Archinect
John Calderon

John Calderon

Philadelphia, PA, US

 

About 

Results driven leader with a successful track record in championing and developing big ideas and processes that deliver enterprise-wide initiatives through collaboration with C-Suite, partners, and leading cross-functional teams. Carries a trusted and credible reputation internally and externally with an extensive retail industry network, sustained by a focus on fact-based decision making and delivering on commitments. Has a well developed point-of-view focused on “big-ideas” with leadership in business development, creative, and managing execution. Entrepreneurial and collaborative, with outstanding communication skills, a proven ability to influence without authority, provide transformational leadership, provide clarity where there is ambiguity, negotiate and establish influential internal and external partnerships, and leverage those partnerships to achieve large scale cross-functional results, solve complex business problems & opportunities, and create “value”.

• I have expertise working as an internal Sr Executive for Fortune 500 Corporations (Target, Marshall Field’s, Mervyn’s, Kohl’s & Burlington), and the proven ability to work with C-Suite Executives, Corporate Board Members, and their respective internal teams;
• My roles and responsibilities in Fortune 500 Corporations include: Innovation, Store Planning, Construction, Purchasing, Store Design, Fixture Design, In-Store Marketing, Architecture, Sustainability, Real Estate Development, Site Development, Corporate Workplace/Office Planning, and Facilities Management;
• My experience spans a broad array of markets, including: Retail, Corporate, Workplace, Hospitality, Healthcare, Educational, and Residential;
• I have extensive experience working for retail, branding, construction & architectural consulting firms, and have had direct P&L responsibilities.

Employment 

Burlington Stores, Burlington, NJ, US, SVP Innovation, Planning & Construction

Primary responsibilities include Property Development representative and facilitator at Executive Committees that support design, planning and building of retail stores and corporate facilities. Direct internal responsibilities include: Innovation, Store Design, Store Planning, New Store Formats, Fixture Design, In-Store Marketing, Architecture, Construction, and Purchasing. External partnerships and oversight include: Innovation & Branding Consultants, Architecture & Engineering consultants, General Contractors, Fixture Installers, Fixture & Owner Supplied Material Vendors. Function includes development of infrastructure and processes for enterprise-wide initiatives related to: Branding, Innovation, New Store Formats, New Stores, Remodels, Capital/Retrofit Projects, and negotiating contracts with strategic partners.

Develop 5-year Long-Range Plan (LRP) for strategic initiatives. Secure approval of priorities from C-Suite, prepare annual CAPEX/OPEX plan and business analysis in partnership with Finance Team, prepare Design To Value (DTV) & Value-Engineering (VE) analysis, and secure approval of Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs) from C-Suite.

Currently leading a team of 3 VP direct reports and 72 associates. Our primary goal is to drive profitable sales and return of capital through design, planning and construction of Store Environments. We accomplish this via 4 objectives: Evolving the Store Brand, Accelerating New Store Growth, Updating the Existing Store Portfolio, and Building a Best in Class Team.

Major accomplishments include:
- Managed design, planning and construction of over 16 Mil SF between FY16 & Spring 2020
- Managed resourcing, negotiation and implementation of over $50 Mil/year in procurement
- Delivered exponential growth of New Store program from 31 stores/yr in FY16 to 76 in FY19
- Completed due diligence for Real Estate development, lease negotiations and scope of work
- Developed & implemented smaller footprint stores (25K/30K) for low density and in-fill markets
- Improved Remodel program to high-single digit comp sales & avg of 25% more sales wks/FY
- Developed “Store of the Future” concepts which leverage new and emerging technologies
- Implemented customer-focused Next Gen Prototype that established new “Brand” positioning
- Included LEED principles into next gen store development & implementation processes
- Renegotiated contracts with vendors via import sourcing and secured cost savings of $4 Mil/yr
- Established key partnership with off-shore consultant in India for Store Planning services
- Developed design and workplace concepts for 240,000 SF corporate office expansion
- Executed Org LRP (2X staffing vs 3.8X workload), filled skill gaps, recruited highly skilled team
- Increased department Associate Engagement score from 71% in FY16 to 88% in FY19
- Edited external partners to “fewer but larger” relationships, improving performance by 20%

Mar 2016 - current
 

Kohl's Corporation, Menomonee Falls, WI, US, SVP Store Environment & Development

Primary responsibilities included Property Development representative and facilitator at committees related to design, building & maintenance of retail and corporate facilities. Direct internal responsibilities included: Store Design, Store Planning, New Store Formats, Innovation, Fixture Design, Architecture, Sustainability, Site Development, Construction, and Facilities Management. External partnerships and oversight included: Merchandising Partners for shop concepts, General Contractors, Facilities Vendors, Design/Civil/LEED/Architecture & Engineering consultants. Functions included development of infrastructure and processes for strategic company initiatives which included: Branding, Innovation, New Store Formats, Prototypes, New Stores, Takeovers, Remodels, Capital/Retrofit Projects, Workplace & Corporate Office, Change Management, and Competitor Benchmarking.

Led multi-disciplined team of 8 VP direct reports and over 250 associates. Delivered on 3 primary goals & objectives: Speed To Market, Differentiation, Leverage Capital & Expense.

Major accomplishments included:
- Implemented long-term capital/expense plan with an investment of $700 Mil/yr to $980 Mil/yr
- Managed design, planning and construction of over 92 Mil SF between FY04 & FY15
- Managed resourcing and negotiation of up to $100 Mil/year in procurement
- Developed phased store Innovation strategy and 3 generations of prototype development
- Planned and constructed over 700 New Stores and over 400 Remodels
- Successfully delivered 97 New Stores within a 2-week grand opening window in Oct ’07
- Reduced 87K store Remodel construction window by 50%, from 16 wks in ’05 to 8 wks in ‘10
- Launch new Beauty Dept 30+ national vendors to 400 stores aimed at competing with Sephora
- Implemented multiple brand collaborations with key partners, i.e. Vera, Izod, Nike, UA, etc
- Designed & constructed 25,000 SF Food Service facility within HQ and Caribou Coffee
- Achieved national recognition for Sustainability & LEED Gold prototype certified buildings
- Managed Facilities Maintenance team that supported over 800 stores
- Built 369,000 SF Corp Innovation Ctr/HQ with leading-edge workplace/office concepts
- Designed & constructed 100,000 SF New York Design office and Fashion Event Center
- Designed & constructed 52,000 SF Innovation & Technology center in Milpitas, CA
- Constructed 3 new distribution/e-fulfillment facilities (3 Mil SF) & 2 Call Centers (500K SF)

Feb 2004 - Feb 2016
 

Target Corporation, Minneapolis, MN, US, Director Marshall Field's, Mervyn's & Target Store Innovation

Primary responsibilities included development and implementation of strategic company initiatives, Property Development representative at Executive Operating Committees, design of new store formats and innovation strategies for Target, Marshall Field’s, and Mervyn’s.

Major accomplishments included:
- Managed two Architecture, Design & Store Planning Teams with staff of 45, located in CA/MN
- Leadership role in Turnaround & Restructuring initiatives at Mervyn’s
- Managed corporate & office planning team for Mervyn’s
- Developed long-term capital plans for programs with an annual investment of $200 Mil
- Implemented Marshall Field’s Green Strategy, $55 Mil reinvention at State Street flagship store
- Developed and implemented 30K SF Flagship Beauty Dept with 80+ Beauty Brands at MF
- Developed & built Food Service concepts within Target – Starbuck’s, Pizza Hut & Taco Bell
- Designed Target’s first grocery/general merchandise prototype at T530 Omaha Super Target
- Developed and implemented Target’s first multi-level store at T883 Pasadena
- Created five prototype generations for Target, Mervyn’s, and Marshall Field’s

Jul 1992 - Feb 2004
 

JGA, Southfield, MI, US, Architectural Project Manager & Design Lead

Architects & Retail Branding

Major accomplishments included:
- Provide consulting services related to market positioning for multiple retailers
- Brand positioning and development of prototypes for multiple retailers including: Target, Warner Brothers Studio stores, Joseph Banks Clothiers, and Queensland Book Depot
- Design & development of Children’s Hospital Ambulatory Care Facility - Detroit, MI

Apr 1989 - Jul 1992
 

Group 3 Design, Toledo, OH, US, Principal

Architectural Design (concurrent with JGA, Hoellrich & Forum)

Major accomplishments included: over 12 mixed-use residential developments

Jan 1986 - Jul 1992
 

Hoellrich & Associates, Sylvania, OH, US, Architectural Project Manager & Design Lead

Architects & Environmental Consultants

Major accomplishments included: Sylvania, OH City Office Building; Springfield, OH Twp Fire Station No 3; Building Renovations and Additions for multiple school districts

May 1988 - Nov 1988
 

Forum Architects, Toledo, OH, US, Architectural Project Manager & Design Lead

Architects

Major Accomplishments included: LMG Corporate Office Building; Linares Ambulatory Care Facility; over 20 Shopping Centers and several Residences

May 1985 - Apr 1988
 

Education 

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, US, MArch, Architecture

Sep 1983 - May 1985
 

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, US, Bachelors, Architecture

Sep 1979 - Jun 1983
 

Awards 

NASFM Honor Award – Marshall Field’s State Street Cosmetics Department, 1st Place

Design Director for Marshall Field’s State Street Cosmetics Dept. Reinvention

2002
 

NASFM Honor Award – Marshall Field’s State Street Bridal Department, 1st Place

Design Director for Marshall Field’s State Street Bridal Dept. Reinvention

2001
 

A.I.A. Honor Award for Excellence in Masonry Design, 1st Place

Lead designer for Springfield Twp. Fire Station No.3 - Springfield Township, OH

1987
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills