Jim Helmich
EXECUTIVE VP
Human Resources & Customer Service
Jim Helmich is a hands-on Operations and Human Resources executive with broad industry experience in brick & mortar retail, eCommerce, SaaS technology and medical device. His industry experience spans outdoor gear & apparel, hospitality, food & beverage, B2B/B2C technologies and medical devices. Helmich has held senior roles in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 to early-stage environments. Helmich is particularly skilled at building teams and implementing operational infrastructure to support growth, develop talent and create work cultures focused on growth and staff empowerment. Helmich has provided operational and HR leadership for organizations ranging from 10 people to over 5,000+ people in companies such as Microsoft (MSN division), Starbucks Coffee Company, Northstar Neuroscience (St. Jude Medical), Altrec.com and NAVIS.
As the Sr. Vice President of HR, Customer Service and Warehouse Operations, Helmich helped Altrec.com scale from an early stage outdoor gear & apparel dotcom to a Top 50 eTailer by recruiting a strong leadership team, growing a loyal customer base and scaling all aspects of warehouse operations. At Northstar Neuroscience, Helmich was responsible for many different aspects of due diligence contributing to a highly successful medical device IPO. Helmich recruited the MSN Slate & Media leadership teams at Microsoft, and led due diligence, recruiting and talent development for the initial launch of the Starbucks Music, Publishing and Creative product teams. Helmich’s contributions at NAVIS, a growth-oriented hospitality SaaS company, resulted in being voted five times as an Oregonian Top Employer. Helmich’s early career experiences also include working as a Congressional Aide on Capitol Hill, as a Trainer for the Archdiocese of Seattle, and as a Mountain Guide.
Jim holds a Masters degree from Seattle University and a Bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University. Helmich has served on many different non-profit boards, including the Bend Endurance Academy, the Society for Human Resource Management and various non-profits in the northwest aimed at helping diverse and disadvantaged job seekers find work.