Jim Salzano
Jim Salzano is Executive Vice President of The Clarks Companies, N.A. He has been part of the Clarks management team that has led the company from just over $200M in revenues to a $700M share of the North American market. CCNA products are sold throughout North America in 13,000 retail locations, as well as, 240 company owned stores. CCNA is part of C & J Clark Limited, a footwear company based in the United Kingdom. Established in the United Kingdom in 1825, Clarks is one of the oldest privately held companies in the world. Products are globally distributed with worldwide sales of 40 million pairs.
Jim is originally from Rochester, New York and moved to Boston in 1995 to join Clarks. While in Rochester, he held positions with Paychex, Price Waterhouse, and spent 14 years working for Altier Shoes – a family owned footwear retailer. Jim now has over 30 years of experience in the footwear business.
He is also active in the community. He was previously President of the Board of Directors for Triangle. Triangle is a private, non-profit organization with a mission to provide vocational, residential and social development services to adults with disabilities.
In addition he is Vice Chairman of the Board for The Two Ten Foundation and chaired the Strategic Planning Committee. The Two Ten Foundation began 70 years ago and is committed to strengthening the footwear community with financial, social and educational support and services while nurturing community building and volunteerism.
He currently serves on the Board of FDRA – Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America. A non-profit organization promoting the free flow of footwear into the U.S. and throughout the world. FDRA represents footwear retailers, distributors, manufacturers, suppliers and international trade associations.
At Clarks, Jim has been actively involved with the First Step program which gives internship opportunities to ‘people with abilities’. This program is aimed at ensuring that opportunities within the Clarks organization are presented to all people with a passion to work. The program provides a confidence building work experience, along with a paycheck, and ultimately the chance at permanent employment at the company.
CCNA was honored with an Exemplary Employer Award from the Massachusetts Governors Commission on Employment of People with Disabilities for the work that has been completed within the First Step program.
In 2002, the Boston Business Journal named Jim “Citizen of the Month”.
In December 2007 he was awarded the AA Bloom award at the annual Ten Two Footwear Foundation dinner in New York City. The award recognizes an individual in the industry for outstanding volunteerism.
In 2008, the Boston Globe nominated Clarks as one of the “Top 100 Places To Work’.
Jim graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology and now resides in Walpole, Massachusetts, with his wife Shana, and children Nathaniel, Luca and Caden.
