One on One Sessions

Brian Johnson

Inventory Planning Manager

Areas of Expertise

Forecasting
Inventory Projections
Sales and Inventory Planning
Access & Excel

Bio:
Brian has worked in warehouse and distribution management for more than 12 years. Since joining QBP in 2008, he has been an inventory-planning manager, making certain that QBP purchasing strategies meet the needs of our customers while ensuring inventory dollars support the needs of our business.

Casey Adams

Controller

Areas of Expertise:
QBP's financial team has a wealth of knowledge in succession planning, business vision, and process improvement strategies. This team is available to discuss any of these or other credit and finance related topics that interest you. If you wish to review your business financial statements please be sure to bring them with you.

Bio:
Casey is a CPA and has been QBP's financial controller since 2009. Her background—more than 14 years of accounting, finance, credit, and negotiation experience—gives her a strong understanding of customer service and building long-lasting customer relationships.

Chuck Sween

Environmental Coordinator

Areas of Expertise:

Sustainability
Ways of reducing a shop's environmental impact
How to purchase and sell sustainable products

Bio:
Coming to QBP with a background in science education, Chuck is pursuing a Master's program in community development. His focus on product and business sustainability aligns with QBP's purpose to transform the world through business. Chuck's played with bikes his entire life, professionally for the latter half of it.

Gary Sjoquist

Director of Advocacy

Areas of Expertise:
Advocacy and Fat Bike issues locally and nationwide.

Bio:
Director of QBP's advocacy efforts for 12 years, Gary boasts a long record of successful activism on behalf of the bike industry. He helped found Bikes Belong and Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists, and established the Twin Cities chapter of Trips for Kids. He is also director for the Minnesota State Mountain Bike Racing Series.

Jason Gaikowski

Director of Brand and Marketing

Areas of Expertise:
Q&A on your shop's brand positioning, identity, and marketing possibilities

Bio:
Jason offers deep expertise in brand development and knowledge of how brand-based strategies impact business performance. He honed these skills as Director of Innovation & Strategy with VML and SVP and as Director of Brand Strategy with Young & Rubicam. During his career Jason has served many prestigious clients including Miller Brewing Company, Gatorade, Sports Illustrated, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, Microsoft, Intel, Wonderbread, Sprint, Allstate Insurance, and other leading brands.

Jed Hicks

Director of IT

Areas of Expertise:
Learn how QBP uses technology to drive value to your business. IT strategies and initiatives for QBP and technology overall will be discussed.

Bio:
Jed Hicks, Director of IT, worked 10 years in software and technology deployment for Fortune 500 companies. Before that, Jed spent a decade as a distribution leader in the printing and telecom space. He currently leads a 33-person IT department and manages infrastructure across QBP's three distribution centers.

Jerry Pomije

Vice President of Distribution, Chief Financial Officer

Bio:
With an MBA and 28 years of experience in leadership, Jerry is passionate about business. Drawing on insights garnered from roles in retail, business banking and the bicycle industry, Jerry offers a wealth of practical wisdom for shop owners and their managerial staff.

Kim Stegmeir

Senior Credit Analyst

Bio:
QBP's Senior Credit Analyst and the newest member of the finance team, Kim comes to QBP with a Bachelor's degree in finance, an MBA from Southwest Minnesota State University, plus experience in banking and Fortune 500 credit analysis. Kim is available to discuss your business financial statements and credit-related topics.

Lori Richman

Director of Organization Development

Areas of Expertise:
This individual session is designed to help you increase your personal performance and build the capacity of others.

Bio:
Lori brings 30 years of leadership experience to her position as director of Organization Development at QBP. With QBP for more than 11 years, Lori implements systems, structures and processes for high-performance individuals, teams and departments as well as for QBP leadership, culture and overall vision. She has an MA in leadership, is a passionate ongoing creator, learner and catalyst for others in the school of life. She is a lifelong biker.

Mike Barnidge

Credit Manager

Bio:
As credit manager, Mike brings a unique perspective to QBP. His background as a small business banker, commercial lender and securities licensed investment professional allows him to consider all the angles of successful business planning. He came to QBP to follow his passions for cycling and working with small businesses.

Nick Graham

GRIP Program Manager

Areas of Expertise:
Our Great Results Improving Processes (GRIP) program challenges every employee to deliver products and services with greater precision, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Using GRIP principles, Nick Graham can help you examine your own business and create a roadmap for developing processes that keep you profitable and competitive.

Bio:
In four short years Nick took QBP's process improvement program from a small idea to a company-wide initiative that lets all employees have a voice and participate in continuous improvement. Currently, Graham is applying the principles of process improvement to continued revenue growth initiatives. Graham is Six Sigma certified through the University of Wisconsin.

Obaid Ghani

Senior Business Supply Chain Analyst

Areas of Expertise:

Financial & Inventory Analysis
Operations Management
Data Management & Reporting
Sales & Operations Planning
Projection Models
Microsoft Access & Excel

Bio:
Obaid has deep roots in the bike industry. After working at a bike shop for six years during high school and college, he joined QBP's Outbound department in 2005. While still a student, he earned experience in distribution center training, supervising and analyst positions. Graduating with degrees in Biology and Finance from the University of Minnesota, he accepted his current position of Supply Chain Analyst with QBP. He is responsible for overall inventory investment analysis, sales and operations planning (including inventory investment projections), and department databases and reporting.

Randall Thorson

Financial Analyst

Bio:
Randall Thorson received his MBA from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota and works for QBP as a financial analyst. His professional interests include analysis of bike shops, improving operations through IT and data mining. Randall is available to discuss your business financial statements and credit-related topics.

Todd Cravens

Director of Dealer Development and Service

Areas of Expertise:
Get a handle on a wide range of issues, from sales and customer service to technology. Todd can answer questions and advise you about all things QBP as well as credit, terms, rebates, freight, POS mapping, connectivity, SmartEtailing and more.

Bio:
With a degree in economics in tow, Todd has worked in the bike industry since 1975. During those years, he has done it all—from working in, managing and owning shops to manufacturing, purchasing and product management. His work at QBP focuses on dealer services that add value: credit, connectivity, business strategy and all things Q. He's a lifelong competitive cyclist on both the road and the track.

Katy Kowalsky

Human Resources Manager

Areas of Expertise:
Areas of expertise include compensation, staffing, employee relations (i.e. tough employee situations), performance communication and wellness.

Bio:
Katy is a human resources manager at QBP with 11 years of HR experience and a Master's degree in human resources and industrial relations from the Carlson School of Business.

Angle von Ruden-Doll

Director of Human Resources

Areas of Expertise:
Areas of expertise include compensation, staffing, employee relations (i.e. tough employee situations), performance communication and wellness.

Bio:
As QBP's human resources director, Angie has more than 14 years of experience in human resources. Since earning her MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Angie has provided expertise in all areas of HR, including benefits, compensation, staffing, compliance and people leadership.