Curtis Snell

Human Resources Manager
Payless ShoeSource South Zone

Curtis Snell began his Collective Brands career in 1988 processing shipments part time in the back room of a Payless ShoeSource store in Oklahoma. Little did he know that the second job he took to help save for his honeymoon was the first step on a career ladder to a corporate position. His organizational skills and courage to innovate got Curtis noticed right away. After just a few months on the job, the company asked him to enter the store manager training program full time.

Next was a move up to Training Supervisor covering multiple Oklahoma stores. When his manager said he’d need some education to keep progressing, Curtis got his associate’s degree with help from the company’s tuition reimbursement program. That brought him to the District Manager level. When he expressed an interest in human resources, the company helped him work through specific development plans to get there. He went for bachelor’s and master’s degrees – all with the company’s support and assistance.

Now Curtis is in the corporate office doing his dream job – a dream he didn’t even know he had two decades ago. 

“The opportunity is there if you are willing to take the steps to make yourself more marketable.”