The Container Store is honoring the late Mona Williams by establishing an endowed annual scholarship for students of the Center for Retailing Studies, part of Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. The company contributed $25,000 to endow The Container Store — Mona Williams — Women Making a Difference in Retail Scholarship.
Williams was a 30-year employee, former vice president of buying at The Container Store and a trailblazer in the retail industry. To honor the company’s employee base of 64 percent female, the scholarship will be awarded to one young woman each year.
The Container Store Vice President of Visual Merchandising Peggy Doughty (left) and scholarship recipient Allison Miller ’14
“Words can’t describe the tribute that Mona deserves as a result of contributions and work. She was an incredible friend and colleague,” says Chief Merchandising Officer Sharon Tindell. “We know Mona’s spirit and legacy will live with us forever, as she made such an indelible mark on our business, our brand, the retail industry and all of us who worked with her over the past 30 years.”
Additional funds for the scholarship endowment have been donated by employees and friends of Williams, as well as vendors with whom she dealt at work.
“The Container Store has been a strong supporter of our education in retailing,” said Mays Dean Jerry Strawser. “This tribute to Ms. Williams is one that will honor her achievements by supporting the next generation of female leaders in the industry.”
The first recipient of the scholarship is Texas A&M marketing student Allison Miller ’14, who is involved with the Center for Retailing Studies at Mays as an M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar and a member of the Student Retailing Association. She is also involved in the business mentorship organization P.R.E.P (Progressively Reaching Excellence in Professionalism) and was honored with the Young Women in Excellence Award for completing 80 hours of personal progress and community service. Peggy Doughty, a 25-year employee of The Container Store, vice president of visual merchandising and longtime colleague and a friend of Williams, presented the scholarship at Department of Marketing Awards Ceremony on May 3.
About The Container Store
Founded in 1978, Dallas-based The Container Store offers more than 10,000 innovative solutions designed to save space and time. The retailer couples its one-of-a-kind product collection with expert customer service delivered by its highly trained organization experts. The Container Store is a sponsor of the Center for Retailing Studies at Mays.
About Mays Business School
Mays Business School educates more than 5,000 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. Mays consistently ranks among the top public business schools in the country for its undergraduate and MBA programs, and for faculty research. Its mission is to create knowledge and develop ethical leaders for a global society.
Categories: Donors Corner