Women2Women - Spring 2017 - 13

Women2Know

Boscov's "Power Player"
Recognized for Shaping Retail's Future
By Leah Williams

"Oh, did they get the right Toni?"
This is how Toni Miller, Boscov's top female
executive, reacted to her recognition as one of
five "Power Players" on the National Retail
Federation's (NRF) "The List of People
Shaping Retail's Future 2017."

to recently overcoming cancer. According to
Miller, overcoming adversity is "a lot about
perseverance, determination, and having a
lot of purpose."

Shaping Retail's Future

Miller's response could not have been any
Already proving herself as a "Power Player"
humbler. With over 38 years of retail expe- in retail, Miller's goal is to share as much of
rience, she is currently the Senior Executive her knowledge as possible. She attributed
Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer her own strong work ethic to her mother,
and Chief Financial Officer at Boscov's, one whom she considers her hero. Now, Miller
of the largest family-owned department wants to give back everything she has learned.
stores in the United States.
According to Miller, "If someone wants to
be a sponge and learn off of me, they're
Miller considers herself a risk taker. In 2009, more than welcome to. What is it if I leave
she left her career of over 27 years at Bass and kept it all to myself ?"
Pro Shops in Missouri and relocated to Berks
County with her husband, which she described
Miller has gone above and beyond the
as a "big leap of faith." Along her journey duties of her leadership positions. She values
to success, Miller faced insurmountable personal connections with her Boscov's
challenges, from losing her 21-year-old son staff and customers. When describing her

leadership style, Miller explained, "I want to
know people personally without being creepy.
There's a humanity in leadership."

Miller's Absolute Passion
I asked Miller, "What are you absolutely
passionate about and can't understand why
others are not?" After a few moments, she
pointed to a photograph of a young woman
from the Dominican Republic and said:
"Silently finding ways to help people who
need a little help because they didn't have
the same blessings and opportunities as
we do." Miller and her husband have set
up scholarship funds to give back and help
young people realize their hopes and dreams.
Continued on page 14

berkswomen2women.com 13

http://www.berkswomen2women.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Women2Women - Spring 2017