Hecht's CEO & President Frank Guzzetta Speaks at Smith School

On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, the American Marketing Association presented an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the challenges facing the retail industry firsthand from Frank Guzzetta, CEO and president of Hecht's.

Around 100 Smith School students gathered for the evening presentation in the Howard Frank Auditorium in Van Munching Hall. After his interactive presentation about Hecht's marketing strategies, Guzzetta turned his focus to Hecht's merchandise and asked the audience for feedback on trends and buying habits. At the reception that followed, undergraduates were able to talk to a Hecht's recruiter about internships.

Under Guzzetta's leadership, Hecht's has become a $2 billion plus company with 80 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region. Guzzetta assumed the position of president and CEO of Hecht's on August 1, 2000. Hecht's is one of the largest divisions of May Company Department Stores with an annual sales volume of $2.6 billion and 80 stores in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, North Carolina, and Nashville, trading under the name Strawbridge's in Philadelphia.

Guzzetta began his career at Hecht's in 1988 as the divisional vice president for men's sportswear. In 1998 he was appointed executive vice president for merchandising. Prior to joining Hecht's, he worked at Washington, D.C., based retailer, Woodward & Lothrop, for 11 years.

Guzzetta received a B.S. in marketing from the University of Massachusetts and a masters of business administration from the University of Michigan. After completing his education, he joined the Peace Corps for eight years, three of which he spent in India as a volunteer.

He resides in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C., and serves on two boards: D.C. Chamber of Commerce and Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. He has been a member of the American Marketing Association since 1967.