AutoZone Appoints Nationwide Exec, Jo-Ann Stores CEO To Board Of Directors

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AutoZone Appoints Nationwide Exec, Jo-Ann Stores CEO To Board Of Directors

“The additions of Gale [King] and Jill [Soltau] to our board of directors will further enhance the depth of experiences and the diversity of skill sets represented on our board,” said Bill Rhodes, CEO of AutoZone.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

AutoZone recently announced the appointment of Gale King and Jill Soltau to its board of directors.

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“The additions of Gale and Jill to our board of directors will further enhance the depth of experiences and the diversity of skill sets represented on our board,” said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO of Memphis, Tenn.-based AutoZone. “We are very fortunate to be able add these two exceptional leaders to our board.”

Gale King

King is executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Nationwide, overseeing the company’s human resources, corporate real estate, corporate security and aviation operations. She previously served as the executive vice president – chief human resources officer.

Under her leadership, Nationwide has been recognized as an employer of choice for its strong culture, performance orientation and commitment to diversity and inclusion. King has more than 30 years of broad leadership experience in the financial services industry, including strategic oversight of enterprise staff functions and operational experience in business operations.

She currently serves as a board trustee and chair for the University of Florida Foundation, vice chair for the National Urban League and board trustee for the Executive Leadership Council and Columbus Museum of Art.

Jill Soltau

Jill Soltau is president and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores, the nation’s largest craft and fabric retailer.

Since taking the helm of the 870-store chain, Soltau has led the craft icon to modernize its product assortment, revitalize its branding and customer-centered culture, expand its digital and omni-channel capabilities, and launch a bulk buying program, Jo-Ann+.

Soltau has 30 years of diverse experience in the retail industry, with a background steeped in customer-facing concentrations including merchandising, private brand development, marketing and customer experience, as well as organization and team development and executive management.

Prior to joining Jo-Ann, Soltau served as president of Shopko Stores and held senior-level positions in national and regional retailers, including Kohl’s and former Saks Inc. subsidiaries.

With the additions, AutoZone now has 12 board members.

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Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

Read Full Article

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