Boosting Operational Efficiency in a Retail Space

San Antonio, Texas, executive Reid Hackney worked in retail finance for more than two decades before retiring. During his time as senior vice president of finance and CFO for the Dressbarn brand, the Penn State graduate spearheaded the growth of the company from 40 to more than 2,500 stores. Reid Hackney’s work at the company included boosting operational efficiency.

Operational efficiency in a retail space centers on the shopping experience. A good shopping experience affects customer retention and acquisition. When customers have a good experience at a store, they will rave about the service to friends, family, and others. This word-of-mouth marketing is free to companies and helps bring in new customers for less than traditional marketing efforts. 

Meanwhile, great experiences entice customers to return to a business on a repeat basis, increasing their total lifetime value and boosting company revenue.

Operational efficiency in retail also depends on inventory management and automation. Automated systems prevent retailers from overselling products, since they decrease the chance that inventory information will be incorrect. When inventory is accurate, customers are disappointed less often, and have an easier time finding the products they want. Better shipping processes that offer improved order fulfillment, improved synchronization between online and brick-and-mortar stores, and tidier warehouses also play a role in operational efficiency.

Culinary Institute of America's New Restaurant Opens in The Pearl

The recipient of a bachelor's degree in accounting from Penn State University, Reid Hackney is a retired financial executive who most recently served as vice president and chief financial officer of the retail enterprise AGACI. In retirement, Reid Hackney enjoys visiting the Pearl district of San Antonio, Texas, to check out new restaurants.

The Pearl district's reputation for quality restaurants that offer a diverse selection of food coincides with a $35 million investment by Kit Goldsbury in 2008 to bring an official Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campus to the area. When it first opened, the CIA established the student-run restaurant NAO, which emphasized Latin American cuisine. Although the restaurant closed in 2018, a new CIA-run establishment has opened in its stead. 

The new restaurant, Savor, opened in mid-January to a glowing review from mySanAntonio, which acknowledged both the space and the menu as a significant upgrade over NAO. The restaurant is located near the former NAO building in what was once the Sandbar Fishhouse & Market. It is both brighter and more intimate than NAO and houses an open kitchen concept that allows both students and instructors to cook for as many as 60 guests at any given time. Meanwhile, the menu reflects a more modern American dining experience over the Latin American flavors emphasized at NAO.

The Mavericks Coming to Floore's Country Store

The recipient of a bachelor's degree in accounting from Penn State University, Reid Hackney is a retired San Antonio, Texas-based financial executive who most recently served as chief financial officer of AGACI. In retirement, Reid Hackney enjoys attending live musical performances at John T. Floore's Country Store.

Located in Helotes, Floore's Country Store regularly hosts well known and up-and-coming country music acts in addition to free family nights every Sunday. On April 6, the venue will host Grammy Award-winning band The Mavericks for a standing room only show in support of the group's most recent album, Brand New Day, which is scheduled to be released on March 31. 

Led by lead vocalist Raul Malo, The Mavericks came together in the late 1980s in Miami, and soon after moved to Nashville, where they began developing a devoted fan base. The group, which is known for its unique blend of country, rock, folk, blues, and Latino elements, took a hiatus in 2003, but began touring and creating new music again in 2012. They have since released two critically-acclaimed studio albums and continue to tour all over the world. Tickets for the show are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.

Micah Parsons' Impressive Freshman Season with Penn State

A retired financial executive who spent his career in the retail sector, Reid Hackney now resides in San Antonio, Texas, where he enjoys hiking, bicycling, and visiting dance halls. An alumnus of Penn State University, Reid Hackney is also an avid fan of the school's Nittany Lions football team.

The Nittany Lions finished the 2018 season with a win-loss record of 9-4 after losing to the University of Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl, but it was a particularly memorable season for freshman linebacker Micah Parsons, who not only registered 13 tackles in the Citrus Bowl but also led the team with 82 over the course of the season. In doing so, Parsons became the only true freshman to lead Penn State in tackles dating back to 1969, when the school began compiling year-by-year statistics. 

What's most impressive about Parsons' team-leading 82 tackles is the fact that he started only one game this season. Moreover, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound consensus first-team Freshman All-American was initially recruited and signed by Penn State as a defensive end, but was converted to linebacker prior to his first game of the season. He also racked up five tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks in his first year with the Nittany Lions.

Beginner Hiking Tip - Start Small

From 2000 to early 2017, Reid Hackney worked as the senior vice president of finance and the chief financial officer of the Ascena Retail Group. There, he leveraged technology, conservative fiscal stewardship, operational efficiency, and procedural excellence to help drive the company’s growth into a $3 billion national retailer. Now retired, Reid Hackney likes to spend time outdoors with activities like hiking.

Aside from being a great workout, hiking is an ideal way to slow down and unplug while enjoying the wonders of nature. If you are thinking of taking up hiking as a hobby, it is important to start small to avoid turning this relaxing hobby into a potentially dangerous excursion. 

To start with, choose a trail that is shorter than your average walking distance on a flat surface. As trails are often uneven, hilly, and even mountainous, walking the same distance will require extra effort. 

As a beginner, make sure you are hiking with someone who has more experience than you. Aside from helping to keep you safe, your partner can likely teach you a few things about hiking. 

Consider hiking at a local park once a week to bolster your skills. Hiking in a public park is a safe way to build up your stamina, test new gear, and practice planning a hike. 

Once you can complete these shorter hikes with ease, it is safe to consider something longer or more strenuous. That said, even as an experienced hiker, you should always hike with other people to avoid the risk of getting lost or injured and stranded.

Cake Boss Star Opening Pair of Restaurants in San Antonio

A retired retail executive, Reid Hackney most recently served as vice president and chief financial officer of the San Antonio-based AGACI. A self-described food enthusiast, Reid Hackney enjoys frequenting new restaurants throughout San Antonio in his free time.

A pair of new restaurants owned by a popular TV star will open in San Antonio in the near future. In September, Cake Boss star Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro announced plans to open outposts of both Carlo's Bakery and Buddy V's Ristorante in the city. While an official opening date has yet to be set, construction was scheduled to begin in early October. 

The Buddy V's outlet will include an open kitchen concept with a wood-fired grill and a menu similar to that of its other locations, including classic Italian-American staples and an extensive dessert list. Prospective chefs at the restaurant will travel to Jersey City to train with and learn from Valastro, while the Cake Boss star will make an appearance in San Antonio for the official openings of both restaurants. Buddy V's Ristorante has outposts at casinos in Las Vegas and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, while there are over 20 Carlo's Bakery locations throughout the United States and one in Brazil.

Three Hot Restaurants in San Antonio

Now retired, Reid Hackney spent over 20 years in executive positions for firms including A’GACI, LLC, and Ascena Retail Group, Inc. A resident of San Antonio. Texas, Reid Hackney enjoys visiting the city’s Pearl and Southtown areas to check out the latest restaurants. 

San Antonio is a hotbed of up-and-coming and well-established restaurants that attract all, from foodies to people who enjoy quality food. Eater has compiled a list of the top restaurants in the city, including:

1) Il Forno. Chef Michael Sohocki, a James Bear Award semifinalist, opened his Neapolitan pizza shop with a classic wood-burning oven and seasonal pizzas that take advantage of fresh vegetables found at farmers’ markets. Better yet, Il Forno pizzas are moderately priced - and the happy hour offers a $6 margherita pie. 

2) Rebelle. Found inside the St. Anthony Hotel, Rebelle opened to great acclaim, receiving stellar reviews in Texas Monthly and the San Antonio Current. An upscale restaurant, it offers a hybrid of French cooking methods and global flavors with dinner entrees that include seared Scottish ocean trout and roasted Berkshire pork chop. 

3) Botika. The unique cuisine at Botika includes Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) options as well as more traditional dishes updated with modern twists. These combinations result in unusual and tantalizing flavors.