Mark Lardie, president and chief executive officer of Rack Room Shoes, will be honored with the 2026 A.A. Bloom Memorial Award during the Two Ten Annual Gala on June 2 in New York.
Created in honor of the late A.A. Bloom, one of the original founders of the , the award recognizes an individual whose hard work, dedication, and initiative have furthered the mission of the foundation. Two Ten noted that through his decades of personal and professional support, Lardie has “exemplified that spirit, leaving a legacy of generosity, care, and commitment to lifting lives in footwear.”
Shawn Osborne, president and chief executive officer of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, further added in a statement that Lardie’s recognition is in honor of the culture he has built at Rack Room Shoes that is “grounded in generosity, care, and a deep belief in giving back to the people who make [the footwear industry] what it is.”
“For nearly three decades, Rack Room Shoes has been a steadfast supporter of Two Ten, contributing nearly $1 million and consistently championing core initiatives like our Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) community group,” Osborne said. “That commitment reflects Mark’s conviction that when we take care of one another, our entire industry is stronger. His leadership has fostered a culture of service that extends far beyond his organization and enables Two Ten to lift lives across the footwear community.”
Lardie has led Rack Room Shoes since 2012. He has also held executive leadership roles at Caleres, Famous Footwear, Footstar’s Athletic Division and The Athlete’s Foot, as well as hands-on experience managing stores and selling shoes on the sales floor. Lardie also serves on the boards of Snipes USA and the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
Lardie said he is “incredibly humbled and honored” to receive the A.A. Bloom award.
“It is, of course, a recognition for an individual contribution, however clearly this honor recognizes the efforts of our team at Rack Room Shoes,” Lardie said. “Our simple mission statement at Deichmann Group is ‘the company exists to serve people.’ I cannot think of a better way to serve the people of the footwear industry than to generously support Two Ten! I look forward to watching as Two Ten continues to evolve and modernize while still being a beacon of hope and support for all those in our community.”
Two Ten Footwear Foundation serves the nation’s 330,000 footwear employees through financial assistance, scholarships, professional development, and community programs.
