New leader of century-old retailer has plans to encourage collaboration, employee growth

Early in his career, Matt Beall remembers people telling him that when they walked into his dad’s office, it would feel like they were talking to a family member.

Matt Beall’s father, Bob Beall, was president and CEO of Bealls from 1980 to 2006. In December, Matt Beall was named CEO of the Bradenton-based company himself. “A kind, calm, appreciative setting — that, of course, starts from the top,” Matt Beall says. “It starts with the leaders within the business and spreads everywhere. It’s something I’m very serious about maintaining.”