Edward K.

Kotalo
phone: 614-419-1760 e-mail: edkotalo@gmail.com

EXPERTISE

Competitive Leadership Experience with expertise in P&L management, operations, budgeting,

merchandising, business development, sales and marketing, process improvement, organizational development
and human resources within small to Fortune 500 environments. Industry experience includes retail, healthcare,
service and consulting. Recognized throughout career for exceptional performance.

EXPERIENCE

Lowes Home Centers, Columbus, OH 2007 2017

Responsibilities includes store operational and support departments: Human Resources, Facilities, Freight Flow
& Receiving, Delivery, Installed Sales, Cash Office & Cashiers, Inside & Outside Lawn and Garden, Plumbing
and Electrical with direct supervision of up to 87 employees.

Assistant Store Manager Inside & Outside Garden, Plumbing and Electrical

Developed and promoted staff into management level positions.

Exceeded Sales Goals by 12.4% in all reporting departments.
Increased departmental sales growth by $1.6 million dollars.
Improved inventory turns an average of 46 bps over 7 retail departmental units.
Led a $14.5 million dollar sales operations within a larger $38 million retail operation.
Achieved Leadership Ring Award for maximizing Sales and Net Before Taxes (NBT) 3 years.

Assistant Store Manager Administrative Operations

Revamped Delivery Department correcting operational and customer service issues.

Improved Administrative processes including but not limited to: Non-Productive Inventory, Internet Sales,
Merchandise Returns, Pricing, and Inventory Replenishment Process to meet required corporate compliance.
Achieved Leadership Ring Award for maximizing Sales and Net Before Taxes (NBT) 1 year.

Human Resource Manager

Reengineering the Human Resource function to comply with both corporate and regulatory standards.
Facilitated a 176% increase in employee opinion survey participation.
Improved employee retention from 46% to 85% by establishing employee recognition programs,
eliminating favoritism and employee disengagement.
Increased ongoing training compliance from 78% to 98.6% by improving management engagement with
staff.
Recovered $53,000 in Unemployment Claims by successfully managing appellate cases in first 18 months.
Achieved 100% success rate in worker's compensation appellate cases.
Effectively managed Ohio Civil Rights Commission case and 9 internal ethics point charges with zero cost
liability.
Recognized in annual review for payroll performance management.
Coached senior management on organizational change and transition.
Achieved Leadership Ring Award for maximizing Sales and Net Before Taxes (NBT) 2 years.

GibsonFisher Ltd., Inc., Upper Arlington, OH 1997 2007

A management consulting firm that provides resources and advisory services to executives, boards and other
decision makers in the hospital and healthcare industry.
President - Partner, Practice Director

Responsible for the overall management services including: human resources, financial management, and
market development of the firms management consulting services.
Responsibilities included: supervision of seasoned consultants and operational staff, employment and
recruitment, training and performance reviews, management of personnel files, verifications of employment
and credentials, I-9 forms, outsourced payroll, and job descriptions.
Developed human resource policies and procedures consistent with employment law and federal regulations
to ensure compliance.
Conducted numerous management consulting engagements in the areas of: management assessment and
restructuring, organizational design and development, change management, workforce planning and human
resource deployment.
Conducted an organizational leadership analysis for a community hospital's financial services department
using state-of-the-art psychometric based technology.
Lead the implementation and trained clientele on the utilization of 360 multi-rater, pre-employment, and
employee performance assessments. Additionally, advised clientele regarding employment law and federal
regulations to ensure compliance.
Consulted with clients on compensation issues including but not limited to salary survey, position grade,
executive incentive plans, deferred compensation, and workforce planning and market analysis.

R. E. Lowe Associates, Inc., Worthington, OH 1987 1997

A national executive search and recruiting firm servicing the banking, healthcare, insurance, logistics management, and
manufacturing industries.

Principal, National Practice Director

Responsibilities included: supervision, hiring, training and performance reviews of recruiters and research
professionals and nation-wide development of retained search clientele.
Conducted Board of Director presentations and developed written responses to RFPs (request for proposal).
Representative client organizations include: community and teaching hospitals, multi-hospital systems, multi-
specialty and specialty physician group practices, healthcare service corporations, logistics and transportation
companies, and manufacturing organizations.
Designed and co-developed a regional Total Quality Management (TQM) multi-tract conference including the
production of all collateral marketing material.
Conducted various seminars on career development with educational and association based organizations. Served as a
faculty presenter at the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society of the AHA (HIMSS) National
Conference in 1989, 1991, and 1998 (article published).

Motorola Communications, Inc., Chicago, IL 1984 1987

National Account Executive, Transportation Division

Responsible for the design, sales, implementation, training and customer service of radio controlled Air Cargo Hub,
Airline and Ground Transportation communication systems. Major accounts included: Airborne Express, Burlington
Northern, Com-Air, Consolidated Freightways, Emery Air Freight, and United Parcel Service.

EDUCATION

Feasibility Analysis & Business Planning - Ohio Foundation For Entrepreneurial Education, Columbus, OH
Certified Personnel Consultant - National Association of Personnel Consultants, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Capital University, Bexley, OH

AFFILIATIONS

Society for Human Resource Management, Alexandria, VA 1995 2013

C& SO Chapter of HIMSS, Columbus, OH, Board of Directors (Director of Marketing and Publicity) 1991 1997