Fast 15: Taylor Toreno

Class of 2023 Taylor Toreno Senior Manager II, Treasury Sam's Club, Bentonville

Losing her mother at 15 shaped Taylor Toreno and motivated her to be successful. “She always told me I could be whatever I want to be,” Toreno said. “I want to make her proud and make a legacy for her.”

From Parkland, Fla., Toreno was the first in her family to attend college. The Fort Meyers/Naples community provided grants and scholarships for her to attend Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business. She graduated magna cum laude in business with a resort and hospitality concentration in 2017.

Toreno managed a spa during college, but after a 2018 shooting at her former high school, she moved to Northwest Arkansas, hoping for a better future. With no job, she went to Goodwill’s Career Center and was referred to Dress for Success (DFS). She credits the organization with investing in her and mentoring her in financial literacy, public speaking and more, resulting in Toreno becoming the manager at Embassy Suites’ day spa, responsible for $1.5 million in revenue.

In March 2020, DFS board member and Sam’s Club vice president Tim Simmons hired her as a sales and training manager at the Springdale store. Toreno drove membership to exceed the growth goal by 15% during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the store won the Central Region’s club of the year, posting the highest membership. Quickly recruited to the home office, she now supports Sam’s Club financial services operations for 600 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Passionate about her work, Toreno continuously thinks of ways to grow the brand.

“Last year, we had the best year documented for credit since its inception. The funny thing is the credit program here at Sam’s Club started the same year I was born — in ’95,” she said. Nominated by an executive vice president, she was presented the Making the Difference Award from Walmart for significantly contributing to the company’s success.

In a full circle moment, she’s now a DFS board member and a member of the Arkansas Children’s Northwest Auxiliary and helped drive donations, resulting in the best year at Sam’s Club for the Children’s Miracle Network. She also has 20 mentees across the country.

Toreno loves animals and enjoys searching for treasures at thrift shops.