David Edmondson

David J. Edmondson (born June 10, 1959) is an American businessman. He is the founder and CEO of E-Recycling Corps, an enterprise engaged in the collection, refurbishment and global redistribution of used wireless devices. Edmondson also founded EasySale, Inc in 2007, an internet-based consignment and liquidation company based in Arlington, Texas. Edmondson was Chief Executive Officer of RadioShack from 2005 to 2006 until he resigned for lying on his resume.

Early life and education

David J. Edmondson was born June 10, 1959 in Methuen, Massachusetts. His mother Jeannette was a homemaker, and his adoptive father was a US soldier. Like most children of military families, Edmondson moved a great deal throughout his early life, including periods in Germany and Fort Jackson, South Carolina before settling at Fort Carson, Colorado in 1968, where Edmondson remained until his graduation from Alpha Omega Christian School in 1977.

Edmondson moved to San Dimas, California in 1977 where he attended Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College (PCBBC). While at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College, Edmondson began his study to become a Baptist minister. Edmondson left California after one year on campus and returned to Colorado where he became the associate pastor of Security Baptist Temple, in Security, Colorado. He continued his studies through correspondence with PCBBC and claimed he earned his ThG in Theology in May 1980.^[1][2][3]

Edmondson completed Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, an eight-week course of study, in 2002. While he has attended several colleges, he does not currently hold any academic degrees.^[4]

Career

After his ordination, Edmondson relocated to Omaha, Nebraska where he founded the Twin Cities Baptist Church (http://www.twincitiesbc.org/). He started the church in a borrowed space, which was donated by an Omaha businessman who allowed him to use the local Weight Watchers facility. The church Edmondson founded remains an active congregation in Omaha. While starting the church Edmondson also worked for Dial America Marketing as a sales manager in the company’s Omaha office.

In 1982, Edmondson returned to Colorado Springs and attempted to start another church. During this time he also worked for Maxwell Scroge Publishing Company as a marketing manager, while he was starting the new congregation. The second church was not successful and due to financial considerations Edmondson left the full-time ministry. In 1983, Edmondson again relocated, this time to Cleveland, Ohio.

ADVO, Inc

Shortly after moving to Cleveland, Edmondson took a position selling direct mail advertising with Hartford, Connecticut based, ADVO System, Inc. After less than a year Edmondson was promoted to Sales Manager for the newly formed Akron, Ohio office. Edmondson was recognized by the company as an able sales professional and as an emerging leader within the company, and in late 1984 was relocated to Hartford, Connecticut where he assumed the role of Regional Sales Manager and later Regional General Manager. In 1987 Edmondson once again relocated, this time to Dallas, Texas, where he was responsible for developing and piloting the company’s newly conceived National Account Marketing Division.

Over his 11+ year career there, ADVO grew from a small regional direct mail company to become the largest full service direct marketing company in the United States. Edmondson developed as a capable marketing executive over his career with ADVO and worked to develop marketing programs for a variety of leading US retailers and manufacturers, including JB Robinson Jewelers, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Firestone, Finest Supermarkets, WalMart, JC Penney, Pearle Vision, Jiffy Lube, and Tandy Corporation. While serving as National Account Marketing Executive with ADVO, Edmondson worked on developing and implementing marketing programs with various divisions of Tandy Corporation, including its RadioShack Division.

RadioShack

In 1994, Edmondson wrote a letter to the then President of RadioShack, Leonard H. Roberts. In the letter he wrote that he had an idea that he would like to share, and asked Roberts for 15 minutes of his time. Roberts agreed to a meeting in early February and half way through Edmondson's presentation, Roberts stopped the conversation and offered him a job by asking “what do I have to do to get you to join this company”. When Edmondson expressed his lack of interest in joining RadioShack, Roberts let the subject drop, but was so intrigued with Edmondson's idea he canceled his appointments for the next several hours and spent time reviewing how to make Edmondson's idea a reality.

Over the next several months the two men developed a strong working relationship, and by November 1994 Edmondson finally agreed to join the company. Roberts offered him the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing for the RadioShack Division. While Edmondson was excited to join Roberts in transforming the company, he asked Roberts to offer him the lesser title of Vice President of Marketing and allow him to work with David Beckerman, the company’s long time marketing head, for at least a year. Edmondson told Roberts that he believed that if he were going to succeed in his new position it would be important for him to demonstrate his value and earn the respect and acceptance of the organization. Roberts agreed and Edmondson joined the company in December 1994.

Over the next 11 years Edmondson made considerable contribution to the performance of RadioShack. Edmondson understood the core strengths of RadioShack were to be found in its people and its pervasive network of stores. With more than 35,000 employees capable of “demystifying” technology and 7,000 neighborhood stores, RadioShack was well positioned to drive the adoption of new digital technology. Edmondson focused throughout his RadioShack career on marketing these core strengths and established powerful strategic alliances with major technology suppliers, including IBM, Compaq, HP, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Microsoft, RCA, Dish Network, Sirius Satellite Radio, and Apple. These powerful alliances, along with the development and execution of “store-within-a-store” concepts and “residual income” business models, contributed billions of dollars in revenue and profit to the company throughout his career.

Edmondson also greatly improved the relevance of RadioShack’s brand by leveraging the now famous tag line, "You’ve Got Questions…We’ve Got Answers". Edmondson was recognized by Advertising Age as one of the top 100 marketers in America in 1996 for his initial repositioning of the RadioShack brand.

Edmondson's career steadily advanced during his tenure at RadioShack. He occupied positions as Vice President on Marketing (1994–1995), Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising (1995–1997), Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (1997–2000), President and Chief Operating Officer (2000–2005) and Chief Executive Officer (2005–2006).

Arrests, Newspaper Investigation, Resignation

Shortly after RadioShack announced that Edmondson would be taking over as CEO, he was arrested on a third DWI charge on Jan. 25, 2005, in Southlake, Tex. It was this last incident, scheduled to go to trial in April, that prompted the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to begin investigating the local CEO.^[5]

Edmondson had been arrested twice before on similar charges but was acquitted once and the second offense was reduced to obstruction of a highway. Edmondson was eventually sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to drunken driving.^[6]

Just nine months after becoming CEO, Edmondson resigned in Feb. 20, after the Fort Worth Star-Telegram disclosed that he had falsified his resume and biography.^[7]

In 2006 he resigned after it came to light that he had lied on his resume, claiming two college degrees when he in fact has none.^[4][8]

References