Avis

Avis has been promoted to Brand Director.

"This is a company that gives generously, financially and through its people. I think giving back is part of the corporate culture, whether it is through Partners in Time or raising money for an AIDS Walk."

Why did you join Macy's Merchandising Group and why have you stayed?

I was a buyer at Burdines (now Macy's Florida) and I wanted to move back to New York. I explored all of my options and decided that Macy's, Inc. is such a strong company and I felt good about what the company was doing in the different areas of business. I decided to stick with the company and move into merchandising with Macy's Merchandising Group. I chose to come to Macy's Merchandising Group because I was really interested in working in merchandising and having more time to work on strategy and driving business. I stayed because I love the company, and I have a great job. I like what I do, and it is challenging.

What do you enjoy most about what you do and what are your overall job responsibilities?

As the merchandiser, I make sure all of our divisions are maximizing opportunities, so I work with the divisions in the markets to identify strategies and short-and-long-term opportunities to drive sales. What I like most about my job is being able to look at a business from a big picture point of view and to drive big initiatives.

What contribution do you make to your division and how do you feel you make a difference?

In my position I get to uncover and identify opportunities because I have a vision of everything that is going on in the company. I have a view of what is going on in all the divisions, so I can take our bigger vision and represent the company in the marketplace. I'm in a wonderful position to really shape what our assortments look like in the future.

What has been your most memorable moment since joining the company?

My most memorable moment would probably be sitting in one of our update meetings and listening to Terry Lundgren, Janet Grove and Len Marcus talk about how solid the company is and how far we've grown with our private brands. That gave me an understanding of how we are a strong division and how we collectively drive a strategy that's really good for the company and the big picture. Understanding the impact that private label growth has had on the company was very memorable. Another memorable moment would be strategy meetings with the divisions and sitting down with them to hash out strategy and a plan. In those meetings we come up with business driving ideas and it is really fulfilling to see those things happen.

How has the training you've received since joining the company benefited you?

Macy's, Inc. has really strong systems, and we're constantly upgrading our systems to be competitive. In general, I think doing a lot of training in all the different areas, whether its systems or buying or merchandising or size analysis, is very important. It's benefited us because we are not just staying stagnant; we're moving forward and growing with technology.

Is community involvement important to you, have you been involved in any projects in your division and was this something you considered when joining the company?

Community involvement is important to me. It is one of the reasons I felt good about staying with the company when I came back to New York. This is a company that gives generously, financially and through its people. I think giving back is part of the corporate culture, whether it is through Partners in Time or raising money for an AIDS Walk. I've participated in several of the events and it just it feels good. Macy's, Inc. is a company that celebrates giving back to the community.

What do you like best about your work environment?

I work with a lot of smart people; I think there's just a talented pool of merchants here and it's refreshing to be able to work with such talented people. It is very relaxed and new ideas are encouraged and celebrated. Those are some of the things I like the most.

What personal interests/hobbies do you have and how do you balance them with your work?

I have a monthly girl's night out and it's one night for me to gather with my friends from all different industries. Because I work at Macy's Merchandising Group I have flex time, so I can work flexible hours during the week. I never feel pressured to miss something, and I think that people understand that it's important to have that balance of life and work. I have a lot of hobbies and interests and the job is flexible.

What advice would you give to a new executive joining the company? What helped you establish yourself and move ahead with your career goals?

My advice is to ask questions, share your thoughts and ask other's opinions. I encourage all the junior executives I talk with to use their voice and not be afraid to ask questions. I've reached my goals by working hard, networking, really listening to the senior executives who have had varied and wide experiences in their careers, and just absorbing everything that I could learn.

What do you see in the future for Macy's, Inc. and the department store industry?

I think Macy's, Inc.'s future is solid and we will continue to stay at the top within our industry. I think department stores are going to continue to go through an evolution and change. The industry will change, and we have to continue to change with it.