Target's Secret Weapon

There’s No I in Target

No one builds a company alone, and Bob Ulrich is no exception. Over the years, he has put together an extraordinarily smart, savvy, and talented executive team, including his successor as CEO, Gregg Steinhafel. So Target’s growth and innovation and marketing agility and total savviness in its business decisions, are pretty much guaranteed to continue. Indeed, the company’s greatest days undoubtedly lie ahead.

But what will be missing will be Bob Ulrich’s own unique vision and his retailing sixth sense and his perspective. Those he’ll take with him, along with the satisfaction of knowing his career has been an extraordinary one, and his legacy and achievements the stuff of legends.

A Silent Prayer to Stay Put

Even as I salute Bob Ulrich, I can’t help but utter a silent prayer that he will continue to spend much of his time here in Minnesota. The civic and not-for-profit activities to which he’s contributed so much need him, and others like him, to continue to give of their talent and time and resources.

Despite the loss of some retired executives to other states, many are committed to staying here and giving back, and our community is so much better as a result. I’m sure I’ll be guilty of leaving many out, but here’s my off-the-top list of retired major players who continue to enrich us all through their involvement: Chuck Denny, Whitney MacMillan, Gene Frey, Myron Kunin, Doug Dayton, John Dasburg, John Cowles, Bruce Dayton, Dar Reedy, Jim Secord, Sandy Grieve, Jim Campbell, John Driscoll, Doug Leatherdale, Conley Brooks, Wheelock Whitney, Sam McCullough, Dick McFarland, John Morrison, Glen Nelson, Gedney Tuttle, Bill Reiling, Irv Weiser, and Mike Winton. 

Wow! How lucky the rest of us are.