(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, December 15, 2010) Nordstrom has a crazy return policy. Bruce Nordstrom, Co-Chair of the company tells sales people, “If a customer came into the store with a pair of five-year-old shoes and complained that the shoes were worn out and wanted her money back, you have the right to…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, September 15, 2010) Planning is the process by which we anticipate, organize and navigate the future whether for the next few hours, days, weeks or years. It is not just a business process. We plan family gatherings, holidays, dentist appointments and all manner of personal details. We do this…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, October 21, 2010) I was recently in the U.S. for an extended period. With our dollar virtually at par, I decided to do some shopping. There was a Nordstrom’s Department Store nearby. As I walked into the store I could see sales clerks everywhere. They were helping customers. Not…
“Doug provided strong leadership to the processing plant and to the diverse group of stakeholders in the co-operative, who at times had conflicting interests. He has the uncanny ability to distill the essentials out of lengthy and sometimes contentious discussions among large groups. He is calm, patient, and very persuasive. He developed and implemented strategic…
“I have had the pleasure to know Doug for a number of years. He is a consumate professional, trustworthy and a man of the highest integrity. Doug is dedicated to his community and sincerely cares about people and their careers and is a leader in providing excellent recommendations and guidance.” KH
“(Doug’s) Senior Management skills helped the new plant expand very quickly, doubling sales within 3 years as we penetrated the US market. Implementing strategic plans, helping all areas of our business work well together, including production, HR, plant management, and Customer Service/Logistics all came together under Doug’s tenure.” TD
“One of Doug’s corporate responsibilities was to be a key member of our strategic planning team responsible for developing vision and strategy for the whole organization. Doug approached this responsibility with diligent preparation and a broad, big picture vision. Doug’s participation style was inclusive and non threatening but Doug would also confidently debate perspectives that…
“Doug was a key partner in the implementation of our aseptic puree supply initiative, which was a revolutionary idea at the time in the North American raspberry industry. He was an early adopter of corroborative inventory management techniques and packaging sustainability concepts. Doug managed the overall business with the highest level of professionalism in the…