After 31 years of serving those who serve, Exchange Credit Program SVP Jami Richardson is retiring. While Richardson will surely miss the Exchange, the Exchange will miss her even more.
“Jami has been an incredible asset to the Exchange,” said Director/CEO Tom Shull. “She has made life better for Warfighters and families, as well as those who have had the privilege of working with her.”
Managers, associates, family and friends packed HQ’s Braswell Auditorium and a reception Dec. 11 in the Skyline Club to honor Richardson.
“Retiring as an SVP, it totally exceeds my expectations,” Richardson said. “Whenever I left Indiana and came to do this thing with the military in Texas over 30 years ago, I thought it would be a year or two . . . The executive team, I can’t say enough. Everybody was talking the accolades of what I did, but it wasn’t me, it was all of you – and all of you in the rest of the directorates.”
Under Richardson’s leadership, the MILITARY STAR® program has grown in size and scope. In 2018, the program generated $471 million in value for cardholders through savings, discounts, financing offers and cardholder-friendly terms and conditions.
Richardson was also selected to represent the Exchange’s interests with the DoD Community Services Reform Management Group in Washington, D.C.
In recent years, Richardson has spearheaded initiatives to:
- Have MILITARY STAR accepted at all commissaries, a long-desired goal that came to fruition in 2017.
- Test MILITARY STAR acceptance at Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities at select pilot locations.
- Roll out a successful mobile app for MILITARY STAR users.
- Introduce the Pay Your Way payment plans earlier this year.
“For 31 years, it’s been my honor to serve our heroes and their families,” Richardson said. “I look back on my time here with great joy and gratitude. To my mentors and teammates: thank you for making this journey such a happy and memorable one.”
The Exchange has played an important part in Richardson’s personal as well as professional life—it’s where she met her husband Steve, who retired in 2011 after 31 years at the Exchange.
Richardson leaves ECP in good hands. Tommy Ward, vice president of Exchange credit operations, will step into the SVP role.
“Jami leaves an outstanding legacy of servant-leadership,” Shull said. “The Exchange family congratulates her on a well-earned retirement and wishes her luck in the next chapter of her life.”
A Jami Richardson Photo Album
Leave a Reply