In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf welcomes Alexis Straffus, the General Manager of the Augusta Annihilators, during the GM Rx and the Mission Possible Sleep Summit at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alexis shares her journey from food and beverage management into the furniture retail world with Ashley, starting in 2020 in Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes her growth from a Rookie Sales Associate to various leadership roles, including her first General Manager position in Inverness, Florida, and later at flagship locations with Ashley Global Retail (AGR) in Florida, highlighting her successes such as winning Rookie of the Year and Top Gun awards, and even earning a vacation to Napa Valley as part of various incentive programs.

The conversation dives deep into Alexis's leadership philosophy, especially her focus on culture and the well-being of Memory Makers. She discusses the rebranding of their Augusta store to the Augusta Annihilators, complete with the vulture mascot "Vinny," chosen for representing loyalty, passion, teamwork, and drive. Alexis emphasizes the importance of listening and connecting with her Memory Makers, fostering a competitive yet uplifting environment where everyone feels heard and motivated to excel. Her thoughtful and intentional approach to leadership, grounded in her competitive sports background and previous management experiences, shines throughout the episode, as she shares her ambitions to continue growing—setting her sights on a regional manager position by 2027.

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