VITAL STATISTICS\ Age: 26Where born: McAllen, Texas
Family: My parents - my dad, Genaro, and mother, Margaret. I'm the youngest of five children; family is all in Texas.
Education: Graduated from the University of Texas in San Antonio with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration
Primary products: Catalog merchandise
Primary market: Primarily service customers in Wyoming, Montana,Washington, Arizona, Missouri and parts of California and Kansas
Number of employees: 1,300; as high as 2,000 during seasonal work such as Christmas and back-to-school time
Annual sales: $350 million at the Provo center alone
PERSONALITY PROFILE
First "real" job: Salesperson at Dillard's Department Store
Management style: I let employees take ownership in programs, give them resources and let them do their jobs.
Strategy for success: I try to remember that it's okay to make mistakes.
A memorable failure: Just after I was hired at Sears, I was on the freeway, going to my first meeting with the "big bosses," I had a flat tire and called to let them know I would be late. Shortly after the call, the two bosses arrived in their starched white shirts, ties and suits and changed the tire.
Heroes: My dad - he taught me the meaning of hard work and that the customer always comes first; my boss, Jim Rohrer - he has believed in me and has always built confidence in me.
Leisure time and hobbies: I like to walk; I love going to the beach, fishing and boating.
Favorite book and movie: Movies: "Dances with Wolves," "A Summer Place," "On Golden Pond." Book: There are too many I like to list them here.