Simon Appoints New General Manager at Walt Whitman Shops

Simon, a global leader in retail real estate, recently promoted Mathew Boals of Bellport to the position of general manager at Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station.

Boals comes to Walt Whitman Shops from Simon’s Roosevelt Field, where he served as operations director for the 2.3 million square-foot shopping destination since 2010. During his time there, he coordinated all aspects of operations within the marketing, sales and leasing functions and developed and analyzed budgets and reports for interior and exterior maintenance. Boals first joined Simon in 2006 as operations director at Smith Haven Mall, where he oversaw a 96 acre property, divided by two municipalities and multiple governmental agencies.

In his new role, Boals will utilize his more than 17 years of retail operations and management experience to oversee Walt Whitman Shops’ financial, marketing and operational performances. He will be responsible for effectively leading a team of people to drive sales and traffic to the property while maximizing customers’ shopping experiences and maintaining positive retailer to landlord relations to further advance the initiatives of the premier center.

“I am excited to lead the management team at Walt Whitman Shops, an expansive, newly renovated retail destination for fashion, discovery and community,” commented Boals. “The center is very attractive from a management perspective and I look forward to building on the success the team has already achieved.”

Prior to joining Simon, Boals worked in both the human resources and operations divisions of Macy’s Department Stores for two of its Long Island locations.

A native of Sturgis, Michigan, Boals served in the U.S. Army for 12 years as a Military Police Officer, Customs Inspector, Italian Linguist and Recruiter and spent time in the Leghorn Army Depot in Livorno, Italy during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. While serving, he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and associate’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland.

“We are pleased to welcome Mathew Boals into his new position at Walt Whitman Shops,” said Robert T. Guerra, regional vice president for Simon’s Northeast region. “His excellent work ethic and prior experience with Simon will serve him well in the general manager position. I look forward to the great contributions he will bring for both the property and Simon.”