a retail business. He brings significant expertise in retail business
matters, strategic planning, risk management and corporate
governance, which are important to a large and diversified
organization like the Company. He has been a director of the Company
since 1997 and also serves as a director of Belk, Inc.
John p. Derham Cato
, age 61, has been the Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of The Cato Corporation, a specialty apparel retailer, since
February 2004. Prior to that time, Mr. Cato was the President, Vice
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Cato
Corporation from May 1999 to February 2004. Mr. Cato brings to the
Board of Directors a breadth and depth of operations, management, and
strategic planning experience in the retail industry. His background
at The Cato Corporation and leadership of a public company is
directly relevant to the oversight of a large organization like the
Company. Mr. Cato has been a director of the Company since November
2002 and also serves as a director of The Cato Corporation.
Thomas W. Dickson
, age 56, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has been Chairman of the
Board of Directors since March 2006 and President and principal
executive officer since February 1997. Before his election as
President, he served as Executive Vice President of the Company from
February 1996 to February 1997. Prior to that time, from February
1994 to February 1996 he served as President of, and from February
1991 to February 1994 he served as Executive Vice President of,
American & Efird, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
until November 2011. Mr. Dickson brings executive decision making
skills, operating and management experience, and broad supermarket
and real estate experience to the Board of Directors from his 30
years of experience with the Company and its subsidiaries. These
experiences and Mr. Dickson's ongoing interaction with the Company's
customers and suppliers provide the Board of Directors with, among
other things, industry expertise important to the Company's business
and a deep understanding of the Company's operations and the economic
environment in which it operates. He has been a director of the
Company since 1997.
James E. S. Hynes
, age 71, was the Chairman of the Board of Hynes Inc., a
manufacturer's representative, from September 1986 until October
2000. As one of the most tenured directors, Mr. Hynes provides the
Board of Directors with retailing and strategic planning expertise
through his service on the board of Hynes Inc. His experiences
dealing with major manufacturers of health and beauty products and
large retailers are important to the Board of Directors' oversight of
strategic planning. He has been a director of the Company since 1983
and serves as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Carolinas
HealthCare System, one of the Southeast's leading healthcare systems.
Anna Spangler Nelson
, age 49, has been Chairman and Executive Vice President of Spangler
Companies, Inc. (formerly known as Golden Eagle Industries, Inc.), a
private investment company, since January 2005. Ms. Nelson has been a
general partner of the Wakefield Group, a venture capital company,
since September 1988. From these experiences, Ms. Nelson brings
knowledge of financial products and investments that assists the
Board of Directors in overseeing the financial management and risk
management practices of the Company. Ms. Nelson has been a director
of the Company since 1998, and serves as a Trustee of the Fidelity
Charitable Gift Fund, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Bailey W. Patrick
, age 50, has been Managing Partner of Merrifield Patrick Vermillion,
LLC, a company involved in commercial real estate, brokerage and
development, since July 2010. Mr. Patrick was the President of
Bissell Patrick LLC, which was also involved in commercial real
estate, brokerage and development, from September 1998 until December
2009, at which time Bissell Patrick LLC merged into Merrifield
Patrick LLC. Mr. Patrick was Managing Partner of Merrifield Patrick
LLC from January 2010 until July 2010, at which time Merrifield
Patrick merged to form Merrifield Patrick Vermillion LLC. Mr. Patrick
has been a director of the Company since August 2003 and serves as a
director of The Cato Corporation. Mr. Patrick brings a breadth and
depth of operations and strategic planning experience to the Board of
Directors, including real estate development experience, from his
leadership at Merrifield Patrick Vermillion, LLC and its predecessor
organizations. Mr. Patrick's background particularly assists the
Board of Directors in overseeing the Company's real estate functions
and expansions.
Robert H. Spilman, Jr.
, age 55, has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated, a furniture manufacturer
and distributor, since March 2000. Mr. Spilman has been a director of
the Company since August 2002 and also serves as a director of
Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and Dominion Resources,
Inc. Through his management experience at Basset Furniture
Industries, Incorporated, a vertically integrated manufacturer,
importer and retailer of home furnishings operating a network of
licensed and corporate stores, Mr. Spilman provides the Board of
Directors with sales, operations, risk management, strategic planning
and corporate governance expertise that is important to the oversight
of the Company.
Harold C. Stowe
, age 65, has been the managing member of Stowe-Monier Management,
LLC, a venture capital management company since August 2007. Prior to
that time, he served as the Interim Dean of Development at the Wall
College of Business Administration of Coastal Carolina University
from June 2006 to August 2007. Prior to that time, Mr. Stowe was