Former Circuit City CEO Alan McCollough Mentors HPU Business Students
Alan McCollough, the former CEO of electronics retail giant Circuit City and the latest global leader to join High Point University’s Access to Innovators Program, advised students in Congdon Hall’s Callicutt Life Skills Theater. Pictured on either side of McCullough are Amanda Malgieri, a senior international business major, and Dr. Daniel Hall, dean of the Earl N. Phillips School of Business.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 17, 2024 – Alan McCollough, the former CEO of electronics retail giant Circuit City and one of the latest global leaders to join High Point University’s Access to Innovators Program, mentored students as HPU’s Executive in Residence during his visit to campus on Sept. 10.
McCollough shared his extensive business knowledge and answered students’ questions about what he learned while rising through the ranks at Circuit City. After retiring in 2006, he served on the boards of directors for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, La-Z-Boy and VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies.
“The No. 1 thing I tell folks is focus on the job you have today,” McCollough said. “Too many people I’ve seen over time have a career path mapped out of where they’re going, and they somehow neglect to do a great job at what they are doing right now. Performance matters. Results matter. What I can assure you is in every company, people in senior levels are paying attention and know who is performing and who isn’t.”
Students lined up to speak with McCollough after his Life Skills Seminar at Congdon Hall’s Callicutt Life Skills Theater. While on campus, he also spoke to finance and accounting classes, shared lunch with students and recorded a podcast.
Hearing McCollough’s advice about performance and providing results resonated with Camren Little, a senior marketing major from Charlotte, North Carolina.
“He reminded us that today it’s important to be present and know where you are,” Little said. “Especially for us, as young people, we are always looking to get the highest position as early as possible instead of just focusing on maximizing the opportunity at the current position we are in.”
Amanda Malgieri, a senior international business major from Green Brook, New Jersey, said one of her biggest takeaways from McCollough’s talk was the importance of staying up to date on emerging trends.
“It’s definitely important to reference data, but, in addition, going into different stores and asking salespeople what people are buying will be a quicker signal to retail trends than relying solely on data,” Malgieri said.
About Alan McCollough
McCollough started as general manager of Circuit City corporate operations in 1987 and was named the company’s president and chief operating officer in 1997. He served in that role for three years before being appointed president and CEO in 2000 and president, CEO and chairman of the board in 2002. Under McCollough’s leadership, Circuit City opened new stores across the country and remodeled existing stores to give them a fresh look.
Prior to joining Circuit City, McCollough, a U.S. Navy veteran, spent more than a decade working for Milliken & Company, a leading manufacturing company that specializes in flooring, textile, chemicals and health care solutions. He served as the company’s director of marketing in his final role with the company.
McCollough has joined several current and former CEOs who regularly visit HPU’s campus and mentor students as part of the Access to Innovators Program. The group includes:
- Marc Randolph, former CEO and co-founder of Netflix and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence
- Cynt Marshall, CEO of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence
- Russell Weiner, CEO of Domino’s and HPU’s Corporate Executive in Residence
- Sue Downes, CEO and co-founder of MyEyeDr and HPU’s Health Care Expert in Residence
- Dr. Ellen Zane, former CEO of Tufts Medical Center and HPU’s Health Care Executive in Residence
- JiNan Glasow George, CEO and founder of Patent Forecast and HPU’s Intellectual Property Expert in Residence
- Johnny Taylor, CEO of SHRM and Human Capital Expert in Residence