Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/557531
photography by Daniel Davis At just 32, Chris Hendel leads the legendary luxury institution that is Neiman Marcus Austin as vice president /general manager. A man of many interests (he grew up f lying single-engine planes with his dad, went to college on an athletic scholarship, and toured with a rock band in his early 20s), Hendel parlayed his unique experiences into the job of leading all business functions and operations in the equally individualistic Austin market. His comrades and contemporaries describe him as someone who is quick to introduce himself, be part of the conversation, and listen to those around him. But what's really special for Hendel is the opportunity not only to represent the distinct fabric of Austin for the world-renowned department store, but also to help customers in the art of self-representation. "Think about art in your home— the only people who get to see that are people you invite [over]," Hendel says. "But with fashion, you get to share [your style] with the world. It's an expression of yourself." Drawn to Fashion "I grew up in Southern California, where my friends could tell you who every movie star was, while I could tell you a lot about the history of Yves Saint Laurent or Halston," Hendel recalls. "I found [the designers'] ability to express themselves through their creativity a lot more interesting [than celebrities]." Inspired in part by his Italian mother, for whom style came naturally, Hendel spent as much time as a kid thumbing through Vogue as he did developing his tennis game (which eventually earned him a scholarship to Ohio State University, where he played for two years before finishing his college career at San Diego State University). It's this unique fusion of an early appre- ciation for style and self-determination that primed Hendel for a leadership role within the fashion industry. on the roaD "It is important that I keep challenging and developing myself," he says. "One of the things that makes me a better leader is [that I] embrace change. And not just embrace it, but run toward it, especially when something makes me uncomfortable." One such formative experience came in his early 20s, when he worked as a roadie for a blues band made up of men 25 to 30 years his senior. Each night in a new city, he'd set up amps, tune guitars, continued on page 34 Br and amBassador STYLISH BUT WITH HIS OWN UNIQUE BACKSTORY, NEIMAN MARCUS AUSTIN GM CHRIS HENDEL KNOWS HOW TO TRANSLATE LUXURY FOR A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON NOT BEING DALLAS. by CaitLin M. ryan "It is important that I keep challenging and developing myself," says Chris Hendel. 32 AUSTINWAY.com STYLE View from the Top