Jim Sinegal: Costco CEO Focuses on Employees

JIm is remarkable in all he does. I started in 1984 at the Seattle location and ended my career in the warehouse in 1995 to pursue a new career at the Issaquah Corporate Office with John Detlors(VP) Warehouse Operations team, John Ostmeier (Director over Merchandise Services) and then Ed Maron (VP over Merchandise Services)until 2004. If you put in the work, enthusiasm and desire to grow with the company you will receive the benefits of a wonderful career, which I did. I left the company until 2009. I went to see Jim about my return. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to my previous title (Merchandise Services Manager) and make the salary that I left but I was reassured by Jim that he wanted to take care of me and do what he could in the tough times that we are being faced with. I only wanted part-time and I really wanted to work early mornings because it worked best for me & my family. Jim spoke with John McKay (SVP NW Region) about me and my desire to return to Costco. John called me and we spoke about my previous experience and his plan was for me to talk with Dave Harruff (VP NW Operations Manager)and he would work with the warehouses to find me a position. Everything has came together well. I am at the #08 Kirkland location and I am an Inventory Auditor which is one of my strong areas. I am all about the bottom line, finding errors, corecting them, helping educate the employees on what we can do to help our bottom line and as always be available to help our wonderful members when they have a question or need some assistance. I work 34 hours a week. Full days on Saturday and Sunday and 6 hours days on Mon, Tue and Fri. My days off are Wed and Thurs. This has all worked out for me and my family and I am so happy to have been able to come back to the company I love and am greatful for. I am also thankful to be able to start at the top salary in the warehouse due to my previous years with the company and experience. Someday I will pursue a upper level management career again but for now I am very happy and content and I appreciate Jim and the company's ethics and goals. As I said in my previous 20 years with Costco "I am a lifer" and this is very true now and forever!! I also have many members of my family who work for our wonderful company and we have all been very fortunate to be employed during the ecomomies tough times and to have the benefits for health and a 401K. Costco is the BEST Company!!Thanks Jim.

Teresa Tollefson of WA 5:28PM October 22, 2009