Millers' Gift to Spotlight Store Success

Torchlight  |  Summer 2009

Tommye Miller, CCR, retired director and general manager, Valdosta State University Stores, Valdosta, GA, hopes that every college store will one day be recognized for the vital role it plays for whatever campus it serves.
 

For more than 30 years, Tommye Miller, CCR, led the college store industry by example. Throughout her career, Miller held herself, her staff, and her store to the highest of standards. Now retired, she wants to recognize other college store professionals who go above and beyond what is expected.

And she really means every store. It doesn't matter if it's off-campus, leased, small, or large, if the store is fulfilling its purpose, then it should be rewarded.

To aid in that process, Miller and her husband, Keith Miller, have underwritten the NACS Foundation Collegiate Retailer of the Year Award, which will be presented to a worthy college store every other year beginning in 2011. The $5,000 award is designed to recognize the highest level of collegiate retailing excellence.

"My dream is that college presidents, deans of students, vice presidents of student affairs, and all of those really important people on campus will think so highly of their college stores that we won't have to rely on self-nomination," Tommye Miller said. "That would tell me that we did it right."

Tommye Miller has been a vital resource in the college store industry for more than 30 years, serving in many state, regional, and NACS leadership roles, including as president of NACS and on the Foundation Board. She was presented NACS' highest award, the Order of the Eagle, in 2005. Keith Miller was committed to the college market as a sales representative for more than 20 years and served on many state and regional association boards.

"The very heart and soul of their success was built on their sheer determination to be the best and sharing those experiences with others," said DeAnn Hazey, executive director, NACS Foundation. "Their passion for the industry inspired the Millers to endow a prestigious award that would celebrate a dynamic and forward-thinking store's achievement."

Tommye Miller said she sees too much negativity being dumped on college stores today by people who hold the belief that college store professionals are "too stupid to come out of the rain."

Most college stores are cowering in the corner, awaiting their demise as the digital revolution takes aim on the publishing industry, she added. But a select few are taking the steps necessary to remain a vital source for students, their university, and its community.

"I want to recognize those stores who have gotten it right," Miller said. "I want to shine a light on those stores which have gone to CAMEX, been involved with state and local organizations, and brought what they've learned back to their own stores."

The award has been designed to reflect Miller's philosophy on how to operate a successful college store that is an indispensable resource to its campus and demonstrates the highest standards possible. In order to qualify, they must be developing key relationships with faculty, students, and administrators; be creative with merchandising; use new and emerging technologies; create an exciting and inviting store environment; and continuously develop staff to help them reach career goals. The stores must accomplish those goals while supporting the academic mission and being profitable from a retail perspective. Specific nomination criteria and process will be announced later.

And don't think that because you're a small store you won't qualify for this award simply because you may not have the resources available to a larger store. Or that leased stores won't qualify.

"One of the real challenges is the perception that contract management is the enemy," Miller said. "This is an award that will recognize excellence regardless of what type of store it is. Our feeling is, everybody has a shot. If you're meeting and exceeding those objectives, then you ought to throw your hat in."

George Mitchell, University Co-op president and CEO, University of Texas-Austin, who was hand-selected by Miller to help develop the award, said it wasn't a surprise to him when he heard the Millers would be underwriting such an award.

"I've known Tommye a long time," Mitchell said. "She has a phenomenal reputation. That's just the type of person she is. She was always concerned about everybody."

-Dan Pender