Adam Richardson
Indian Trail
Summary
PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW
People-centered operations leader with 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within Whole Foods Market, spanning multiple regions and store formats. Proven track record of leading and developing leaders, building high-performance cultures, and managing teams of 150+ across fast-paced environments. Recognized as a calm, steady leader of leaders with a proven ability to develop talent, build resilient cultures, and deliver strong retail and financial results. Known for blending high standards with trust-based leadership—driving accountability, engagement, and sustained performance in complex, fast-paced environments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Leadership
Whole Foods Market
01.2007 - Current
- Led and developed large, multi-layered teams of 150+ by building a people-first, performance-driven culture grounded in clarity, accountability, trust, and ownership—resulting in strong engagement, retention, and consistent results.
- Oversaw end-to-end retail operations with full accountability for SOP compliance, inventory integrity, financial performance, and customer experience.
- Operated as a leader of leaders, coaching department leaders on decision-making, communication, prioritization, delegation, and presence—strengthening confidence, execution, and leadership maturity.
- Cascaded priorities with intention, aligning leaders and stakeholders to ensure disciplined, consistent execution at every level of the organization.
- Led through complexity and change with a calm, hands-on approach—applying strategic thinking, sound judgment, and problem-solving to mitigate risk and support long-term business objectives.
- Strengthened leadership presence across teams by modeling calm, disciplined decision-making during high-pressure situations, reinforcing stability and trust at all levels.
- Partnered closely with Team Leaders to clarify priorities, simplify execution, and eliminate unnecessary friction—improving focus, accountability, and operational rhythm.
- Held leaders accountable through clear expectations, timely feedback, and follow-through, while maintaining respect, dignity, and long-term development focus.
- Guided teams through periods of operational change and ambiguity by providing clarity, consistency, and steady leadership—reducing disruption and maintaining performance.
Education
Communications - Digital Communications And Media/Multimedia
Connecticut School of Broadcasting
01-2002
Skills
- Leader of Leaders Multi-Level Leadership Development
- Talent Development Coaching Succession Planning
- Culture Building Trust Accountability
- Emotional Intelligence Self-Aware Leadership
- P&L Ownership Financial Stewardship
- Operational Excellence Retail Execution
- Strategic Planning Prioritization & Alignment
- Change Leadership Organizational Resilience
- Performance Management Courageous Conversations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Stakeholder Influence
- Conflict Resolution Team Dynamics
- Decision-Making Under Pressure
- Clarity Setting, Execution Follow-Through
- Risk Mitigation Problem Solving
- Customer Experience Team Member Engagement
Timeline
Store Leadership
Whole Foods Market
01.2007 - Current
Communications - Digital Communications And Media/Multimedia
Connecticut School of Broadcasting