Jim Blecha

V P Real Estate & Assets, Member Board of Directors and Officer for Bridgestone Retail Operations @Bridgestone Americas

Bloomingdale, IL, US

Served as Chief Real Estate strategist and member of the Board of Directors and Corporate Officer for BSRO, leading the $1.3B real estate portfolio and systems by identifying and establishing cost effective processes, procedures, and resources, while driving execution and meeting corporate objectives delivering profitable contributions to the enterprise. Managed 51 Teammates in the Store Support Center across the U.S.\\\\n• Championed the New Store Development strategic market planning for 4 Retail Brands opening over 500+ stores including property procurement, construction and design, store set up, and development of Greenfield stores, strategic competitive acquisitions, and Army Air Force Exchange Service military bases, managing a $150M annual Capital budget.\\\\n• Managed 2,832 properties that include 2,200 operating stores, offices, and warehouses, and administering $250M in occupancy cost. Managed store closing analysis and processes in conjunction with market planning.\\\\n• Spearheaded renegotiated lease rent savings of $14.5M and generated $3M in lease sublet income to offset long term Lease obligations.\\\\n• Championed a department reorganization to eliminate third party resource expenses that were being utilized to help develop new stores and brought these functions in house saving more than $7M annually.\\\\n• Negotiated and secured a long-term Lease extension for a 103-store single entity L.L. portfolio, buying 25 properties and securing term through 2033 at below market rental rates for the remaining 78 properties protecting $165M in retail sales.\\\\n• Worked closely with the Analytics Team to develop an interactive Greenfield new store revenue forecast model and a store revenue cannibalization model now utilized in all market planning.\\\\n• Managed the facilities maintenance process and programs with an annual budget of $31M focused on time, cost, and quality measurements.\\\\n \\\\n\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n\\\\n \\\\n

Northern Illinois University

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Marketing