of duty in Quantico, VA; 29 Palms, CA; and Sasebo, Japan. After leaving the Marine Corps, I worked for UPS, North American Van Lines, Nabisco, and Kozmo.com.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“I found the challenge to turnaround a once great retailer to be very exciting. I think that Sears Holdings’ value system is fantastic and key to our success. This value system is an easy match for anyone with prior military service – I think that for an individual to be successful in any organization their value system has to match up with the values system of the organization.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“My military experience helped me to better understand myself and others. I also learned a great deal about planning, execution, and overall leadership during my military career. In any business endeavor a leader finds themselves managing and leading in very diverse situations – understanding people, planning, and goal attainment is critical to success.”
 Philip Dana
Manager, Specialty Talent Acquisition
“I served as an enlisted air crewman (AW3) in the Navy for four years with a tour onboard USS INDEPENDENCE, attended the Naval Academy, and then served as an officer in the Surface Navy for six years with tours onboard USS STETHEM (AUXO/DCA), USS HOWARD (CHENG), and DESRON 21 (N7) embarked on USS JOHN C. STENNIS. After leaving the Navy, I worked for Centex Homes and Kaye/Bassman International.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“I joined Sears Holdings because of the culture and the people. Retail is a challenging industry that brings a great need for folks that can face adversity, come together as a team, and maintain their core values. The value of employees that strive for improvement each day, create customer relationships, and look for ways to create a profit and make more money are all greatly appreciated here, and match well with service members. I also joined Sears Holdings due to its rich history and partnerships with the military. Having helped numerous companies employ veterans in the past, the one thing about Sears Holdings that stood out above and beyond is the mentoring abilities that the organization has. There are numerous senior leaders that have served, or are still serving their country, and they are active in reaching out to the new hires with similar backgrounds.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“Today’s business environment demands that employees collaborate and innovate, to overcome obstacles, and strive to be better. Much like training prior to deployment, there is never a perfect score, and never a chance to be satisfied with the results….getting lulled into complacency. Being critical of processes and paying attention to detail used to save lives, now in business, it increases profits and brings value to the team. I cannot think of anything that the military taught me that cannot apply to day-to-day business at Sears Holdings.”
 Chuck Brewer
Division Vice President, Sears Commercial
“I went into the Marines after graduating from college. I spent 3.5 years on active duty trained as a communications officer stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Washington, and the Pentagon. Upon finishing active duty I joined the reserves and completed my Masters of History from Harvard. I worked as a business intelligence consultant until I found my way to Sears in 2001. Since then I have been recalled to duty twice, once in 2003 as part of the initial liberation of Iraq, then again from 7/04 to 4/05. I also received my MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Business School during this time period.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“Sears Holdings is a strong company that wants to be great. There are tremendous opportunities here for young professionals that are willing to work hard and create something big. Also, there are few retailers that take care of their reservists the way Sears does. Sears Holdings’s policies extend far beyond those of 99% of US companies. As a reservist, this is important to me and my family.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“Military men and women are programmed to operate and achieve success under highly stressful conditions. In some cases, this tendency to work harder to ensure things get done will cause [former] military members to stand out in the civilian workplace. I’m no different than the average service member who joined corporate America to find that the core values that make me a success as a military member set me up for success in the workplace.”
What skills have you gained in your military career that have been most useful for you at Sears Holdings?
“Clarity of communication is key success factor in business. Leaders that establish clear intent and delegate execution for a desired end-state are just as successful in civilian life as in the military environment. Former military personnel will find a very good fit at Sears Holdings. The values and leadership skills that they have developed in the military will help them fit into most aspects of a civilian career, especially at Sears.”
 Ricky James
Divisional Vice President, Logistics Operations
Logistics
“After graduation, I was in the Navy for 8.5 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. I served on an Amphibious Cargo Ship (my first Logistics Job), an AEGIS Cruiser and at a Fire Fighting Training Command. After leaving the service, I moved through many organizations / industries prior to joining the company. I worked at Nabisco, PepsiCo and Marriott Distribution prior to starting my retail career as Director of the Regional Specialty Centers (Fashion Imports and medium velocity hard-line goods). Shortly after joining the organization, I was promoted to Division Vice President. Since then, I have been involved in numerous projects, the biggest of which is the integration of the Sears and Kmart Apparel networks. Under this initiative the Centers will double in volume and save the company in excess of $50 million dollars annually. Of all the companies that I have worked for, Sears Holdings has been one of the most fun and interesting. One thing that you can be certain of, coming to Sears Holdings is never boring.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“I joined the company because of the huge upward potential that I felt the company possessed. In my assessment, it had some of the most creative and knowledgeable leaders in the business world today. The company is pro-military and thrives on innovation, improvement, and recognition of individual accomplishments. The final selling point was the values that the organization stands for. It resonates with the things that I treasure most, things that all military members are raised on as members of the Armed Forces. Concepts like Teamwork, Integrity, Accountability, Positive Energy, Coaching and Recognition. For me, there was no other choice.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“In the Military you are expected to accomplish the task at hand. There are no excuses. You define the goal, develop the plan, and execute. All of that is accomplished through your people. In the corporate or field environment it is much the same. You use all the same techniques and your greatest asset remains the people that will help you get there.”
What skills have you gained in your military career that have been most useful for you at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“Leadership, development of people, and an ability to execute plans are the greatest skills that one learns in the military. One of the biggest challenges that Corporate America faces is ability to train people to learn those very things. You will have a distinct advantage if you choose to use what you have learned.”
Mark W. Meloro
Regional Coach, NE Division
Kmart
“I joined Sears Holdings on May 1, 2006. Immediately, I was placed in the extensive military training program close to my final duty station (Quantico, VA). After several weeks of training and various projects, I was directed to pinch hit as a regional coach due to an unexpected retirement near my VA location. After a few months, I moved to my ultimate destination and assumed my current role as Regional Coach of Operations covering Southwest New Jersey to Pittsburgh.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“In my transition research I observed no other organization came close to Sears Holdings as far as appreciating and understanding what former military personnel bring to the table. Additionally, Sears Holdings sent my kids to Operation Purple Summer Camp while I was deployed to OIF I. I had no idea who sponsored the program while I was on active duty but was extremely grateful since the camp provided not only the excitement of a summer camp, but had counselors on hand specifically for any children experiencing difficulties. It wasn’t until two years later while I was doing my research that I discovered it was Sears Holdings who sent the kids to camp. To me this illustrated some of the core values this company represents: doing the right thing without fan fair. Likewise, the SVP of Kmart is a former Marine and the CEO of Sears Holdings has a son on Active Duty in the Army.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“My career, like that of just about all military personnel, taught me to prioritize and juggle many tasks simultaneously. This comes in handy in the fast pace environment of retail.”
Rick Coates
Project Manager
Sears Logistics Services
“My seven years with the company has provided me with a lot of advancement and flexibility with my military career. Starting as a field trainer for Sears Logistics Services (SLS) in 2000, I transitioned a year and a half later to a HR Manager role in SLS. A year later I was promoted to a Logistics Integrator role, still in SLS. I stayed there for about a year until I was recalled to active duty in 2004. When I returned in 2005 I came into my present role as Project Manager for SLS.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“Sears Holdings is a great company with a long history of supporting the Military, especially the National Guard and Reserves. I wanted to have the best of both worlds, work for a company that offered unlimited advancement opportunities, and continue my Military career.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“My Military experience has helped me put things into perspective. I am able to focus on achieving the objective and push aside the non-essential issues that get in the way. I am willing to take on new assignments and challenge myself, something I did in the Military all the time.”
What skills have you gained in your military career that have been most useful for you at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“Leadership is the main skill that I gained in my Military career that has been most useful in my career at Sears Holdings. You can not learn leadership in a classroom. You have to put it into practice in an environment that allows you to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. You also have to be exposed to other leaders so that you can learn from them. The Military is great at that, the business world is not as proficient.”
Michael E. McGuire
Operations Manager in Training
K-Mart Distribution,
“I was hired through the Service Academy Career Conference and have spent only a short amount of time with the company. I am still undergoing my initial onboarding process, but in the brief time I have been with the company I have learned a great deal of information and found the management team and all the associates to be extraordinarily supportive. They are certainly interested in showing me “what right looks like,” and I know this will make my time with the company a truly worthwhile experience.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“I chose Sears Holdings because of the career opportunities they offer. First, Sears Holdings is a company that recognizes achievement and rewards it with increased responsibility. I realize my success with the company will be determined on my performance. Other reasons I chose Sears Holdings include the service they offer to the community as well as their commitment to excellence and the culture they are instilling across their network.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“The leadership I gained in the military is invaluable and will be a key ingredient to my success with Sears Holdings. I was immediately placed in a position of responsibility in the military and the “on-the-job” lessons I learned from these experiences were truly positive, ones that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Administratively, I was put in positions of responsibility that forced me to develop effective systems for success, so that if one person or piece of equipment was missing, we could still succeed. Finally, my time in the army made me adapt quickly in new situations, increased my situational awareness, and made me learn how to teach myself just by watching others. I truly valued my time in the service and the skills I learned there laid a great foundation for my success with Sears Holdings.”
What skills have you gained in your military career that have been most useful for you at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“First and foremost, my time in the military taught me how to treat people, the value of diversity, and turning apparent weaknesses into strengths. Administratively, the military made me learn how to effectively manage systems to get the best results of out large groups.”
Jacqueline A. Dickens
Assistant Buyer, Kmart Menswear
“Upon graduation from West Point, I served in the Army Corps of Engineers for five years with tours in Fort Riley, Kansas; Operation Iraqi Freedom I; South Korea; and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I held various staff and leadership roles such as Group Assistant Maintenance and Procurement Manager; Platoon Leader; Brigade Training Officer; Brigade Human Resource Manager; and Company Commander.”
Why did you choose to start a career at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“Sears Holdings is a top retailer which offers tremendous opportunities for ambitious self-starters. I chose to come to SHC because of a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the buying side of the retail industry. I joined the Buyer Apprentice Program and received six months of hands-on training before becoming a merchant. SHC appreciated my military experience, saw my potential and was willing to allow me to follow my interests, even though I did not have previous training or experience in the field of merchandising.”
How has your military experience assisted your career?
“My military experience prepared me for my career in buying at Sears Holdings because I learned and practiced countless skills that I use intuitively every day. These competencies include planning, organization, and following up; problem solving and decision making; multi-tasking; and teamwork. Veterans are typically quick learners, results driven, disciplined and attentive to detail which make them successful at SHC. ”
What skills have you gained in your military career that have been most useful for you at Sears Holdings Corporation?
“The military is one of the best environments to learn leadership in. I constantly draw upon the lessons I learned during my time in the Army and apply them to my work at SHC. Whether a manager or individual contributor, you can be a leader and effect positive change here at Sears Holdings.”
Tim Michael
District Service Manager, Pensacola, FL, Sears Home Services
I have been a member of the Army National Guard for just over 20
years and have deployed twice in that timeframe. I have worked
at Sears for 19 years and have always found that Sears’ policies
and practices are exceptionally supportive of the deployed
soldier. Interestingly enough, I have just received an alert
order that my unit will again be mobilized in support of the
Global War on Terrorism. My unit is set to deploy in July and it
is certainly a comfort to know that the policies that have
supported me and my family in the past are still in force today.
The policies we have in place are excellent for both our
deployed soldiers and their families left here at home!
Randy Boggan
Operations Manager, Raleigh, NC, Sears Home Services
I am an Operations Manager in Raleigh. I served 6 1/2 years in
the SC Army National Guard and 14 years active Army. We have a
few prior servicemen/women working here and the support Sears
has provided to the military community is beyond reproach. It is
a nice feeling having served for so many years in a Professional
Institution and finding myself working for another Professional
Institution.
Robert Hoffenbacker
Assistant Store Coach, Idaho Falls, ID, Sears Stores
I work in the Idaho Falls store as an assistant store coach of
operations. I have been with Sears for 15 years this November.
I'm also a Sergeant first class (E-7) in the National Guard and
have been in the Guard for 19 years this October. My job is a
Gunner Sergeant for an artillery battery. In 2004 to 2005, I
served a tour in Iraq. I love the customers that visit us at the
store because Sears supports the military. I hear a lot of
comments from customers that shop here because of what we do for
our Guard and Reserve associates.
Adam Giblin
Loss Prevention Agent, Salem, OR, Sears Stores
I was working for several months with Sears Holdings as a
Central Aisle Cashier when I went on active duty for eight
months. While on active duty the company continued to keep me as
an employee, and made me feel comfortable when returning off of
active duty that I did not have to look for a job. When I
returned to Sears, I had asked to become a part of the Loss
Prevention team. Without hesitation, the store placed me within
the LP team and I was back to work within 10 days of returning
from active duty. When I have drill or active duty orders my
supervisor makes sure I have the time off so I can fulfill my
obligation to this country. This company and the employees
within it are a representation of a company that supports its
troops and its country in a time when it is needed most. This
company deserves a Hooah for all they do.
Jennifer Carlson
Human Resource Manager, Sioux City, IA, Sears Stores
I have been with the company since January 2006. My experience
with Sears has been absolutely wonderful. The management in my
store has always worked with me to complete my assigned military
duties. My management deserves all the praise in the world for
being so flexible when it comes to me serving in the military.
Every year our base does what are called boss lifts where we
nominate our bosses to go to the base meet our base commander
and take a ride on one of our refuelers. Last year my store
manager got the opportunity to go and he thought it was awesome.
Cecelia Shanahan
Human Resource Manager, Pittsburg, PA, Sears Stores
I have been at a Sears Full Line Store in Pittsburgh, PA, for 13
years. In December of 2007, I celebrated my 25th anniversary
with Sears Holdings. In June of 2004, I retired from the Marine
Corps after 30 years of combined active duty and reserve
service. Although my family played an enormous role, Sears, as
well, contributed to my success. As an employer, Sears never
questioned the need for my one weekend a month, my annual active
duty or even during my activation for two months in support of
Operation Desert Storm. I am very proud to say that I work for
Sears!
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