M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series

Zale Scholars, Donald Zale and Theo Killion.

The M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series celebrates innovative merchandising. It celebrates M.B. Zale's outstanding achievements in retailing by recognizing industry leaders with the Visionary Merchant Award.

M.B. Zale founded Zale Corporation, an international jewelry chain, in 1924. He is widely respected as one of the giants in retailing. Donald Zale, the founder's son, is chairman of the M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation and a member of the class of 1955 at Texas A&M University. His challenge to three Texas universities to help retailing by developing the next generation of retail leadership led to the creation of the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M in 1983.

On Wednesday, April 3, Academy's President and CEO Rodney Faldyn was honored with the 2013 award.  Previously, Mr. Faldyn worked at N.F Smith & Associates, a private-held, international electronics distributor. Addditionaly, he spent eight years at Enron Corp.

PAST HONOREES

Garrett Boone, Co-Chairman; Kip Tindell, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Sharon Tindell, Chief Merchandising Officer, The Container Store

Robert L. Tillman, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Lowe's

Leonard Riggio, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Barnes & Noble

Gordon Segal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Crate and Barrel, Inc.

Marvin J. Girouard, '61, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pier 1 Imports

Dr. Jeffrey L. Bluestein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Harley-Davidson

Jim Carreker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Bombay Company

Bob Nardelli, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Home Depot

Maxine Clark, Chairman and Chief Executive Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop

Mike Ullman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JCPenney Inc.

Matt Rubel, CEO and President, Payless ShoeSource

Sam Duncan, CEO and Chairman, OfficeMax Inc.

Robert D. Loeffler, Former President, H-E-B

Eduardo Castro-Wright, Vice Chairman, Walmart

Theo Killion, CEO, Zale Corporation