Life of Dr. Jim Skibo, Longtime Exchange Executive, Celebrated in Ceremony at HQ

More than 100 people gathered in the Exchange headquarters food court Feb. 17 to honor Dr. Jim Skibo, the longtime Exchange executive who passed away Jan. 20.

Associates and Exchange retirees, as well as Dr. Skibo’s family members, attended the ceremony. Dr. Skibo began his Exchange career in June 1969 as a college trainee and rose to senior vice president of Customer Relationship Management. He was remembered for his intelligence, curiosity, athleticism, faith, friendliness and more.

“His commitment to those we serve was without equal,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull. “He had such a way of expressing it in his vigor and his love and his exuberance for serving.”

Shull recalled how vital Skibo was in the implementation of the Veterans online shopping benefit, which launched Veterans Day 2017.

“He engaged with the National Archives.” Shull said. “He established that relationship so that we could connect with [millions of] service members and their families. We could not have done that without him.”

As speakers honored Dr. Jim Skibo during a memorial for him on Jan. 17, images from his life played on a video wall. He was an avid bicyclist and runner who ran marathons in all 50 states.

Shull officially dedicated the Skibo Fitness Center at headquarters. Skibo, an avid bicyclist and runner who had completed marathons in all 50 states and embraced wearable technology that helped him track his fitness goals, was a regular at the fitness center that is now named in his honor.

“Jim spent many hours in the fitness center,” reads a plaque inside the center, “sharing his experiences with fellow gym enthusiasts and encouraging others to achieve their fitness goal.”

As Shull and other current and former Exchange leaders spoke about Skibo’s impact, large monitors behind them showed photos of Skibo through his lifetime, illustrating his passions, which also included music. Comments from the January Exchange Post story about his passing were also displayed.

“His achievements were so stunning and so momentous,” said Paul Jen, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. “He was a visionary. He was a problem-solver. He would solve problems that none of us could solve and solve problems none of us anticipated.”

Jen and others also remembered Skibo as an engaging and warm person who always had time to talk and was well-versed in a variety of topics.

“He and I talked frequently,” said Karen Cardin, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. “I cherish that because it wasn’t just about business. It was about politics. It was about family. It was about all the things that happen in your life. He made connections, and I called him a friend.”

At left, the tree planting outside headquarters honoring Dr. Jim Skibo. The center and right plaques are at the newly named Skibo Fitness Center at Exchange headquarters in Dallas.

Ana Middleton, retired Exchange President and Chief Merchandising Officer, also spoke about Skibo’s versatile mind.

“Jim was like a beautiful piece of jazz music,” Middleton said. “He was a free thinker. He was probably the youngest thinker I knew. He attacked everything with such youthful exuberance. He always had a different way of looking at things.”

A red oak tree was planted in Skibo’s memory near the headquarters flagpoles, part of a tradition in honoring HQ associates who pass away while still working at the Exchange.

Skibo served in several roles focused on customer loyalty and retention, including director of trade promotions; vice president, marketing and advertising; vice president, business intelligence; and senior vice president, business development.

He conducted extensive research within the field of organizational evolution and change and was an industry expert on promotion management. In a professional capacity, Skibo spoke at national and international industry forums and presented his research at numerous conferences. He authored numerous academic papers, books and book chapters and served as an adjunct professor at Texas Woman’s University.

“He treated everyone with such respect,” Shull said. “Everyone was an equal to him. Even though he had such a distinguished educational background and career, all of those things we all strive to be, he was one of those unique people who really respected everyone.”