# Aaron Walters

> Aaron Walters is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Altar'd State, the Tennessee-based fashion retailer he started with Brian Mason in 2009. His career spans Walgreens, Foley's, Walmart, Goody's and Hybrid Apparel. He leads a retail business whose giving programs include Mission Monday and a longstanding partnership with Coprodeli in Peru.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO at Altar'd State
- **Organizations:** Altar'd State, Stand Out For Good, Inc., Ambric Engineering Automation, LLC, Coprodeli USA, NavSav, Community Capital Bancorp
- **Education:** Sam Houston State University, Lamar University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Altar'd State in 2009; the business exceeded 100 boutiques by 2019., Named Buyer of the Year by colleagues at Foley's, according to his university commencement biography., Managed a $2 billion men's business at Walmart.

## Career timeline

- **2000** — Graduated from Lamar University after previously attending Sam Houston State University.
- **Early career** — Worked at Walgreens, advancing from stockroom manager to store manager; subsequently became a buyer at Foley's in Houston.
- **Before 2009** — Managed a $2 billion men's merchandise business at Walmart; later became Vice President, Divisional Merchandising Manager for Menswear at Goody's in Knoxville.
- **2009** — Became president of Hybrid Apparel following the closure of Goody's Knoxville operations; co-founded Altar'd State with Brian Mason in Knoxville.
- **2019** — Listed as a Coprodeli USA board member in his commencement biography.
- **2022** — Led Stand Out For Good as chairman and CEO as the company announced a new home business and appointed Tana Ward its brand president.
- **2024** — Visited stores with the operations team, including Destin and Lakeside in Louisiana.
- **2026** — ASR Kress LLC, registered to Walters, purchased the Kress Building in downtown Knoxville for $6 million in September.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Altar'd State in 2009; the business exceeded 100 boutiques by 2019.
- Named Buyer of the Year by colleagues at Foley's, according to his university commencement biography.
- Managed a $2 billion men's business at Walmart.
- Altar'd State ranked fourth among large companies on Fortune's Best Workplaces in Retail list in 2023, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — ASR Kress LLC, registered to Aaron Walters, bought the Kress Building at 419 South Gay Street in Knoxville for $6 million; the sale closed September 17. The September 25 report did not specify the intended store format.

## Links

- Website: https://www.altardstate.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-walters-349542224

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/aaron-walters
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14