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Tacey Powers<\/a> vividly recalls a defining moment during her first few weeks working on the sales floor at Nordstrom\u2019s Cerritos, Calif., store.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was the early 1980s, and the ambitious young college student was organizing Members Only jackets when the retailing family\u2019s third-generation leaders approached her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMr. Jim, Mr. Bruce and Mr. John walked up to me. They said they hadn\u2019t met me and were excited to have me at Nordstrom. These men had a lot of stores and employees \u2026 and they took the time to stop and introduce themselves. It meant something. I thought, \u2018OK, that\u2019s it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers, who had originally planned to sell computers at IBM, realized that Nordstrom was the place for her. \u201cOnce I got into the company, the culture quickly aligned with my personal values. I never looked back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within six months, Powers was an assistant department manager. After a year, she was promoted again, to manager of Point of View, a women\u2019s apparel department.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n At age 23, she took on the role of coat buyer. \u201cThey would hand you a corporate credit card and you would be off to New York to select product. The fact that I didn\u2019t make any horrific mistakes is amazing,\u201d Powers quipped. \u201cI\u2019m still thankful to this day because it was the coldest winter on record in Southern California. I got very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n More than four decades later, Powers still considers herself lucky. A beloved member of the close-knit Nordstrom team, she has put her stamp on nearly every part of the business \u2014 including all major merchandise categories, from women\u2019s to kids to men\u2019s, Nordstrom.com and Nordstrom Rack. \u201cNo decade has been the same, no five years has been the same. We\u2019re a company that\u2019s always evolving,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now as executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes, she is powering the business that has always been the heart and soul of the retailer. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThroughout Tacey\u2019s career, she has been a tenacious advocate for our customers and a terrific partner to our vendors in the growth of our business,\u201d said Jamie Nordstrom, chief merchandising officer of Nordstrom. \u201cRelationships matter in this industry, and Tacey has been a model of integrity, curiosity and collaboration for so many of us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the support of her mentors at Nordstrom, Powers first made the leap into footwear in 2006, when [former shoe exec] Jack Minuk gave her \u201cthe scariest promotion\u201d to DMM of women\u2019s shoes for the West Coast. \u201cEverybody who works in the shoe division at Nordstrom grows up on the shoe floor. I said they would never accept me as a shoe dog. He said, \u2018See you on Monday.\u2019 It was such a responsibility. I took this assignment very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers quickly learned the intricacies of the footwear business \u2014 and she was hooked. \u201cI love that this is an industry with people who truly care about each other. They compete, but they come together on so many important subjects. There\u2019s a real mutual respect,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the other arenas I worked in, that wasn\u2019t my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers\u2019 unwavering focus on partnership has been key for both the retailer and its vendor community. Some favorite memories include being on the floor with the late shoe legend Vince Camuto<\/a> during personal appearances. \u201cYou would have thought we had Kim Kardashian at the store,\u201d she said. \u201cWe would learn so much on those Saturdays.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers has been instrumental in building power brands such as Ugg and Birkenstock, while cultivating new categories such as running.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"pete](\"https:\/\/footwearnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Pete-Nordstrom-and-Tacey-Powers-help-fit-a-child-for-shoes-during-Shoes-That-Fit-Event-1-copy.jpg?w=1024\")