Labor & Employment

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) and Harbor Habitat for Humanity have completed construction on the homes built in partnership with Tynisha Murphy and the Patterson family, dedicating the homes in a ceremony that took place Dec. 8. The builds took place on side-by-side lots in the Harbor Shores community of Benton Harbor. 

Scotts Miracle-Gro posted first-quarter net sales of $205.8 million, up 3% from $199.6 million during the same quarter a year ago. 

Sales in the Global Consumer segment in the quarter ended Dec. 29, 2012, were up 3% to $153.2 million, compared with $149.1 million a year ago, attributable to increased volume during the quarter. 

AutoZone has elected Linda A. Goodspeed to its board of directors. Goodspeed is SVPand chief information officer (CIO) of The ServiceMaster Company, a position she has held since 2011.

"Linda's extensive background in information technology and the automotive industry will complement and enhance the collective skills of our Board," said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO. "We are fortunate to have her as a new board member."

Prior to joining The ServiceMaster Company, Goodspeed was VP information systems for Nissan North America.

New York -- Verizon Communications on Thursday elected Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, to the Verizon board of directors, effective March 1.

"Greg Wasson brings to Verizon an in-depth knowledge of the retail and healthcare industries," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon

chairman and CEO. "He offers a unique perspective as the leader of a successful Fortune 50 company focused on innovation,

traditional and nontraditional growth, operational and technical excellence, and multichannel integration.”

In case you missed it, one of America’s biggest and most iconic brands was in the news recently for something other than the latest sales figures: Wal-Mart announced an ambitious plan to hire approximately 100,000 veterans over the next five years.

CINCINNATI — Kroger has promoted Jeff Burt, formerly group VP perishables, merchandising and procurement, to president of the company's Central division. Kroger's Central Division operates 136 food stores primarily in Indiana and Illinois.

Mr. Burt, 50, has been group vice president of perishables merchandising and procurement since 2010. He succeeds Bob Moeder, who recently announced his plans to retire this spring.

Home Depot expects to be busy this spring and is hiring 80,000 seasonal employees, 10,000 more than last year, to keep pace with the demand.

The hiring announcement by Home Depot follows a similar announcement by Lowe’s two weeks earlier that it planned to hire 45,000 seasonal employees. The increased hiring levels suggest the nation’s two largest home improvement retailers are optimistic about consumers demand amid a recovery in the housing market.

SEATTLE — Sally Jewell, CEO of REI, has been nominated as Secretary of the Interior. 

Sally has led REI as CEO since 2005 and during that time has provided steady leadership for the co-op and its thoughtful growth. During her tenure REI has increased sales from $1 billion to nearly $2 billion, added 71 stores, and greatly expanded its online business. Under Sally's leadership, the company has been named annually to Fortune Magazine's list of the Best Companies to Work For.

Washington -- President Obama has selected Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc., to lead the Interior Department, White House officials said Wednesday.

Jewell, a former banker and Mobile Oil Corp. executive, is an outdoors enthusiast and conservation advocate. She joined the board of REI in 1996, and was appointed COO in 2000. In 2005, she was named CEO. The outdoor retailer expanded significantly under her leadership, and now generates some $2 billion in annual revenues.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot plans to hire more than 80,000 temporary workers to help customers this spring, some 10,000 more than it hired last year.
   
The move comes as the housing rebound spurs spending on remodeling and landscaping.