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HUACHUCA CITY — Stop by the Dollar General store in this small town and chances are you’ll meet Leo Nozicka. He’s always there.
Nozicka was among the 91 store managers, out of more than 8,000 Dollar General stores in 35 states to be awarded the corporation’s prestigious Chairman’s Circle award.
“I was so honored,” Nozicka said. “I never thought that our store, in tiny Huachuca City, would even be noticed. But I guess we’ve done pretty well.”
Winners were the top 1 percent of Dollar General’s store managers in 35 states, said Emily Weiss, media relations manager at the Dollar General corporate office.
  
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“In the selection process, they look at a list of factors,” she said. “Leo runs the store with the highest sales in his region, along with the lowest inventory theft.”
Deborah Drum-Kelly, who is the district manager for Dollar General and Nozicka’s immediate supervisor, added a few more things to his list of accolades. While it’s true the selection process is based on such corporate data as store sales and low inventory theft, Drum-Kelly said Nozicka stepped in as manager and literally turned the store around, all for the good.
“He not only increased sales, but Leo is so fantastic with customers,” Drum-Kelly said. “He has the ability to stock the kinds of products that his customers want and need. He really listens to them, and because of that, he has an excellent feel for how to stock his store.”
As a store manager, Nozicka goes above and beyond, Drum-Kelly said.
“He always gives 150 percent,” she said. “I was so glad he got that award. It’s the most prestigious award that our company gives our store managers and he certainly deserves it.”
Chairman’s Circle winners received an all-expense-paid trip for themselves and a guest to Nashville, Tenn.
While in Nashville, they were treated to a dinner cruise on the General Jackson cruise ship, a night at the Grand Ole Opry, visits to the city’s famous downtown area, a tour of the Ryman Auditorium, along with the country music hall of fame and museum.
The store managers also visited Dollar General’s Store Support Center in Goodlettsville, Tenn., where they toured the building and attended a luncheon in their honor.
It was a whirlwind trip from May 15-18.
“It was a lot of fun, but exhausting,” Nozicka said. “They really kept us going from sun up to sun down.”
Nozicka was presented with a certificate of achievement by Dollar General’s President of Store Operations and Store Development, Kathleen Guion, along with a watch and bonus check.
“As a store manager, this is my first full fiscal year with the company,” Nozicka said.
“So I was surprised and honored to be selected for this award. I have to say, I really like working in the Huachuca City store. I love the clientele here, I’ve had good employees and I like the store and the location.”
Nozicka, who has been in the retail business since 1970, says he’s found his niche.
“I enjoy my work with Dollar General. It’s been a good fit for me.”
Dollar General facts
With its corporate office based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., Dollar General Corp. is the nation’s largest small-box discount retailer.
• $9.5 billion in sales in fiscal 2007
• More than 8,000 stores in 35 states
• 6,900-square-foot stores
• 5,400 core products
• 9 distribution centers
• 71,500 employees
Source: www.dollargeneral.com
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
desert dweller wrote on May 30, 2008 10:18 AM: