Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

MATTHEW CAVANAUGH

POWELL

Summary

Proven leader with a track record of transforming Columbia Sportswear into a training hub through strategic planning and team building. Spearheaded revenue growth and operational excellence at REI, promoting 12 managers and achieving Store of the Year twice. Expert in HR leadership and customer relationship management, driving sales increases of 15-20% annually.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

GENERAL MANAGER

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR
Sunbury
11.2023 - Current
  • Culture development: Improved a store from worst to first in the company, resulting in my store becoming the hub for all new store manager training for Columbia Sportswear.
  • Implemented successful business strategies to increase revenue and target new markets, resulting in my store becoming a 'test store' for establishing new revenue streams.
  • Provided guidance and support to subordinate managers in order to foster an atmosphere of cooperation throughout the organization.
  • Managed all aspects of daily business operations including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service and sales.
  • Managed inventory levels and conducted corrective action planning to minimize long-term costs.

GENERAL MANAGER

PUBLIC LANDS
Columbus
05.2021 - 02.2022
  • Co-founded a new Dick's Sporting Goods brand and built a very large team and brand from scratch
  • Managed complex operations including expense management, CSAT, labor, scheduling, and procurement.
  • Oversaw all HR including hiring/onboarding/firing (130+ employees), creation/execution of all training content, and all formal performance conversations.

GENERAL MANAGER

REI
Lynnwood, WA, Overland Park, KS
05.2016 - 05.2021
  • Oversaw very large teams (100+ employees) in hyper-complex environments, with duties including driving daily sales, managing daily and monthly operations, expense budgeting, customer experience, HR (hiring, firing, reviews, formal conversations), and L&D. This work led to promoting 12 people to management roles in other stores.
  • Coauthored customer support training and delivered to 12,000 employees that drove CX
  • Sales: Grew store sales 15-20% annually through strategic mindset, accountability, and refining operations
  • Engagement: Awarded Store of the Year 2 consecutive years for operational excellence and experience
  • Operations: Applied Lean framework to refine hiring, communication, and freight operations, saving $10k+
  • Store Representation: Served as a strategic partner and consultant to AHQ as the lead representative for 160+ stores during covid19, specifically guiding training, operations, culture development, and innovation
  • Nominated for REI Leadership Award 5x for outstanding leadership contributions to the company

DEPT MANAGER/HIRING MANAGER

REI
Portland, OR, Santa Barbara, CA
07.2009 - 05.2015
  • Led teams of 10-30 people to provide service, drive sales, and ensure impeccable CSX.
  • Duties included daily operations, labor management, hiring/firing/performance management, scheduling, and assortment modifications.

MANAGER OF CSX AND HR

GRAPHICSLAND
Tinley Park
07.2004 - 08.2008
  • Led all operations, customer experience, hr, order fulfillment, and QA at an upstart e-commerce company

Education

Master of Arts - Leadership/Theology

Fuller Graduate School
Pasadena, CA
12-2010

Bachelor of Arts - Clinical Psychology, Admin/Leadership, Theology

Trinity College
Palos Heights, IL
05-2003

Skills

  • Leadership and team building
  • Strategic planning and execution
  • HR leadership
  • Customer relationship management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Budgeting and cost control

Certification

Lean Six Sigma White Belt, sixsigmaonline.org

Affiliations

  • Established community advocate as a foster parent, parks committee member, volunteer kids' coach/mentor, and elected church committee officer
  • Published musician with 10 records released
  • Leadership award winner including 3x Columbia Impact Award Winner, 1x Columbia Coin Winner (Top Manager), 5x REI Leadership Award Nominee, and 4x REI Anderson Award Nominee

Timeline

GENERAL MANAGER

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR
11.2023 - Current

GENERAL MANAGER

PUBLIC LANDS
05.2021 - 02.2022

GENERAL MANAGER

REI
05.2016 - 05.2021

DEPT MANAGER/HIRING MANAGER

REI
07.2009 - 05.2015

MANAGER OF CSX AND HR

GRAPHICSLAND
07.2004 - 08.2008

Master of Arts - Leadership/Theology

Fuller Graduate School

Bachelor of Arts - Clinical Psychology, Admin/Leadership, Theology

Trinity College

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
MATTHEW CAVANAUGH