Description
Mr. Lester was born and raised in Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma. During his long Commerce, Industry, and Labor career he served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Since purchasing the company in November 1978 he grew the company from one brand with four stores and $4 million in annual revenues to a nationwide specialty retailer. Today, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is comprised of six distinct merchandise brands - Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, west elm and Williams-Sonoma Home - with over 600 stores, seven direct mail catalogs and six e-commerce websites. In 1983 he took the company public and its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol WSM.