Lynn Yessayan

Cell Phone: 704-968-7393 E-Mail: Lynnyessayan@carolina.rr.com Home Phone: 704-548-9393 Charlotte, NC 28269

General Manager
Highly Accomplished Retail Executive Better Department Store Management & Operations /Sales & Profit Growth /Expense & Inventory Management / People Development / Financial Analysis: I am a successful leader dedicated to delivering profitable and measurable results while supporting the strategic goals and objectives of the company. I have the ability and experience to think strategically and deliver the right level of detail appropriate to the plan. I have a proven record of accomplishments in challenging and compelling business environment. In my career I have held the position of General Manager, Independent Store Manager, Store Manager/Operations, Divisional Merchandise Manager (Multiple Stores), Buyer (Multiple Stores), and Corporate Project Business Lead (total Company).

Areas of Expertise
Delivering Sales and Profit Goals Leadership and Communication Skills Statistical Analysis/ Sales Forecasting Profit and Loss Statements Human Resource/ Recruit/Hire/Fire People Growth/ Development Payroll % Planning and Analysis Strategic Planning of New Stores and Store Openings /Store Closings Customer Service Issue Resolution Project Lead Information Technology Team Merchandising/Brand Development Multiple Store Divisional Merchandise Manager Feminine Sportswear & Ready to Wear Buyer/Purchasing Feminine apparel Cosmetics/ Vendor Relations Contract and Vendor Negotiations Return on Investment Projection (ROI) Store Remodels and Expansion Plan o Grams and Zone O Grams Vendor shop Implementation Time Management

Professional Experience
BELK, INC, Charlotte, NC: Largest privately owned department store chain with 303 stores in 16 south eastern states. General Manager Better Department Store $25.0 Million 07/2005- 06/2012 Belk Northlake: Northlake Mall Charlotte, NC Total Store180, 817 SQ FT: Total Selling 154,935 SQ FT Mall Anchor As General Manager I was responsible for total store sales and profitability (38 demand centers: 250 plus departments of business and hundreds of classifications), supporting and communicating company goals and objectives, customer service level, implementing store systems procedures, inventory management, and store expense management and planning. Managed and provided leadership to 180 plus associates and a management staff of 13. Insure that all associates are trained and have the tools to properly perform their job to the level of expectation. FY 2006- FY 2012: Plus 16.9% in total sales or $21.3 Million to $25.0.Million FY 2012: (2011) $25.0 Million or 5.8 % Sales increase Margin 39.6 TY versus 38.5 LY $162 Sales Per SQ FT 176 -250 sales and support associates Owned market share total store and total cosmetics, Ranks in the top 10 Belk Inc. stores 1:17 or 8,941 approved Belk credit applications Fy12 Cosmetics sales 19.4% penetration to total store sales and a 37.6% margin Ranked # 3 total Belk Inc. $1.7 Million MAC cosmetics One of five Dior cosmetics counters in total Belk Inc. Total Shoes 10% penetration to total store sales and a 39.5% margin Total remodel and expansion in shoes and accessories. Full Service Beauty Salon and Spa Fine Jewelry Department

07/01-09/15/05: Belk Northlake Independent Store Manager: New store planning and opening: Sign off on the total construction project, vendor shops, fixture placement, and merchandise presentation. Planned and implemented the hiring and training of 225 plus associates. 09//2005 -01/2006: New Store: Plus 13.2% in sales or $12.8Million / plan $11.3Million FY08 Pacesetter Store and Store Manager of the Year FY10 and FY11 Belk Inc. Prototype Store Better Department Store Manager - $14.0 Million Belk Mooresville: Mooresville, NC 8.7% sales increase $306 sales per square foot: number one total Belk Inc. $750,000 Clinique Counter Completed total store remodel FY 2005 Store Manager and FY 2005 Pacesetter Store of the Year 03/2004-07/2005

Simpson Performance NASCAR Products (Multiple Store) 01/2003 -11/2003 GM of Retail Sales (Consultant Position) Utilizing my retail knowledge and experience, my business background, to drive and analyze all aspects of the retail portion of the companys business. Making executive level decisions/ to improve sales, market share, and margin. Strategically planned the closing of unprofitable retail stores. Developed and executed associate severance packages. Belk, Inc., 303 Stores: Corporate Project Lead- FY12 $1 Billion in sales 02/1999-02/2002 FY 03 $600 Million in sales The Project Lead for the development and implementation of (AIR) Automatic Replenishment System for Belk Inc. I lead the process for defining the business requirements, developing, and implementing a large scale in house dynamic information/ auto replenishment system. It is the most profitable working in house designed system within Belk Inc. today . It has an impact on sales, margin, and customer service daily. The system replenishes all 303 stores; across all demand centers and classifications, and hundreds of thousands of SKUs. Negotiated and contracted the vendor support for the IT project. The negotiation of the system hardware, software, service contracts, and customizations while working within budget (savings of 1.3 million to budget). Request for Proposal process (RFP) Identifying the focus teams, defining the business requirements, Lead both the merchant focus team and the information technology team to infuse information and provided guidance in making sound cost effective and user friendly decisions. Responsible for providing the ROI (projection: 95 million over 5 years) to the company and having a plan in place to track the results once released to the user community. Responsible for leadership and support to the following cross-functional teams: Training and Delivery team, Data Integrity Team, Business Process Mapping team, Communication team, Rollout team, Vendor Support team, Systems Development Team, Database Administration Team Quality Assurance team, Network Team, Application Support Team, and Technical Analysis team. Responsible for reporting monthly to the Belk Inc. Executive Steering Committee on cost of project and timeline. As well as providing resolutions to issues, and concerns as related to the project. Lobbying the committee for buy in as needed. FY01: Recognized by Belk Inc. for outstanding contribution to the company and the Information Technology Department.

Better Department Store Manager - $ 13. 0 Million

Belk Store Mooresville: Mooresville, NC 24% sales increase over two years. FY 1998 Store Manager &Pacesetter Store of the Year Approved 16,201 new Belk credit card applications FY 99 completed total store remodel Fall FY 99 store chosen as the focus store for the Belks Senior Partner meeting Mentored daughter of John Belk, CEO Belk Inc.

02/1997-02/1999

Divisional Merchandise Manager- $47 million

03/1994-01/ 1997 Missy, Petites, and Large Size Sportswear and Ready to Wear Multiple stores: Responsible for achieving sales goal, planned inventory levels, margin goals, and all profit goals. Responsible for the divisions Open to Buy planning, coordinating and executing marketing strategies, assortment planning, conceptualizing trends, timely markdowns, merchandise mix and presentation, vendor relationships, advertising strategy, negotiating and collecting advertising and markdown monies, communication and execution at store level, leadership and development of nine buyers, seven assistant buyers, one division assistant. 2

Responsible for managing hundreds of classifications and businesses, from moderate sportswear to regency sportswear, better collections, separates to dresses. Worked with vendors to add or increase square footage to the following vendor shops with vendor salary supported selling specialist: Karen Kane, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, Jones New York, Tommy Hilfiger, St. John, Ellen Tracy, DKNY, and Dana Buchman.

Assistant Store Manager Flag Ship Store- $87 million

10/1991-03/1994 Belk South Park: South Park Mall Charlotte, NC Responsible for missy, petite, and large size, sportswear, ready to wear, and cosmetics. Meeting sales goals, shrinkage goals, sales per hour goals, selling cost, and associate turnover goals. Managing and overseeing the renovation of Missy SPT and RTW floors total store. Leading and development of 7 area sales managers (future assistant buyers), five sales supervisors, ten selling specialists, twelve cosmetic managers, and one hundred and eleven sales associates. Lead Clinique Cosmetics to achieve $1Million in sales.

Buyer $22 million

Belk Brothers Company (Multiple Store) Misses, Petite, Large Size, Moderate and Better Dresses Bridge Dresses, Suits, and Social Occasion

07/1990-10/1991

Responsible for managing numerous demand centers, departments and classifications, creating seasonal financial plans, management of the OTB and receipt flow by month, selection of merchandise and purchasing for maximum sales and profit. Meeting all performance goals and being proactive to performing and non- performing vendors, classification, and or depts. Planned advertising, coop, and marketing programs. Developed and maintained strong vendor partnerships. Communicated merchandising directive to store management.

Mercantile Store Inc., (Multiple Store)

Buyer- Missy & Petite Bridge, Better & Moderate Dresses Buyer- Missy, Juniors, Petite, & Todays Woman Size Coats and Suits, Furs Salon and Maternity Buyer- Junior Sportswear & Junior Better and Moderate Dresses, Missy Social Occasion, and Maternity

Education:
Berea College, Berea, Kentucky Central Piedmont Community College- Continued Education

Professional Training and Development:

Senior Management/ Store Management Program, Management Financial Planning and Overview, Management Coaching and People Development, Performance Counseling, Coaching and Retaining A Players, Legal Aspects of Supervision-Employment Laws, Applying Employment Laws to your position as a Senior Retail Manager, Leaves and Leaving-Legal Compliance Issues, MOHR (Management of Human Resource), Retail Management Series, Charlotte Chamber Leadership School, Covey Business Management Program, People Management and Systems Information Update, Methodology Overview, Requirements Design, Implementation Methods, Business Process and Software Package Selection, Vendor Relations and Effective Negotiation, Loss Prevention-Shrinkage Management and Control, and Mercantile Buyers Trainee Program

References Upon Request