Sandy Kennedy

B. A. Communication Studies and Economics, University of Iowa

Transformed RILA from a stagnant, niche trade association primarily serving discount retailers to a vital, growing organization of the largest and most successful U.S. retailers and their product and service suppliers

Rebranded the association from International Mass Retail Association to the Retail Industry Leaders Association, creating an organization focused on executive-level educational forums as well as public advocacy and innovative advancement on behalf of the retail community, including consumers and suppliers.

Grew RILA’s revenue 68 percent from 2004 to 2008

Led RILA through strategic planning process that resulted in increasing membership significantly and concurrently doubling dues based revenue between 2004 and 2008.

Built Association’s highly engaged board of directors, which Includes retail CEO’s representing the most successful and innovative companies in the industry.

Launched the forward thinking RILA Sustainability Initiative

Led successful legal challenge in RILA v. Fielder, in which the courts, including the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled that healthcare benefit law should be governed by ERISA, not by state and local laws or mandated to narrowly defined group of employers.

Developed RILA’s Leadership

An association professional with more than 20 years experience in the retail industry, Sandy Kennedy was named RILA president in December 2002. Under her leadership, RILA has grown from a niche trade association primarily serving discount retailers into a vital, growing organization of the largest and most successful U.S. retailers and their product and service suppliers. In recent years Kennedy has incorporated new service offerings that focus on education, innovation and advocacy and rebranded the association under its current name to more clearly identify with its member base and activities. Kennedy led RILA through its recent strategic planning process, which resulted in fine-tuning RILA’s focus on five critical disciplines of retail – supply chain, finance, human resources, asset protection and enterprise issues, which today includes the critical areas of sustainability and privacy– where RILA works to combine the operations and policy interests of our members to help the retail industry grow and prosper.

Immediately prior to joining RILA, Kennedy served as director of the Leadership Dialogue Series for Accenture, a global management consulting and technology services company. The program targeted C-suite executives in the retail and consumer goods and service industries. From 1993 to 2000, she was senior vice president of membership services for the National Retail Federation. In that position Kennedy directed NRF’s revenue-generating businesses, including membership, conferences and the annual convention, as well as the activities of retail operational committees.