Playing dress-up at age 5, parleyed to Best Dressed, a degree in Textiles, and inspired my path for great goods, superb merchants, amazing food purveyors, visual wizardry and the BEST TALENT,  while being attuned to value and making the numbers match the mission.

Paris at 25?  Close to perfect. 

Macy’s New York was an adventure- buying home accessories in the Far East and Europe was amazing, while learning how to be as smart as our customers. Right place, Right time. 

Merchandising retail real estate came next at The Rouse Company.  Leasing groundbreaking urban projects in Miami, New York, Portland, St. Louis, Atlanta, Seattle, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Phoenix and New Orleans, over a decade offered me a platform at the most creative company of its time. 

My DNA from Mom and Dad, was always that life was better with a party; like lobsterfests in the backyard or the most creative Halloweens. Merchandising Grand Openings generated a platform of signature events like the Wrap party at Michael W. Smith’s barn in Nashville with Amy Grant and Peter Cetera entertaining, and Wolfgang Puck’s menu enjoyed by the lake under the stars.  Or the 1000 person VIP party, marking the opening of The Oasis at Sawgrass Mills, with dancing, foodbars by all the new cafes and bistros, and 7 air conditioned tents that evoked the feeling of the Casbah in Fort Lauderdale.  Imagine.

Nashville’s Pop-Up Executive Offices were merchandised in a former Southern Living Showhouse, with personalized rocking chairs on the porch and raspberry lemonade served.  And the first Board of Directors Meeting at The Rouse Company that I was asked to organize, was the “Sweetheart Supper” just before Valentine’s Day to include and acknowledge the spouses of the Directors for their behind the scenes contributions.

The experience of events, etail and retail are all on my screen to evolve and excite customers to look, love and buy.   Spotlighting income AND image to further a Clients’ mission while making it a great experience will always get me excited to go to work every morning.  It was what I was meant to do.  It’s brought me here now…ready for What’s NEXT.