Diversity & Inclusion

Westborough, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club announced partnerships with 215 schools through the organization's Adopt-A-School program. At the beginning of each school year, every BJ's Wholesale Club and Distribution Center partners with a local school to help enhance existing curriculum.

Schools participating in BJ's Adopt-A-School Program receive a one-time, $500 donation, which goes toward discretionary programs, such as field trips and special events, reading programs or other educational needs. The schools also receive a complimentary BJ's Membership.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Paula A. Price, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and former CFO of Ahold USA, has been named to the Dollar General board of directors effective Aug. 26. The election of Price to Dollar General’s board will bring the total number of directors to eight.

New York – Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, has been named a recipient of the 2014 Gallup Great Workplace Award. This award recognizes organizations around the world for having the most highly engaged work environments.

New York — Retail brokerage firm Cohen Real Estate has added two new members to its brokerage team, augmenting the firm’s presence in New York City.

Guy Saban joins Cohen as investment sales broker, and will provide real estate advisory and investment services to buyers and sellers who are seeking to expand, optimize, and/or diversify their real estate portfolios.

Max Garelick joins as real estate associate, and will work alongside Cohen VP Michael Cleeman to market retail, mixed-use and multi-family properties in Manhattan.

Former Ahold and CVS executive Paula Price is the newest member of the Dollar General board of directors.

She joins the board of the 11,500 store retailer at a pivotal time. Dollar General is in the midst of a search for a top executive to succeed Rick Dreiling who has indicated he will step down next year and two of the company’s arch rivals, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, have announced plans to merge.

St. Louis - Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. has appointed Jennifer Kretchmar as chief product officer. Kretchmar will lead the company's merchandising and product development teams and will report to Sharon John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Jan Clevenger has been named EVP and general merchandising manager of men’s, home and kids, reporting to newly named president and chief merchandising officer David Zant.

Clevenger has served as chair of the Belk Western Division based in Birmingham, Alabama, since March 2008. She began her retail career with Macy's in 1984 in store management before becoming a buyer for men’s and center core.  

Three executives were named to new roles at leading appliance and consumer electronics manufacturer Haier America.

Haier America, part of the $29 billion Haier Group, named Gina Copeland SVP of air quality, Sanjay Gupta VP of product platform development for major appliances and Paul Riley as VP of sales and marketing for major appliances.