1952 – Born in Long Beach, Calif., one of six kids sharing two bedrooms.
1970 – Enters U. of Arizona as veterinary student.
1971 – Joins frat, grades fall; Dad, a stereo assembler, cuts off money.
1972 – Gets job peeling shrimp at Tucson eatery; rises to manager.
1973 – Revolted by inseminating a cow, drops vet studies for business.
1975 – Graduates; hired as lamp buyer at Bullocks by Allen Questrom.
1987 – Named head of Bullocks Wilshire, part of Federated Dept. Stores.
1988 – Jumps to Neiman Marcus with mentor Questrom, named CEO 1990.
1994 – Rejoins Questrom at Federated; oversees takeover of Macy’s.
1997 – Named Federated president; sets out to “reinvent” department stores.
2005 – With chairman and CEO added to title, earns $6.9 million a year.
2006 – Confirms Field’s to become Macy’s; poses with Diddy to hype cologne.
