Melinda Partlow
Milford Center
Summary
Results-driven Customer Operations and Human Resource Manager with a proven track record in leading high-volume retail units. Expertise in strategic planning and team development to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Customer Operations Manager
IKEA
Columbus
05.2024 - Current
- Directed customer operations strategy and execution for $80M high-volume retail unit.
- Led and developed a Customer Operations team of over 50 co-workers, scaling practices for peak staffing of 200+.
- Leveraged customer insights and competitor analysis to drive continuous improvement throughout customer lifecycle.
- Managed comprehensive customer experience in a 33,000-square-foot facility.
Director of Personnel
First Step Healthcare Agency
Columbus
12.2023 - 05.2024
- Directed full-cycle talent acquisition and workforce planning to enhance organizational growth and reduce hiring timelines.
- Advised leadership on employee relations, performance management, and conflict resolution to ensure compliance.
- Coached and developed HR team members, strengthening leadership capabilities and execution effectiveness.
- Implemented people practices that improved engagement, reduced turnover risk, and fostered accountability.
- Aligned people strategies with business priorities to support organizational change initiatives.
Human Resources & Operations Business Partner
Ohio-At-Home Healthcare Agency
Columbus
10.2022 - 10.2023
- Streamlined recruitment, promotions, corrective action, and termination processes to enhance consistency and efficiency.
- Analyzed HR metrics and employee feedback, informing leadership decisions that improved engagement.
- Supported leaders in navigating complex employee relations issues with data-driven recommendations.
- Facilitated organizational growth through scalable people and operations processes.
Store Manager
Dick's Sporting Goods
Columbus
09.2020 - 09.2022
- Directed store operations for high-volume location, overseeing teams of 50+ associates and consistently surpassing sales, payroll, and operational KPIs.
- Executed merchandising and promotional strategies that drove revenue growth and enhanced brand execution.
- Developed a high-performing leadership team through structured hiring, onboarding, coaching, and succession planning.
- Optimized labor utilization and inventory accuracy, leading to reduced shrink and increased operational efficiency.
- Collaborated cross-functionally to deliver seasonal and enterprise initiatives on schedule and to standard.
Store Manager
Crate & Barrel
Columbus
06.2018 - 08.2020
- Directed store operations and customer experience for a high-traffic retail environment, leading teams of 40–60 associates.
- Drove sales and engagement through strong visual merchandising, operational discipline, and talent development.
- Managed payroll and workforce planning to align labor investment with business demand.
- Implemented operational improvements that increased productivity and reduced loss.
- Fostered cross-functional collaboration to support omnichannel and in-store success.
Senior General Manager
Pottery Barn (Williams-Sonoma, Inc.)
Indianapolis
06.2007 - 06.2018
- Directed high-volume, multi-million-dollar retail operations with full P&L accountability for teams exceeding 100 associates.
- Achieved consistent sales growth and operational excellence through disciplined execution and effective workforce planning.
- Co-presented weekly brand-wide operational calls, focusing on cost reduction and process improvement initiatives.
- Collaborated with Global Talent leadership to enhance management training programs, strengthening enterprise-wide leadership capabilities.
- Trained and mentored new general managers and leadership teams, establishing a robust succession pipeline.
- Led operational efforts for new store openings, ensuring successful execution and rapid stabilization.
- Drove recruiting and talent development strategies to enhance long-term performance and retention rates.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology And Sociology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, NV01-1993
Skills
- Enterprise customer operations leadership
- Talent strategy and workforce planning
- Performance management and accountability
- Employee relations and change leadership
- Operational excellence and KPI management
- Customer experience and continuous improvement
- Data-driven decision making
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Culture building and engagement
Certification
SHRM-CP - Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional
Timeline
Customer Operations Manager
IKEA
05.2024 - Current
Director of Personnel
First Step Healthcare Agency
12.2023 - 05.2024
Human Resources & Operations Business Partner
Ohio-At-Home Healthcare Agency
10.2022 - 10.2023
Store Manager
Dick's Sporting Goods
09.2020 - 09.2022
Store Manager
Crate & Barrel
06.2018 - 08.2020
Senior General Manager
Pottery Barn (Williams-Sonoma, Inc.)
06.2007 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology And Sociology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas