Her Story
About Katie
Katie is an accomplished retail executive and merchandising leader with more than two decades of experience driving growth, innovation, and customer-focused strategies across the retail industry. Her career began while working in retail during college, where she discovered a passion for understanding consumer behavior, product development, and the journey from concept to customer. After earning her degree in marketing, Katie joined the Dillard's Executive Development Program, where she built a strong foundation in merchandising and buying that would shape her successful career in retail leadership.
Following five years with Dillard's, Katie joined Ross Dress for Less as a buyer and grew alongside the company during a period of significant expansion. As Ross doubled in size, she advanced through increasingly senior leadership roles, ultimately serving as Vice President of Merchandising. Throughout her tenure, she developed expertise across the full merchandising lifecycle, including sourcing, assortment planning, trend forecasting, vendor partnerships, and strategic business development. Her ability to anticipate consumer needs and translate market insights into profitable merchandising strategies earned her a reputation as a collaborative and results-driven leader.
Today, Katie serves as Vice President of Merchandising for PGA TOUR Superstore, where she leads a team focused on shaping the future of the customer experience in sports retail. In this role, she combines data-driven decision-making with market intelligence, vendor collaboration, and long-range planning to identify emerging trends and deliver the right products at the right time. Passionate about retail and inspired by seeing a vision come to life in stores, Katie thrives on helping teams innovate, adapt, and stay ahead of customer expectations. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to strategic thinking, collaboration, and creating meaningful experiences that resonate with consumers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've always stayed open-minded. I generally say yes to the conversation. Someone once told me that talk is cheap, and a conversation doesn't cost you anything. That's really what led me to my role today at PGA Tour Superstore. I wasn't a golfer, and I've only ever known apparel, but I said yes to a conversation, and then I said yes to a second conversation. When I think about the people and the teams I lead, I always tell them to be open-minded, because you just never know. When I first started, I was a marketing major in business and I really didn't know what I wanted to do. I loved to travel in college, so I worked at a hotel, and then I loved to shop, so I worked at a store, and ultimately retail won. I didn't know what I was gonna do. I was a marketing major and it was kind of a catch-all. But I've learned that staying visible and staying connected with people outside your inner circle is so important. Sometimes you get mixed up in your career and you get isolated, so as I move into my next phase, I really want to stay connected with other women in the industry.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The number one most important thing in buying is content. From day one in retail merchandising, I was always told it's always about the content. That means if you give the customer the right product at the right time, you never have to worry. That has been instilled in me for over 20 years.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Education and always keep learning has been instilled in me by my parents. That's why I went to night school while I was a buyer at Dillard's to get my MBA, and recently got an AI for Business certification from Harvard Business School, just to try to stay relevant as technology and the industry changes. In my personal life, I love to shop, which is an occupational hazard. I also love to unwind with reality TV since I'm a reality TV junkie, and I love to read mystery novels. I love swimming and anything by the water since I was born to be a fish. And I'm a proud aunt. I never really wanted kids of my own, but I get to spoil my nieces and nephews. My niece loves my job, and I am the coolest aunt.
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