Adam Schwarz’s Post

Post Expo seems like a great time for this. Allow me to reintroduce myself...my name is Wade Yenny, and I'm looking for my next professional opportunity/journey. Born and raised in Ohio, I spent the first part of my career in the restaurant business. Starting as a short order cook in high school and working my way into salaried management while still only 18 years old. I learned all aspects of that business, from front of house, to back of house, managing, and culminating in me actually owning my own restaurant for over 2 years. I transitioned into the grocery business with the same mindset. I needed/wanted to learn all areas of that business, so I spent a full year working every area of Center Store (and beyond). Grocery, Dairy, Frozen, Beer/Wine, Receiving, Night Stock, Merchandising, Cashier, Carryout--you name it-I did it. Eventually, I was promoted to be a salaried Grocery Manager. I made the move to corporate buying about 20 years ago and have worked with a variety of companies ranging from 4 stores to 161, covering formats from family owned conventional to high end natural organic to focused specialty. I've held various positions from Buyer to Vice President, and have been promoted at every company along the way, all the while building people, relationships, and brands. I've been asked...what do I want to do next? I've said I'm open to any/all conversations, but at the core, I want to do what I do best... Develop and Build. -People. -Relationships (both internal and external). -Brands. That's me in a nutshell...so... Do you want to #workwithwade? Or...do you know of an opportunity that might be a good fit? Reach out...and let's talk. “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take”  -Wayne Gretzky #grocery #cpg #sales #retail #crawlwalkrun

My career took a turn and would find myself in a Domino’s Pizza management program. What an eye opener in a number of ways. This was the Domino’s of 30 minute or free delivery, under 1500 locations, Toward the end of the Domino’s Pizza wild west days My introduction was as a Manager In- Training (MIT) in the Chicago market working at a naval base location in a not-so-great part of Lake County Illinois. I was smitten. Every shift was like a high-pressure sports contest. I learned how to really manage a diverse group of people each with their own reason to work in fast food place. I learned from a great Domino’s manager how to do paperwork forward and backward which was always a key skill. Lots of cash and in that environment, cash goes missing. During my early days at that location the manager earned a Rolex watch for doing a $20,000 week. This was in mind 1980’s and $20,000 was a lot of pizza and 2 liters of coke. I was in the program longer than most MIT’s but most MIT’s could not handle that kind of volume. My first manager role was the second location open in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Basically, opening the market. I learned how to open a store, hire, and work with new supervisors from other parts of the country. In the Milwaukee market I opened two new locations and both were top performers. Using the skills I learned as an MIT. I reached the pinnacle of management when I was transferred to what used to be the highest volume suburban store in Chicago. I encountered some resistance from that team however once I demonstrated my skills and who actually ran the store, we achieved a record week within six months. Then it was off to multi unit management. It was the classic you did well with one location lets see how you do with eight. More to come. Editors note: I used the AI feature and made this sound very generic, like most postings these days. #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementJourney #TeamEmpowerment

Build trust with leaders When working at a grocery store early on in my life, I was just a bagger who stood behind a cashier helping put customers' groceries into paper or plastic bags. At this point in time, I wasn't even driving. It took only six months for me to be promoted to working out on the floor helping to stock new items, remove expired items, and helping customers find the items they wanted. I guess I built enough trust with them because one assistant manager said to me, "I'll be right back." And then he disappeared. For two hours. I couldn't even find his car in the parking lot. It was just me and several other people stocking the floor. It got to a point where cashiers and the other stockers would ask me questions about what they should do. That was scary. I'm just an employee like everyone else. Another situation was when I gained trust with another assistant manager, his day-to-day activity was catching SHOPLIFERS. He wouldn't do anything else except monitor with store security to capture three to five shoplifters each day I was there. I mean, calling the police, showing the videotape, and coordinating with the hidden security guard. That was crazy. But, you can see the smile on his face every time he catch someone. The scariest feeling I had was when they put in me in charge of signing off a document with the delivery truck drivers. Making sure all the items that were supposed to be delivery arrived. There were counts that were off or simply missing. And MY signature would be on that document. But, they have faith in me, so I took my job seriously. And that's how I first learned about gaining trust by existing leaders to rise to be a leader myself. What was your first leadership experience? Share it in the comments below. #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #trustbuilding

It takes 2 years to develop a Store Manager into a District Manager. Due to this, most companies choose to hire outside for the role. One of the greatest joys is seeing people be promoted to District Manager. It's a life-changing opportunity that often leads to further promotions. VP, Owners, and CEO many started as Store Managers. There will be mistakes in the first year, but after year 2, that’s where the magic begins. A loyal, dedicated, culture-aligned employee leading others. What that does do to the culture and work ethic of all your employees is unmeasurable. Chances are someone at one of your facilities has the ability to do amazing things they just need a chance and someone to start them down the path. #selfstorage #people #culture

This is so true in every aspect.

Hmm why don't we hear more about these things? 🤔 A great example from Molson Coors Beverage Company on hiring for potential by scrapping the CV altogether. The results are encouraging, as candidates with the right mindset and values seem to be quickly thriving in their new roles. There has been a rather strong support for "hiring for potential" for more than a couple of years. It seems as if most people, at least in the talent acquisition community, can see the benefits of the approach to adress both talent shortage and to improve the diversity outcome of a hiring process. I think this is a wonderful picture of a couple of people who landed new jobs as a result of a future-looking (potential) rather than backwards-looking (direct experience) process. Hope we can see more examples like this. 🤗 Please like or share if you agree! #HiringForPotential #Innovation #FutureOfWork #TalentAcquisition #EmployeeDevelopment

Attention Hiring Managers I want to advocate for my fellow retail managers! If you are on the lookout for exceptional talent to join your team, look no further than a retail manager. Retail managers aren't just skilled in managing stores; they are masters of fast learning, leadership, and delivering exceptional service. Their vast experience in leading teams and handling diverse challenges equips them to excel in any industry. Why hire a retail manager? - Fast Learners: They adapt quickly to new environments and technologies. - Exceptional Service: They've perfected the art of customer satisfaction. - Leadership Skills: They've led teams through thick and thin, ensuring top performance. - High Performance: They often outperform experienced candidates from traditional backgrounds. Hiring managers, take note, your next star employee might just be a retail manager! #RetailManagers #Hiring #Leadership #CustomerService #TopTalent

This week we're listening to Jade Ponomarenko, our operations manager, talk about her role and celebrating growth in Mouse Tail. 🐭 ____________ This post dissects my journey from coffee shop enthusiast to multi-site operations manager in the specialty coffee industry. It's a story of growth, challenges, and the importance of building a strong team. Humble Beginnings My love affair with coffee began in a small village cafe, where I honed my customer service skills. Transitioning to a London specialty coffee chain, I climbed the ladder – Barista to Assistant Manager to Store Manager. During this time, recognising the value of understanding both "sides of the counter." Leading from the Front My promotion to multi-site manager was exciting yet daunting. Earning trust from former colleagues was a priority. I established mutual respect through open communication, sharing my vision, and valuing their insights. Delegation and Empowerment As a store manager, I was hands-on. This new role demanded a shift – guiding others in their leadership roles and taking a step back from day-to-day operations. Delegating tasks and trusting my managers was crucial. My focus shifted to empowering them with resources, support and autonomy. Challenges and Collaboration Balancing the needs of multiple stores while ensuring consistent quality presented challenges. When issues arose, open discussions ensured all perspectives were heard. Creating a collaborative culture was key. Regular meetings allowed managers to share successes, best practices, and brainstorm solutions. This fostered teamwork and improved operational efficiency. Celebrating Success and Continuous Growth Recognising achievements is essential. Often, it is easy to let praise go unsaid, as managers are constantly focused on improvement and growth. It became extremely important for me to go against the grain in this case, and not allow myself to be consumed by the addiction to improvement only. Maintaining site-level standards is a feat in and of itself, and deserves recognition. Reflection and Moving Forward Looking back, my first multi-site position offered invaluable lessons. The most valuable takeaways were the importance of communication, teamwork, and follow-through. Effective leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about guiding, supporting, and empowering others to reach their full potential. As I continue my journey in this second multi-site operational role, these lessons guide me in creating a positive and inclusive environment. It's been an enriching experience, and I eagerly face future opportunities and challenges. Bonus Tip: My key advice for new multi-site managers – empower yourselves with your on-the-floor experiences, balancing it with company goals and a business-focused mindset as you learn more about that in your new role. Good luck! Jade #specialitycoffee #london #hospitality

I used to be an awful... Manager 😬 Yup, you read that right! As is standard in retail, I was presented the chance to run my own store... With the promise of training, support and guidance throughout 🙌 Which did happen for maybe the first month... And that was it!! I was left stranded... And I was managing a team of 9 at the age of 21 Fortunately I did have a fantastic support network of fellow store managers at the time who helped me through so much 👌 But I was so down on myself... The cracks well and truly began to show! So I knew I had to do something about it... Either I gave up and found a new job Or I spoke up for myself Calling out those who thought it was ok to scream and shout in my face when things weren't going right... And it's safe to say I did the latter!! I knew what I was capable of with the right training and guidance... And being set up to fail was not an option! Even though I'm not in a management role anymore... I definitely learnt a lot! I became more confident and my KPI'S and NPS scores were there to prove it 💪 So if you're feeling a bit down on yourself and that you're not getting the correct support... Speak up!! Only your own voice can change your destiny 💚 #management #team #freshperspective

Yesterday I went to Panda Express for some delicious kung pao chicken and some spring rolls! As I opened my bag, I only saw one order of spring rolls, so I went back in and they gave me the other rolls I was missing. After eating my meal in the parking lot (I like to watch a little TV while I eat 😁) I noticed they only charged me for one spring roll, not two. So, I went back in and let them know that I needed to pay for the second roll. A young man rang me up and upon telling me the total, he said "I took 10% for your integrity." I was blown away! Sure, 10% off $1.60 isn't much, but that in the moment decision by an hourly frontline employee was awesome! He wasn't a shift leader, he didn't go ask for permission, he just took action. That's a perfect example of what it looks like to lead from any seat. Don't wait for the title, just take action like this employee did. When I graduated from college, I printed out some invitations at Staples. Similarly to the gentleman I just mentioned, this employee saw what I was printing and completed the job. He then handed it to me and said, "There's no charge, congratulations!" I've never gone to another store to handle my printing and business needs after that. If you've never read the book "The Power of Moments" I encourage you to! Has anything like that ever happened to you? #leadership #powerofmoments #coaching #customerservice #pandaexpress #staples