Zac Posen2009 ZAC POSEN debuted his ready-to-wear collection in February 2002 in New York City. The presentation captured the attention of key fashion editors and retailers, signaling the presence of a new force within international fashion. Zac Posen is now a global luxury lifestyle brand presenting four ready-to-wear collections per year. The collection, which is comprised of day wear, suiting and evening wear, is for a sophisticated, feminine, strong woman of a diverse age range. In addition to ready to wear, the Zac Posen luxury vocabulary also includes fur, leg wear, body wear, shoes and handbags. Born in October 1980, Zac Posen was raised in lower Manhattan, the son of Stephen Posen, an artist, and Susan Posen, a corporate lawyer. At age fourteen he attended the pre-college program at Parson’s School of Design. For three years Posen was mentored by curator Richard Martin at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At eighteen he was accepted into the womenswear degree program at London’s Central Saint Martins University. During his tenure in London, Posen continued to develop and perfect the demanding craftsmanship and vision for which he is now famous. In 2001, Posen constructed a gown entirely made from thin leather strips and dressmaker hooks and eyes that delivered a powerful commentary about the female figure. The gown was acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum and featured in their “Curvaceous” exhibit. Upon returning to New York in 2001, Posen set up an atelier in his parent’s living room. Shortly thereafter he was chosen to present a capsule collection as part of GenArt’s “Fresh Face in Fashion 2001”. Following the success of this presentation, Posen established his design studio in Tribeca. Zac Posen continues to receive awards and accolades, most notably the CFDA’s 2004 Swarovski/Perry Ellis Award for ready-to-wear. Posen’s strong, feminine aesthetic has become a favorite of style leaders including Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Helen Mirren, Mischa Barton, Beyoncé Knowles and many more. The Tribeca studio – lead by Alexandra Posen, the company’s Creative Director and Zac Posen’s sister – is the center of Posen’s design universe. Over the past seven years, the Zac Posen atelier has grown from a single-room studio into today’s coterie of 49 employees, including expert artisans and determined entrepreneurs, building a global luxury brand. The Zac Posen line is found in top retailers all over the world including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Holt Renfrew and Vakko.]]> Les Steiger2009 LES STEIGER is the Senior Vice President for Men’s at Macy’s Central, based in Atlanta. Les’s career began in 1977 when he entered the training program at Abraham & Straus in Brooklyn. Through hard work he became a divisional merchandise manager in 1987. In 1994 Les joined Macy’s East as Vice President of men’s clothing, pants, and shoes. In 2000, he was promoted to Senior Vice President/General Merchandise Manager in charge of men’s and kid’s at Stern’s in New Jersey. A year later, Les became the Senior Vice President of men’s clothing, shoes, pants, and sportswear at Macy’s East. In 2005 Les moved to Atlanta to assume his current position. Les grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and graduated from Hamilton College. His family ran a retail department store business for over 100 years in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Les and his wife Barbara were married in 1999 and they are the proud parents of two children, Meggie and Matthew. They reside in Atlanta, Georgia where Les is involved in several charitable endeavors. Les is a former President & Chairman of the YMA (Young Menswear Association). As President of the Fashion Scholarship Fund, Les’s tenure was instrumental in creating many of the processes and strategies that has enabled the organization to become one of the most successful philanthropic organizations in the fashion industry today. Les is a 15-year participant in the Big Brother program.]]> MINDY GROSSMAN2009 MINDY GROSSMAN, a 30-year veteran of the retail and apparel industries, is Chief Executive Officer of HSN, Inc. (HSNi, formerly IAC Retailing) and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. In this capacity Ms. Grossman oversees a $3 billion dollar retail portfolio which includes HSN, the 4th largest cable network in the U.S., HSN.com, a top 10 trafficked e-commerce site, and Cornerstone Brands, a leading multi-channel retailer of lifestyle brands including Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Improvements, Smith+Noble, Territory Ahead and Travelsmith. Ms. Grossman had been Chief Executive Officer of IAC Retailing since May 2006. Ms. Grossman joined IAC from Nike, Inc. where she served as Global Vice-President and head of Nike’s $4 billion apparel business from 2000 to 2006. In addition, she was responsible for the development and growth of Nike’s global women’s business and served as Co-chair of their Women’s Leadership Council. Prior to Nike, Ms. Grossman served as President and CEO of Polo Jeans Company from 1995 to 2000. She was Vice-President of New Business Development at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation from 1994 to 1995 and President of Chaps Ralph Lauren and Senior Vice-President of Menswear for Warnaco, Inc. from 1991 to 1994. She has also held senior positions at Tommy Hilfiger and Oxford Industries and began her career in 1977 in the menswear industry. Ms. Grossman serves on the Board of Directors of the National Retail Federation, as well as the East Harlem School at Exodus House in New York. She is the Chairperson of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Executive Women in Fashion Advisory Board, and is also a member of the Advisory Board of the J. Baker School of Retail at the Wharton School of Business.]]>