Committees
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RILA convenes 60+ special member communities that work with the leading executives in the areas of:
RILA committees, councils and networks gather the top executives of our member companies to network and share information on leading practices, operational challenges, and industry trends. These leaders work collaboratively to identify opportunities that could have a strategic impact of the organizations and provide direction to RILA's efforts in the various functional areas. Participation offers meaningful dialogue and impactful connection with true industry peers.
Committee, Councils & Networks
Asset Protection
Retailers are transforming, and so is the field of asset protection. RILA is committed to supporting the AP industry’s efforts to adapt to today’s consumer needs without compromising safety, security, and profit.
Asset Protection Leaders Council
Retail AP pyramid heads address key industry priorities and challenges to advance retail AP and enhance operational effectiveness within their respective companies.
- Contact
- khris.hamlin@rila.org
Chief Store Officers Council
Top-level executives who oversee store operations.
- Contact
- lisa.labruno@rila.org
Asset Protection Advisory Board
Industry leaders across retail segments work collaboratively to develop the educational content and plan for RILA's annual Retail Asset Protection Conference.
- Contact
- maria.fiore@rila.org
Crimes Against Business Committee
Corporate and field investigation managers identify emerging criminal trends, share prevention and response strategies and develop smart practices to mitigate risks.
- Contact
- lisa.labruno@rila.org
Workplace Safety Committee
Retail safety professionals identify leading practices for minimizing incidents and injuries of employees and customers. The committee maintains strong partnerships with enforcement agencies, supports regulatory compliance and assists in respective legislative efforts.
- Contact
- lisa.labruno@rila.org
Public Policy Agenda
RILA engages policymakers at the federal and state level to advocate for policies on workforce, trade, tax, privacy, competition and other top priorities to allow retailers and the communities they serve in to thrive.
Communications Committee
Senior-most retail communicators network with peers and discuss issues of common interest, including leading communications practices and issues with implications across the industry, such as cybersecurity and disaster response.
- Contact
- jason.brewer@rila.org
Finance Leaders Council
Chief accounting officers, treasurers and/or controllers discuss positions on issues relating to financial reporting, procedures and audits based on data gathered through benchmarking and best practices. The council communicates to both government and non-government agencies and rule-makers to develop and advance a better and more accurate understanding of retail industry financial practices.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Public Policy Steering Committee
Senior-most government affairs executives from Premier Retail member companies, following the direction of the board, helps set the strategy of RILA's public policy work.
- Contact
- michael.hanson@rila.org
Tax Advisory Council
The RILA Tax Advisory Council (RTAC) is comprised of the senior most tax executives of RILA’s retail member companies. This committee serves as the strategic counsel for public policy tax issues and provides input to the Public Policy Steering Committee (PPSC) on priorities and objectives for tax-related public policy.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Leaders Council
RILA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leaders Council draws on the collective wisdom, energy and resources of retail leaders to advance workplace and marketplace diversity, equity and inclusion. The initiative is designed by retailers to reflect the unique needs of retailers, support the industry at all points in their DE&I evolution, and will emphasize supporting, meaningful progress for retailers rather than a standard definition of success.
- Contact
- erin.hiatt@rila.org
Government Affairs Committee
Government relations executives from retail member companies shape RILA's public policy agenda and advocacy efforts at the federal level.
- Contact
- austen.jensen@rila.org
International Trade and Customs Committee
Vice presidents, directors, managers and analysts of trade, customs and import compliance from retail member companies focus on trade, both import and export issues, as well as global retailing issues.
- Contact
- blake.harden@rila.org
Payments Committee
Financial, payments, legal, and government relations executives provide insight and guidance on issues such as interchange fees, virtual currency, EMV migration, access to credit and gift cards.
- Contact
- austen.jensen@rila.org
Retail Labor and Employment Committee
The Labor and Employment Committee is comprised of labor and human resources executives focused on employment and labor issues affecting retail, such as wage/hour developments, discrimination, labor management matters and unionization issues. Discussions include federal legislative and regulatory action on these and other issues.
- Contact
- evan.armstrong@rila.org
State Affairs Committee
State government relations executives share information about trends in state and local governments affecting retail and strategize on RILA's public policy response.
- Contact
- jason.brewer@rila.org
Tax Committee
Retail tax executives focus on federal legislative and regulatory tax issues impacting the retail industry. In order to provide input, feedback, and leadership on the tax issues of the day, the RILA Tax Committee works with the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department and the tax committees of Congress on a routine basis.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Transportation & Logistics Committee
Vice presidents and directors address operational and policy issues within transportation, infrastructure, and logistics areas that affect the retail supply chain.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
Supply Chain
Ubiquitous internet access and evolving consumer preferences have led to unprecedented disruption in retail. RILA is committed to helping the retail supply chain community adapt with knowledge and innovative solutions.
Chief Store Officers Council
Top-level executives who oversee store operations.
- Contact
- lisa.labruno@rila.org
Digital Retail Council
Senior-most executives responsible for the integration of in-store and digital operations come together and improve industry-wide omnichannel capabilities by facilitating information sharing and research through a trusted forum.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
Supply Chain Leaders Council
The senior-most supply chain executives of retail members gather to network, explore and critique the business implications of a wide spectrum of supply chain issues and to provide RILA with strategic direction in this area.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
Distribution Committee
VPs address operational and policy issues within the distribution space that impact distribution networks/distribution center operations.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
International Trade and Customs Committee
Vice presidents, directors, managers and analysts of trade, customs and import compliance from retail member companies focus on trade, both import and export issues, as well as global retailing issues.
- Contact
- blake.harden@rila.org
Supply Chain Conference Advisory Board
The top logistics/supply chain executives oversee the structure and programming of the annual Retail Supply Chain Conference.
- Contact
- maria.fiore@rila.org
Transportation & Logistics Committee
Vice presidents and directors address operational and policy issues within transportation, infrastructure, and logistics areas that affect the retail supply chain.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
Finance
RILA is focused on serving as a resource for our members as they navigate finance-related challenges and opportunities by maintaining several communities of retail executives operating in accounting, audit, tax, and payments areas of our member companies.
Finance Leaders Council
Chief accounting officers, treasurers and/or controllers discuss positions on issues relating to financial reporting, procedures and audits based on data gathered through benchmarking and best practices. The council communicates to both government and non-government agencies and rule-makers to develop and advance a better and more accurate understanding of retail industry financial practices.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Tax Advisory Council
The RILA Tax Advisory Council (RTAC) is comprised of the senior most tax executives of RILA’s retail member companies. This committee serves as the strategic counsel for public policy tax issues and provides input to the Public Policy Steering Committee (PPSC) on priorities and objectives for tax-related public policy.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Internal Audit Committee
Chief Audit Executives or the senior-most audit executives from member companies discuss emerging audit issues and internal controls, as well as block-and-tackle techniques for audit planning, working papers, risk assessments, and report writing. The committee also benchmarks leading practices on a variety of topics, ranging from department structure and staffing to handling more technical issues such as cybersecurity, PCI compliance, data analytics and more.
- Contact
- tom.casey@rila.org
Payments Committee
Financial, payments, legal, and government relations executives provide insight and guidance on issues such as interchange fees, virtual currency, EMV migration, access to credit and gift cards.
- Contact
- austen.jensen@rila.org
Tax Committee
Retail tax executives focus on federal legislative and regulatory tax issues impacting the retail industry. In order to provide input, feedback, and leadership on the tax issues of the day, the RILA Tax Committee works with the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department and the tax committees of Congress on a routine basis.
- Contact
- courtney.brooks@rila.org
Legal Affairs and Compliance
RILA provides a network to share best practices and act on the most pressing legal issues of the day. Our programs help leading retailers collaborate and tackle legal and corporate compliance issues specific to retail.
Chief Legal Officer Committee
The RILA Chief Legal Officer Committee addresses the broad array of legal, operational and policy challenges that retail companies face and provides advice and direction to RILA on strategies to assist retailers in meeting these challenges. The Chief Legal Officer or the General Counsel of each RILA retail member is invited to join the committee. The Chief Legal Officer Committee meets in-person twice each year and conducts conference calls as needed.
- Contact
- deborah.white@rila.org
Compliance Council
Chief Compliance Officers address issues that affect the retail environment and its vast scope of transactions, customers, employees, locations, and modes of media as well as the legal environment of compliance with a wide variety of federal and state laws covering many legal areas.
- Contact
- kathleen.mcguigan@rila.org
Consumer Products Committee
A forum for quality assurance, product stewardship, sourcing, legal, and government affairs professionals to share information specific to retailers' product safety compliance challenges, including proposed legislation and regulations and new compliance trends.
- Contact
- susan.kirsch@rila.org
Environment & Waste Compliance Committee
RILA member forum for education and peer benchmarking focused on environmental compliance issues that are of relevance for the majority of RILA members with an emphasis on waste issues, including more emerging waste compliance issues like packaging extended producer responsibility and recycling mandates.
- Contact
- susan.kirsch@rila.org
Interchange Litigation Steering Committee
This group operates under a common interest agreement to discuss confidential information and to exchange ideas on litigation strategy relating to the interchange class action settlement.
Legal Direct Reports (L2) Committee
The senior-most attorneys, reporting directly to the General Counsel, work collaboratively to exchange information including leading practices, challenges and trends to enhance legal department effectiveness. The committee communicates through meetings, conference calls, benchmarking surveys and educational webinars and presentations.
- Contact
- kathleen.mcguigan@rila.org
Legal Operations Committee
The Legal Operations Committee is a joint initiative of RILA and its sister organization, the Retail Litigation Center. The Committee brings together professionals who are responsible for legal operations work, which encompasses a broad set of business processes, activities, and technical practices that support the delivery of legal services.
- Contact
- anna.williamson@rila.org
Real Estate Legal Committee
A forum for in-house retail real estate lawyers to benchmark on relevant issues caused by the economic ripple effects of the novel coronavirus.
- Contact
- deborah.white@rila.org
Competition Advisory Group
The RILA Competition Advisory Group is comprised of legal and government affairs executives focused on advancing competition in the retail marketplace. The group reviews antitrust reform policy proposals and relevant regulatory and judicial decisions to identify opportunities to support free markets and foster innovation guiding RILA’s engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary.
- Contact
- deborah.white@rila.org
Sustainability / Environment
Sustainability initiatives generate environmental, social, and financial value for leading retailers. RILA uses benchmark studies, partnerships, and research to help retailers collaborate and tailor their programs.
Environment & Waste Compliance Committee
RILA member forum for education and peer benchmarking focused on environmental compliance issues that are of relevance for the majority of RILA members with an emphasis on waste issues, including more emerging waste compliance issues like packaging extended producer responsibility and recycling mandates.
- Contact
- susan.kirsch@rila.org
Responsible Sourcing Committee
Retail executives working on responsible and ethical sourcing and social compliance convene to advance the performance of their supply chains, with a specific focus on relationships with suppliers to ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement in existing and emerging sourcing regions. The committee meets once per year in person and bi-monthly via conference call.
- Contact
- erin.hiatt@rila.org
Sustainability Committee
Sustainability and CSR executives convene to advance more environmentally sustainable and circular business opportunities, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the efficient and responsible use of natural resources, and product- and material-lifecycle value retention. The committee meets twice per year in person and bi-monthly via conference call.
- Contact
- erin.hiatt@rila.org
Workforce
Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, providing opportunity for all. RILA advocates for sound policies that support diversity, flexibility, upward mobility, and the power to choose one’s own path.
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Leaders Council
RILA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leaders Council draws on the collective wisdom, energy and resources of retail leaders to advance workplace and marketplace diversity, equity and inclusion. The initiative is designed by retailers to reflect the unique needs of retailers, support the industry at all points in their DE&I evolution, and will emphasize supporting, meaningful progress for retailers rather than a standard definition of success.
- Contact
- erin.hiatt@rila.org
Retail Labor and Employment Committee
The Labor and Employment Committee is comprised of labor and human resources executives focused on employment and labor issues affecting retail, such as wage/hour developments, discrimination, labor management matters and unionization issues. Discussions include federal legislative and regulatory action on these and other issues.
- Contact
- evan.armstrong@rila.org
Retail Talent Committee
The Retail Talent Committee (RTC), consisting of groups formerly known as Retail Talent Council and Retail Benefits Council respectively, is comprised of talent executives focused on areas from acquisition, retention, development, and benefits. The Committee explores a range of benchmarking topics as well as discusses policy solutions and actions policymakers can pursue to help retailers develop the 21st century retail workforce that is diverse innovative and skilled.
- Contact
- evan.armstrong@rila.org
Talent Leadership Council
The Talent Leadership Council (TLC), formerly known by the names Retail Talent Council and the Human Resources Leaders Council, is comprised of the top human resources executives at leading retailers who oversee all things related to retail employment and have the responsibility to develop strategic visions for their workforce. The TLC focuses on long term trends and vision of the retail workforce and provides thought leadership, research and strategic guidance to help retailers craft the 21st century retail workforce that is diverse, innovative and skilled.
- Contact
- evan.armstrong@rila.org
Technology and Innovation
The retail innovation ecosystem, which includes RILA’s highly engaged RTech community, works strategically together to address critical retail industry needs.
Digital Retail Council
Senior-most executives responsible for the integration of in-store and digital operations come together and improve industry-wide omnichannel capabilities by facilitating information sharing and research through a trusted forum.
- Contact
- jess.dankert@rila.org
Privacy Leaders Council
Chief privacy officers and general counsel executives address privacy issues affecting the retail industry, such as UAS and facial recognition technologies, trans-Atlantic data flows and data breach legislation. In addition to policymaking, RILA’s focus is in facilitating discussions of best practices among peers utilizing meetings, surveys, and where appropriate, creating consensus documents for both internal and external use.
- Contact
- justin.goldberger@rila.org
Upcoming Events
Explore our upcoming meetings to find an opportunity to connect with peers.
RILA Committee, Council & Networks Calls
RILA calls and webinars are only for RILA retail members unless otherwise designated. These programs are designed to elicit candid feedback and allow for a robust exchange of concerns and ideas among peers within the industry.
How to Join an Upcoming Meeting
Upcoming calls/webinars will be listed below as they are scheduled. If you are a RILA retail member and would like to participate in the conversations below, please reach out to Kelly Foelber at kelly.foelber@rila.org for registration information.
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