Prior to founding EMG in 2006, Don spent over 16 years with Best Buy Company, holding leadership positions in growing the company from $400 million to over $35 billion in annual revenue. As Senior Vice President, Don's competencies include the development and implementation of comprehensive growth strategies, maximization of shareholder value, and development of cost reduction strategies which improved operational efficiencies, NOP and EVA. Don also held leadership positions in improving the customer experience and loyalty and was the senior leader for new store growth, major market densification and competitive strategies.

While at Best Buy, Don was also heavily involved in employee training and leadership development. As Senior Vice President he was responsible for the development of the overall training strategy, management of training design and content development, LMS development and implementation and training ROI maximization. The training department included a staff of 35 and students numbered close to 100,000. Improvements in training delivery, content, accessibility and accountability contributed to a reduction in employee turnover of 30%.

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In 2006 and 2007 Don worked with the Eldorado Company in Moscow, Russia. With over 800 stores in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, Eldorado is the largest retailer in Russia with over $6 billion in annual revenue. As member of the Eldorado Board and Vice President of Operations and Business Development, Don was instrumental in changing the overall strategic direction of the company and the development and implementation of a comprehensive business planning processes. He also initiated the development of a retail services organization, transformed real estate growth methodology, initiated inventory and demand planning processes, developed retail sales and operational SOPs and improved the effectiveness of marketing, advertising and promotional strategies.

In 2007 Don lead EMG on a project in the Middle East, working with a major retail company on operational excellence, efficient enterprise and profit opportunities. The company was experiencing significant growth and needed help to assure that the foundational structures of their business would support this growth. Work also included identification of profit pool opportunities in their business.

Don is currently Vice President, General Manager - Retail for the Brookstone Company. Brookstone is a specialty retailer with over 300 stores in major malls and airports throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Board positions included the Board of Directors for Best Buy, Gov, LLC, Minneapolis, MN, The Eldorado Company, Moscow, Russia. Don is currently on the Board of Directors for Roma Worldwide.

Prior to EMG, Best Buy and Eldorado Don held leadership positions with May Department Stores as Divisional Vice President, Federated Department Stores and the PA Bergner Company.

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