Luis M. Serafin
**** ********* **. **. ***********, New Mexico
Home 505-***-**** Cell 505-***-**** E- Mail - *********@*******.***
Summary
• Highly skilled Retail Manager with 20+ years experience leading in a big-box retail
environment.
• Effective and proven leader well skilled in developing highly productive teams
through a strong focus on motivation, team development and accountability
• Tested, proven results-oriented ability to consistently meet and exceed sales and
profit objectives through strategic planning and strong operational focus while assuring
Customer satisfaction throughout district
• Highly developed and proven ability to direct store management in merchandising,
operational and team functions
• Bi-lingual – Fluent in English/Spanish
Strengths
• • Critical – Analytical
High Energy, Self-starter
• capability
Judgment – Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership Effectiveness
• Results Driven
• Operational Excellence
• Customer-Centered
Experience
J.C. Penney Co.
District Manager 1/2004 – 11/2009 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Directed focused leadership to twenty stores in the district located in Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona. Assured each store met sales and profit growth objectives assigned to each
unit. Ensured effective and consistent implementation by units of store environment
standards, visual presentation plans and all company merchandise strategies including
marketing programs. Regularly coached, developed and evaluated management teams
in all units. Identified high potential associates and developed individual succession
plans in accordance with company HR objectives. Identified merchandise and
operational opportunities and developed strategies for growth of market share. Provided
leadership that fostered high standards of customer service and customer satisfaction.
Led improvement of team environment throughout district and ensured a high level of
associate engagement in the stores. Associate achievements recognized and celebrated
consistently throughout the district. Coached and counseled store managers on dealing
with unsatisfactory performers with the objective of improving performance and
increasing retention. Consistently provided appropriate input to Regional Manager or
respective department on merchandise opportunities, customer issues or market
concerns.
Sales Growth
• Responsible for +$250M in merchandise sales
• YTD October 2009 Achieved Sales of + 6.4% to Plan. 1st Quartile results in
Company. # 9 of 71 Districts in Company.
• Fiscal 2008 Exceeded Sales plan by +8.8%
• Fiscal 2007 Exceeded Sales plan by +6.3%
• Fiscal 2006 Exceeded Sales plan by +9.9%
• Fiscal 2005 Exceeded Sales plan by +2.5%
Profit Growth
• Achieve third highest EBIT as a percent to Sales in the Region YTD.
• Consistently achieved higher than average EBIT results
• High Level of focus on Expense management
Elevated Customer Service Dimension priority in stores
• Customer Service scores (Overall Satisfaction) improved to 1st Quartile in
Company (62%) 2009 YTD from 4th Quartile (52%) in prior year.
• Improvement scores in most categories including Associate Courtesy and
Respect and Store Environment
Turnover
• YTD September Turnover reduced to 73% from 123% prior year. 1st Quartile
result in Southwest Region
District Chairman’s Award Winner – 2006
• Recognition to the top 15% of 80 districts in the Company for Achievement of
Sales and Profit objectives
Store Manager/District Manager/Country Manager 12/94 – 12/2003
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico - Mexico City, Mexico
Led company retail entry into the Mexico market. Coordinated with all Home Office
departments to successfully meet opening deadline for first J.C. Penney retail store
outside the United States. Oversaw the successful relocation and transition of
management teams to Mexico. Directed daily operation of retail store with sales of $30.5
M, management team of 14 – 15 associates and store team of over 200 employees.
Identified, communicated and resolved any operational issues affecting our stores in
Mexico in conjunction with respective Home Office departments.
Relocated country operational offices to Mexico City in 2000 and established centralized
buying offices and buying team. Oversaw Mexico City World Trade Center store layout
and development in coordination with respective Home Office teams. Functioned in dual
role of Store Manager - Country Manager until 2001 when a Store Manager was
appointed. In coordination with Home Office teams, successfully opened a total of six
retail operations in Mexico. Established positive business and government relationships
within the various communities where we conducted business.
• Successfully opened and managed Monterrey, NL. Store in 1995
• Successfully opened Leon, Gto. Store in 1995
• Successfully opened and managed Mexico City World Trade Center Store in
2000
• Successfully opened Merida, Cancun and Chihuahua Stores in 2001/2002
Store Chairman’s Award Winner –1996
• Monterrey, Nuevo Leon - Recognition to the top 15% of stores in the Company
for Achievement of Sales and Profit objectives
Latin America Project Manager 5/93 – 12/94 Plano, Texas
Led cross-functional development team charged with creating Latin America strategy and
operation. Development team included Human Resources, Merchandise Operations,
Store Operations, Legal, Marketing, Real Estate and Construction Services. Worked in
conjunction with various Home Office departments and divisions to develop all
operational and merchandise components for establishing our retail venture in Mexico.
Worked with Human Resource Department to identify and recruit over one hundred
Management Trainee candidates to place in our Mexico units.
Oversaw and evaluated the successful training of our candidates in the United States.
Helped develop H. R. policies that met Mexico legal standards as well as training
materials and handbooks.
Store Manager (Dual) 3/91 – 4/93 Nogales, Arizona
Directed all daily operations of small box department store. Oversaw all Personnel
responsibilities and was accountable for achievement of Sales and Profit Plan
objectives. Executed Merchandise planning and purchasing within Inventory Allowance
guidelines. Oversaw the successful opening and daily operation of a much larger
second store in the Nogales market. Assignment included all Personnel, Merchandising
and Marketing tasks specific to the store.
• Opened larger, second store in market and exceeded sales and profit
expectations by 40%
• Nogales, AZ - Recognition to the top 15% of stores in the Company for
Achievement of Sales and Profit objectives
Additional Achievements, Awards, Education, and Service
• 2006 District Chairman’s Award Winner
• Four time Store Chairman’s Award Winner: Recognition for achieving top fifteen
percent of units with highest performance to Sales/Profit Plans Company wide.
• 2005 Chairman J.C. Penney Company Multi-Cultural Conference
• 1999 George C. Pitts Diversity Award – Company Winner
• Board Member: JA - Junior Achievement Board of New Mexico, 2005 – 2009
• Board Member: ANTAD - (National Retailers Federation – Mexico), 2000 - 2004
• Board Member: AMCHAM – American Chamber - Mexico
Education
University of Texas at El Paso, Business Administration
El Paso Community College