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Leadership Team
Harry J. Friedman
Founder & CEO, The Friedman Group
A retailer once said "You don't meet Harry J. Friedman you encounter him. He's outrageous, revolutionary, inventive and invigorating. His unique style shakes you up and forces you to rethink the way you sell or manage on a retail floor. Then he blows you away with scores of why-didn't-I-think-of-that techniques for turning more of your shoppers into buyers. If his vision of how a retail store should run could be bottled and delivered to every retailer in the world, retailing would be elevated to heights it has never seen."
Harry J. Friedman is an internationally acclaimed consultant specializing in retail sales and management. Since 1968, he has established himself as a super-salesman, record-breaking sales manager, owner of a successful chain of retail stores and trainer of more than 500,000 retailers.
His unique ability to share his experience in a clear and motivating manner has made him the most heavily attended speaker and most widely read author on retail sales and management in the world. Known for his entertaining but hard-hitting style, he delivers volumes of real-life, here's-how information that go far beyond motivation.
To his credit are articles published more than 500 times in national trade magazines, his best selling book "No Thanks, I'm Just Looking!" – now in its ninth printing, and his store management seminars attended by retailers representing well over 100,000 stores. Add to this his Gold Star Selling course – his recently updated DVD version of the most widely used retail selling system in the world, the Project Gold Star program – a blueprint for developing a truly sales-driven retail organization, and scores of other training programs and you have one of the most prolific contributors to the success of retail stores in the world.
Mr. Friedman's special talent for demystifying retail's most puzzling sales and management issues has also made him the most talked about and sought-after consultant in the industry. Not one to rest on his laurels, he continues to sharpen his skills as he works with single store independents, mega-store giants, trade associations, manufacturers and Fortune 500 companies. As CEO and founder of The Friedman Group, his dedication to increasing retail productivity and professionalism have earned him a place as retail's foremost authority.
Jon Dickens
Principal & Chief Operating Officer, The Friedman Group
A Partner and Director of The Friedman Group since 1984, Jon is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization in the United States and oversees international licensees.
His retail background and broad experience in many business disciplines have resulted in his ability to lead the marketing, finance and operations divisions of The Friedman Group.
The foundation for his experience began in the marketing, advertising and communications fields, where he blended inherent creative talent with acquired business acumen to successfully achieve goals in a variety of sectors. Very well respected in the field of direct marketing, with particular expertise in the strategic practices of direct mail, seminar marketing, newsletter marketing and copywriting, Jon has used his varied experience to help The Friedman Group grow to its international prominence for more than 25 years.
Jon's previous experience includes being Vice President of Video Newsletters, Inc., a company that produced video-based communications programs, and 12 years as the Director of Advertising for a regional chain of jewelry stores headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA.
Marlene Cordry
President, The Friedman Group U.S.
Marlene originally joined The Friedman Group in 1985. After earning a BA in Chemistry from the University of Kansas, she came to California and went to work for Friedman Group founder Harry J. Friedman, on the floor of an early jewelry client. Here she received her grass roots retail education and showed she could master formulas for success on the sales floor, as well as she had in a chemistry lab.
Marlene went on to become Vice President of The Friedman Group and helped guide the company to tremendous growth and success. She was involved in such key areas of the company as sales, training, public speaking, program development, operations and general administrative controls.
After 14 years with the company and two sons later, she moved with her family back to her roots in Kansas City.
She rejoined the company in January of 2010 and once again became a significant contributor, bringing fresh vision and a renewed spirit to take The Friedman Group to new heights. Her intimate knowledge of the retail arena and all proprietary Friedman systems, along with her passion for helping retailers succeed made her the ideal candidate for President of The Friedman Group, and she was promoted to this role in July of 2010.
Marlene continues to work as diligently with independents as she does with tier one retailers, in her quest to increase the performance, professionalism and profits of the retail industry.
Steve Previdi
Vice President of Product Development, The Friedman Group U.S.
As Vice President of Product Development for The Friedman Group, Steve is responsible for the ongoing development of products and programs that support the company's retail consulting and training services.
Steve works closely with Founder and CEO, Harry J. Friedman, in conceptualizing and creating new retail sales, management, operations and product knowledge programs, as well as developing customized materials for a broad range of retail and manufacturing clients.
He and his team of creative writers and production staff produce everything from customized video and written training programs, to policy and procedure manuals and video newsletters. He also helps provide core content for The Friedman Group's growing number of offices worldwide.
Previous experience includes the Hyatt Corporation and 10 years of retail sales and management with retail organizations such as Beau Brummel, Tiffany & Co., Bullocks and Barney's New York.
Friedman Group International Executives
Brazil: Marcos Carvalho, Principal; Fernando Lucena, President; Alexandra Sanglard, Associate Director
Argentina & Chile: Aida Reyes, Principal
Mexico, Central America & Colombia: Moises Goldberg Dryjansky, Laurence Newell, Principals
Australia: Gary Winter, Principal
New Zealand: Mark Johnston & Kevin Phillips, Principals
South Africa: Sylvia Meyerthal, Principal
India: N. Keshava Raju, Principal
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