Tom Mendes, the CMO and founder of plaza too, a chain of women’s shoes and accessory boutiques has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry Mendes got his start working in the family business, Plaza Bootery, at the age of 14. In 1988 he founded Plaza Too in Larchmont, N.Y., later expanding the brand by opening stores in other affluent market locations, including New Canaan, Greenwich, and Westport, Conn.; Mt. Kisco, N.Y., and in New York on 79th and Broadway and in the West Village. In 2006 the company expanded into e-commerce with its web site, www.plazatoo.com. Mendes’ focus is luxury, niche marketing, and brand strategy.

Mendes belongs to the Young Presidents Organization, the Entrepreneur Organization, Glasshouse, the National Retail Federation, AMA, and PRSA. He’s a supporter of the Human Rights Watch, Vital Voices, NYCares, MOMA, MET, and Operation Fairy Dust.