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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday Mail Tribune 100 Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Sharing black culture Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Tree crushes car, part of woman's house in Ashland Forensic evidence leads to arrest of Golden Wok robbery suspect Power out to 1,400 Pacific Power customers Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Scott E. 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Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Matthew T. Mangino: Searching for alternatives to solitary confinement Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Editorials Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Our View: A gesture, but one worth making Our View: No reason to hurry pot-tax vote Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 5 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Guest Opinion: Health professionals don't always act that way Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline Lifestyle Latest stories Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Looking Up: Venus, Mars passing each other Fishing Report: Friday, Feb. 6 Get Out: Friday, Feb. 6 Food Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Community blog: Cupcakes can be good for sweetheart's heart Cupcake love affair Fish stew is a winter delight Home and Garden Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Dear Monty: First time home buyer seeks differences in housing lifestyles Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? 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Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 7 ... Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 7 ... Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding ... LOCAL BUSINESS 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs CEO and three top aides given their walking papers By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 @ 8:56 am Updated Feb 4, 2015 at 6:24 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 @ 8:56 am Updated Feb 4, 2015 at 6:24 PM --> What do you think?Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter . » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The promised integration of Harry & David into 1-800-Flowers.com following the holiday selling season came quickly and forcefully Tuesday as CEO Craig Johnson and at least three other top executives were axed. "We did make some changes effective Tuesday," 1-800-Flowers.com spokesman Joe Pititto said Wednesday. "Harry & David will now be reporting directly to David Taiclet, president of the Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets Division. Craig Johnson is leaving by mutual decision." According to an internal memo, Vice President of Human Resources Pam Turay has also departed, while Chief Financial Officer Michael Schwindle and Chief Information Officer Charles Hunsinger were told their jobs would end in the next couple of months. All three were part of Johnson's leadership team at Musician's Friend prior to coming to Harry & David and have been through the corporate shuffle before. Bain Capital shuttered Musician's Friend's Medford operation and merged it into Guitar Center's California office. Harry & David Holdings emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2011, and Johnson took the helm shortly afterward and installed his team. The Carle Place, N.Y.-based floral, gourmet food and gift company acquired Harry & David Holdings last September. Last October, 1-800-Flowers.com CEO Jim McCann spoke in glowing terms of Johnson and the local management team. "The reason why we got more interested this time and the reason we're so excited about merging these companies is that the company has been fixed by a talented management team," McCann said at the time. "It's not like it was in the past when we would say, 'Are we up to this task? Are we up to cleaning this whole thing up and righting this ship?' That's already been done, and that's what made it palatable for us. The recession punched us in the nose and clearly had an impact on Harry & David. We're both doing much better now." Apparently that sentiment has changed, although 1-800-Flowers had no comment on the reasons for the ousters. "As a company policy, to respect the privacy of all our associates, both current and former, we do not comment on personnel matters," Pititto said. The parent company issued a statement that shed little light on the changes. "As we launch the integration of Harry & David, we are increasingly excited by the opportunities to accelerate growth across our entire enterprise by leveraging our combined assets, experience and skill sets," it read. Pititto said Taiclet will be "on the ground" in Medford working with the existing team at Harry & David for some time going forward, after which he will be in Medford frequently. "We may add a new brand leader at some point in time who would report directly to Dave," Pititto said. "Similar to the structure we have with all of our other gourmet food and gift-basket brands." A phone message to Johnson was not returned. Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal said the move was unexpected. "I thought they were doing a good job, so it kind of surprises me that it happened," Breidenthal said. "I couldn't speak to why, there could be other circumstances no one knows. It could be as simple as they wanted to bring in their leadership." He said he's glad that Harry & David remains a large employer in the area. "It's not unsettling to me," Breidenthal said. "I've seen a lot stranger things happen involving corporations." Taiclet is a former Army infantry captain who earned degrees at Notre Dame and Harvard. He was co-founder and co-owner of Alpine Confections, which he grew to $120 million in sales in 10 years. Alpine Confections was named Candy Industry Magazine’s “Manufacturer of the Year” in 2005. In May 2006, 1-800-Flowers acquired his holding company, Alpine Confections Inc., and two of the five Alpine subsidiaries, Fannie May Confections and Harry London Candies He now oversees more than 2,000 manufacturing plant and distribution facility employees for Harry & David, Fannie May Fine Chocolates, Harry London, Cheryl’s, The Popcorn Factory, Stockyards, DesignPac Gifts and 1-800-Baskets.com. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 4, 2015 @ 8:56 am Updated Feb 4, 2015 at 6:24 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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