Randy Brown
Brown's Enterprises - Washington, MO
2004-06, Chairman of NSRA Board of Directors

Independent shoe retailer Randy Brown entered the footwear industry in 1979, joining a family retail business established by his parents in 1950, Brown’s Family Shoe Store headquartered in Washington, Mo. Under his guidance, the business grew from a single store to a corporate entity, Brown’s Enterprises, with Brown’s Shoe Center and five New Balance locations across three states (Mo., Ill., Kan.), and WhereFeetLoveUs.com.

He has been a member of NSRA since 1982, served 20 years on the Board of Directors in several committees and was elected as Chairman in 2004. During his time as chairman, NSRA increased the business services it offers members, strengthened its educational events, improved its dues structure, recruited new members and stepped up its recruitment of women business owners to NSRA’s Board. Brown has also taken the stage as Master of Ceremonies at many NSRA leadership conferences. He was named NSRA’s Retailer of the Year in 2014.

NSRA Chairman Phil Wright (Vernon Powell Shoes, Salisbury, Md.) introduced the longtime NSRA board member. “He’s had a clear vision for his business, with leadership skills fostered in the Boy Scouts and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Those of us who know him know how ethical and trustworthy he is, he has a grounded perspective on business and life, he is full of optimism and uniquely blessed with a sense of humor.”

(L-R: Phil Wright, Randy Brown)

Bob Infantino
Former Industry Positions:
Senior VP of Product Development and Marketing at Rockport
President of Clarks North America
President of Drydock Footwear
CEO of The Rockport Group

Footwear industry icon Bob Infantino began his illustrious career in the footwear industry as a buyer for Altier Shoes, followed by seven years of owning stores in Rochester, NY. In 1984 he joined Bruce Katz at an upstart called Rockport Shoes. As Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing he helped build the company into the industry’s comfort leader. He became President of Clarks North America in 1992, and in 18 years grew sales that would turn the company into a leader in the comfort footwear business. In 2011 he formed a partnership with New Balance and created Drydock Footwear with a new brand, Cobb Hill, and two existing brands, Aravon and Dunham. In 2015, The Rockport Company and Drydock Footwear came together to form The Rockport Group, which he headed as CEO until 2018.

Infantino was inducted into NSRA’s Hall of Fame by Ed Habre (Shoe Mill, Clackamas, Ore.). Habre stated, “The man who we are honoring tonight, is at his core a retailer, who has experienced our unique business challenges and the high level of satisfaction in running his own stores and passionately making great footwear for those of us who continue on in that endeavor. As he went from one success to another, one thing that can be said of Bob by those who admired his role in making their businesses a success is that above all, Bob is a product guy. He has a heart for us, because at his core he is one of us. He has proven, by our success with the brands that have his stamp on them; that what he brings to the marketplace rings at the register.” Infantino has been a strong supporter of independent retailers and NSRA throughout his career.

(L-R: Ed Habre, Bob Infantino)