Christopher Blann

Executive Leader | Operations Executive

About

Christopher Blann

Summary

A high impact, engaging leader with profound experience accelerating organizational growth, driving sales, team development, leading multi-unit organizations,logistics, facilities management, and my real passion customer service. As a analytical problem-solver, I am capable of devising creative solutions to overcome persistent business challenges. I believe in and practice Kaizen, improvement and change is strongest when done by developing and respecting a company's culture.

Some Notable Achievements:
  • 17 Straight years of positive comp sales
  • 28% increase in Customer Satisfaction. Raised NPS scores to 4.6 Stars, a 28% increase within 12 months across 200 stores.
  • +3X increase in company value over last 5 years to 1.1bn.
  • Increased average ticket on specialty transactions netting over 8% comp YOY and over 3% in revenue. 
  • 85% Employee Satisfaction Rate
  • Collaborated, Developed and Executed a flag-ship culture program, Eyemart Chemistry, raising employee satisfaction ratings for over 5 years. 
  • 20% increase in traffic. Created multiple marketing programs and promos increasing traffic by over 20% and sales 10-12%.
  • 75% Captured cell phone numbers. Pioneered integrated lab software to automate texting order status to customers. First optical company to introduce the process. virtually  eliminating the  primary customer service complaint.
  • +8% YOY increase in sales:  Led the simple pricing strategy for an increase in sales of 8%, 3% in comp transactions, and a 5% increase in average sales.
  • $6.75MM reduction in payroll: Created a payroll tool for over 1400 people for a 2.5% labor cost savings.
  • 68% Reduction of initial training:  Approved and launched Axonify to facilitate on-boarding, and training with 95% usage and reduced on-boarding to 8 days. 
  • Market-share Growth: Sustained market growth up to 20% over 10 years opening over 170 stores.
  • Disaster Recovery: Turned around the loss of a major revenue stream.  Actually increasing sales by 5% within 6-months. The response recovered 72% of the initial loss in the first 30 days. 

Some of my strengths include:
  • Transforming processes, and vision to deliver quality operational efficiency.
  • Communicating and leading the execution of “Best Practices” and technology updates for budget control and cost reductions.
  • Presenting analytical solutions and training to multi-level teams and leadership. 
  • Executing and collaborating on strategic capital expansion projects and budgets. 
  • Motivating a culture of excellence with integrity, passion, and servant leadership.
Great Teams have a "CAN DO" attitude.  It is not what you think though. That "CAN DO" attitude is that everyone seeks out what they "CAN DO" for their teammates.  Only when everyone is doing this can a team be greater than the sum of its' parts.

Timeline

  1. 2021 - 2023
    CEO PowerWash.com, PowerWash.com
  2. 2021 - 2021
    Interim COO, Southern Eye Care
  3. 2019 - 2021
    President, Men's Best Primary Care
  4. 2002 - 2019
    Senior Vice President of Operations, CO COO, RVP, Eyemart Express
  5. 1997 - 2002
    Territory Director, Eyeglass World
  6. May 2000
    Licensed Optician
  7. January 1993 - January 1997
    Optician and General Manager, Seminole Optical
  8. July 1993
    Married
  9. November 1991 - February 1993
    General Manager, EyeMasters

Results

  • 29
    Years of Experience
  • 25
    years of positive Comp sales
  • +1400
    people lead
  • 270MM
    ANNUAL budget responsibility
  • 5-30%
    Annual unit Growth Rate

Achievements

  • Advised one or more organizations
  • Received one or more certifications
  • Networked with other professionals
  • Limited-edition achievement recognizing early members of Workfolio
  • Established a notable business or non-profit organization
  • Considered an authority in a particular field
  • Taught a subject or trade to others
  • Received one or more promotions within an organization
  • Generated a substantial amount of money for an organization
  • Endorsed by co-workers or clients
  • Spoken in front of an audience about an area of expertise
  • Has had direct reports in an organization

Skills

  • Revenue Growth
    20+
  • Multi-Site Operations
    20+
  • Team Building
    20+
  • Finance & Accounting
    20+
  • Human Resources
    20+
  • Manufacturing
    20+
  • PERFORMANCE improvement
    20+
  • Project Management
    20+
  • Training & Development
    20+
  • Facilities MAINTENANCE
    20+
  • Risk Compliance
    20+
  • store locations
    20+
  • Vision and Health insurance
    20+
  • Inventory Control
    20+
  • Customer Service
    20+
  • Problem Solving
    20+
  • Recruiting
    20+
  • Communications Management
    20+
  • Policy Administration
    20+
  • Merchandising
    20+
  • Culture  development
    18
  • Data Analytics and Reporting
    18
  • marketing
    17
  • Budgeting & Forecasting
    17
  • Contract Negotiations
    15
  • Pricing strategy
    15
  • retail Store Design
    12
  • Disaster Recover Planning
    10
  • Vendor Negotiations
    10
  • Real estate & Leasing
    10
  • Government Compliance
    10
  • STRATEGIC Growth Planning
    10
  • Cross Departmental Team Build
    10
  • EHR/EMR
    8
  • e-commerce
    7
  • CRM
    6
  • Logistics
    6
  • supply Train
    6
  • Distribution Center
    6
  • Credentialing
    5
  • Tableau
    3

Questions & Answers

What are some words to live by?
I always hear in my head Garrison Keilor, from Lake Wobegone, saying "be well, do good work, and keep in touch". This speaks to me on many levels.
What is your greatest accomplishment?

My family. One, being married for over 28 years and two, my daughters. To be frank my wife has done most of the heavy lifting there. So, my greatest accomplishment is convincing her to say yes. 

Is an organization's culture important?
I believe Culture is the cornerstone for long term success. You have to understand Culture is organic; its is alive so to speak. All organizations have a real culture and many times it is not the stated one. Culture needs 3 things to ensure long term success. 1) It must be well defined to be clearly stated. 2) The people need to feel safe being "all-in". Resources must be allocated to "feed" the good parts and "starve" the bad. 3) finally it needs to empower people to do what is right by the customer especially when that action is not popular or even profitable. I believe that with the right focus on culture an organization will live on for generations and be wildly successful.

Resources

Images

  • Family
    Family
  • Touchstone spot
    Touchstone spot
  • Head shot
    Head shot

Videos

Links

  • Linked In profile
    linkedin.com/in/christopher-blann/

Files

  • ARE WE A MATCH - THE IDEAL POSITION.pdf
    pdf, 98.77 KB
  • Blann Christopher 2021 Resume.pdf
    pdf, 181.88 KB

Contact

Location

Greater Dallas, TX

Interested In

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