Joseph R. Ettore

JOSEPH R. ETTORE, a retail executive with 39 years of discount industry
experience, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ames
Department Stores, Inc. He joined the company in June 1994 and is
responsible for all facets of Ames’ day-to-day operations and has been
directing Ames’ growth since he joined the company. Mr. Ettore has
received many industry awards and honors over the years. His retail
peers have elected him to an unprecedented three terms as Chairman of
the International Mass Retail Association (IMRA). In 1999, he was named
a Humanitarian of the Year by the Housewares Charity Foundation for his
philanthropic accomplishments in the community; honored as Retail
Executive of the Year by Discount Merchandiser magazine; received the
Discounters in Service to the Community (DISC) Award from Discount Store
News; received the 1999 Business Leadership Award from the University of
Hartford; and was presented with the Corporate Leadership Award by the
National Council on the Aging. Prior to joining Ames, Mr. Ettore held
executive positions at Jamesway Corporation, Stuarts Department Stores,
Kings Department Stores and Unishops Inc. Mr. Ettore received a BS
degree in 1961 from St. Peters College in Jersey City, NJ.