1. DAVID W. GRUEHN 1814 E. Branch Hollow Drive, Carrollton, TX 75010
Cell: (214) 669-6970 dgruehn@microsoft.com http://davidgruehn.com
SUMMARY
Senior executive with 26 years of experience developing, managing, delivering and selling technology solutions and
services to upper tier companies, with a 20 year concentration in the retail and hospitality industry. Passionate, high-
energy, hands-on leader with a strong track record of envisioning how technology and emerging innovation will help
retailers differentiate their business. Dedicated team player with a consistent employee satisfaction record, skilled in
cross-team collaboration, with outstanding C-level oral and written communication and presentation skills. A
decisively creative problem solver who thrives in a dynamic, challenging environment.
• Complex Program and Project Management • Building, Leading and Motivating Teams
• Systems Implementation Delivery • C-level and Board-level Presence
• Innovative Technology Visionary • Strategic Planning and Execution
• P&L Responsibility • Relationship Development and Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MICROSOFT CORPORATION - Dallas, TX 2005-Present
Industry Solutions Managing Director, US Retail & Hospitality Vertical
Currently manage a team of retail technology subject matter experts focused on developing and
evangelizing Microsoft’s go-to-market solution strategies for top tier US retail and hospitality customers.
• Responsible for developing and executing go-to-market strategy and solution offerings in conjunction
with select industry partners. Solution focus areas include customer experience, store systems, digital
marketing, multi-channel integration, mobility, business intelligence and real-time analytics, cloud
strategy, and enterprise portal / collaboration.
• Member of the core architect team responsible for developing and delivering Microsoft’s worldwide
Smarter Retailing Strategy launched at the National Retail Federation show in 2004. Conducted press
and analysts briefings on the strategy’s value equation and competitive differentiation. Repeated the
process in 2007 when Microsoft launched our revised Connected Retail Experiences strategy.
• Conducted C-Level envisioning sessions and executive briefings to help top tier retailers such as
Home Depot, Macy’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Lowes comprehend and harness the impact,
threat, and opportunities associated with the rapid acceleration and adoption of emerging technologies
by retail consumers.
• Managed complex cross-functional teams responsible for numerous customer facing activities
including the annual NRF exhibition, partner & customer user group presentations, press/analysts
interviews, innovation showcase roadshows, and internal / external industry relevant training
webinars. Scope included content/collateral development and content presentation.
• Responsible for $360M P&L. Made sales quota five of the last six years. Last three years achieved
101.1%, 114%, and 108% quota achievement.
• Consistently ranked one of the highest rated team managers based on the employee Work Health
Index (WHI) survey which measures employee morale. During the last three years achieved WHI
scores of 91, 92, and 97 out of 100.
• Published author and speaker on industry relevant topics in leading trade magazines including
STORES, Integrated Solutions Retailer, Chain Store Age, and Retails Solutions Online.

2. MICROSOFT CORPORATION - Dallas, TX 1999-2005
Practice Manager, National US Retail & Hospitality Consulting Services
Managed the consulting & support division of Microsoft’s retail and hospitality industry vertical focused
on the top tier US retail and hospitality customers.
• Built from inception the first US retail focused consulting & support services division. Scaled the business
model to support 75 dedicated service professionals focused on project management, retail specific application
development, system integration, corporate collaboration, strategic consulting, business intelligence, and 24 X 7
customer support.
• Responsible for services project management, utilization goals, on-time, on-budget engagement metrics,
quality assurance and risk management, employee morale, contract negotiation, and customer satisfaction.
Focused on top tier retailers such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kroger, Home Depot, Costco, Safeway, Sears,
Rite Aid, Family Dollar, Meijer, Ross, TJX, and McDonalds.
• Utilized extensive industry knowledge/experience/relationships to become a voice of our retail
customers in Redmond. Drove VP level corporate awareness of unaddressed industry specific issues,
requirements and competitive threats. Led cross-functional teams in developing and delivering new
offerings, products, and processes which helped Microsoft become a dominant technology provider in
retail. These included competitive retail specific licensing models, product functionality gap analysis
which contributed to the first ever industry focused Microsoft operating system (WEPOS), vertical
specific metric development and alignment, industry specific solution offerings, and industry focused
field sales training.
• Helped establish Microsoft’s retail industry credibility through numerous tradeshow presentations,
executive briefings, and customer / partner advisory boards. Built strong credible relationships with
the industry’s top press and analysts.
• Responsible for a $28M P&L. Final year 114% ahead of services revenue quota.
GADZOOKS - Carrollton, TX 1998 - 1999
CIO-Vice President, Information Systems
Responsible for the development & enhancement of corporate revenue generating strategies through the
utilization of information technology for this 435 unit apparel specialty retailer.
• Built the IS department from a maintenance shop of three support staff to a strong proactive team of
20 department specialists.
• Developed the company’s first strategic information systems plan and initiated an IT steering
committee. Sharpened executive focus on utilizing technology as a strategic asset.
• Strengthened relationships with key IT venders and expanded the company’s IT delivery capacity
through mutually beneficial vendor partnerships.
• Designed and replaced the company’s technology infrastructure to support strategic initiatives.
Project included building the company’s first industry standard data center.
• Upgraded the merchandising system to current revs to support strategic corporate expansion plans.
Worked directly with vendor (STS now Epicor) on designing implementation plan and license
negotiations.
• Drove board level technology interaction and approval for all IT strategic initiatives.
• Accepted the position based on the opportunity to build extensive components of a specialty retail
environment from scratch. These included enterprise and store infrastructure, Microsoft Outlook
integrated voice mail system, new corporate reporting standards, and introduction to emerging digital
marketing opportunities.
THE BOMBAY COMPANY – Fort Worth, TX 1994 - 1998
CIO-Vice President, Information Systems
Responsible for all information technology initiatives supporting mission critical business functions and
strategic technology direction for this international 420 unit home furnishings specialty retailer.

3. • Assessed and strengthened the IT resource infrastructure. Managed a staff of 50 system analysts,
programmers, and support staff.
• Designed and implemented three year strategic information systems plan to support long term
corporate strategic goals which included improved logistics, enhanced corporate communication,
employee productivity and collaboration, introduction of enterprise business intelligence capability,
enhanced channel productivity and integration, and enhanced store systems.
• Replaced the corporate network infrastructure to support global enterprise computing requirements.
Initiative included deploying email and mission-critical system access to all corporate employees in
the US, Canada, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. Laptops with remote corporate access were deployed
to all field management to enhance critical information access and productivity.
• Negotiated contracts and supervised implementation of numerous productivity enhancing system
initiatives including PeopleSoft HR systems, ProBusiness outsourced payroll, Arthur Merchandise
Planning System, Pilot’s Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), Integrated Voice Recognition for
enhanced store associate product knowledge training, JD Edwards Financials Upgrade, and Bombay’s
Private Label credit card implementation and POS application integration.
• Directed strategic enhancements to the heavily modified JDA merchandising system to support
differentiating advantages in logistics and container management
• Introduced Bombay’s first ecommerce internet presence, an early entry for specialty retailers in 1997,
at www.bombayco.com featuring 400 products with automated merchandising system & mail order
delivery integration. Worked with Microsoft and local Microsoft partners who subsidized the project
saving Bombay $250,000.
• Initiated store system environment changes which enhanced store & corporate information access and
training capabilities improving sales potential and customer service opportunities.
• Initiated the first IT steering committee which sharpened executive focus on utilizing technology as a
strategic asset and drove effective executive level cross-team collaboration.
• Drove board level technology interaction and approval for all IT strategic initiatives.
PRICE WATERHOUSE, LLP – Dallas, TX 1987 - 1994
Senior Manager, Management Consulting Services – Dallas, TX
• Joined the firm directly from college as a management consultant and was promoted ultimately to
Senior Management Consultant. Experience includes:
• Management responsibilities included engagement project management and general oversight,
project profitability, engagement sales, executive relationships both externally and internally,
customer satisfaction, and employee recruitment, morale, and evaluation.
• Technical experience included system integration, strategic system information planning,
client/server system design and development, business process reengineering, and package system
selection and implementation. Industry focus areas included Retail, Real Estate, and Consumer
Product Goods
• Engaged in long-term mission critical projects in Fortune 50 companies which generated a strong
foundation in business acumen, team building, management skills, and executive oral and written
communication skills.
PRICE WATERHOUSE, LLP – Dallas, TX 6/1985 – 8/1985
Accounting Auditor Internship – Dallas, TX
• One of two students from the University of Texas chosen by the firm in 1985 to participate in an
accounting internship during the summer of 1895.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & APPOINTMENTS
National Retail Federation Foundation Board (2011 - Present)
NextPoint Retail Advisory Board (2009 - Present)
Executive Professor, Center for Retailing Studies, Texas A&M (2005)

4. Executive Professor, Center for Retailing Studies, Texas A&M (2003)
Retail System Alert Advisory Board (1997-1999)
Who’s Who of Technology (1997)
Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity
EDUCATION
B.B.A., Management Information Systems & Accounting, University of Texas at Austin (1986)
PUBLICATIONS
Article: Unique Customer Experience is Retail’s Holy Grail
NRF STORES Magazine - 7/1/2011
http://www.stores.org/STORES%20Magazine%20July%202011/unique-customer-experience-retail%E2%80%99s-holy-grail
Interview: Moving the Needle: CIOs Encouraged to Increase Investments in Innovation
NRF STORES Magazine - 3/11/2011
http://www.stores.org/STORES%20Magazine%20March%202011/moving-needle
Video: TouchPoints TV: David Gruehn Talks About Retail Industry Trends
Retail TouchPoints - 1/27/2011
http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/touchpoints-tv/694-touchpoints-tv-david-gruehn
Article: Cloud Computing: What Are the Stumbling Blocks Hindering Retailers Broader Adoption
of the SaaS/Cloud Model?
Integrated Solutions for Retailers - 6/1/2010
http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/article.mvc/Cloud-Computing-What-Are-The-Stumbling-Blocks-0002
Video: Aligning the Agendas of the Retail CMO and CIO
Chain Store Age - 5/4/2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C32n6naRBA
Video: Harnessing Innovation for Growth In Retail
Integrated Solutions for Retailers - 4/22/2010
http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/article.mvc/Harnessing-Innovation-For-Growth-In-Retail-0001
Interview: Taking Advantage of Tech Trends
ON Windows - 1/10/2010
http://www.onwindows.com/Articles/Taking-advantage-of-tech-trends/4402/Default.aspx
Interview: Technology in the “New Normal” Landscape
Chain Store Age - 12/31/2009
http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/technology-%E2%80%9Cnew-normal%E2%80%9D-landscape
Article: The Millennial March into Retail
NRF STORES Magazine ORES - 5/4/2009
http://www.stores.org/stores-magazine-may-2009/millennial-march-retail
Interview: Leverage Technologies to Improve Performance
Chain Store Age - 3/31/2009
http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/leverage-technologies-improve-performance

5. Interview: Amid Weakening Retail Environment, ‘Connected Experiences’ Can Drive Customer
Loyalty
WebWire - 1/12/2009
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=84269
Interview: BI: How Did You Do Business Without It?
Integrated Solutions for Retailers - 5/17/2007
http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/article.mvc/BI-How-Did-You-Do-Business-Without-It-0001