Last Year's Program
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- 2020 Program & Attendees
Check out last year's program and see what companies attended.
- Saturday Jan 18, 2020
- Sunday Jan 19, 2020
- Monday Jan 20, 2020
- Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
- 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
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Chairman's Reception and Dinner
Open to members of the Board and invited guests only.
- 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
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RILA Board of Directors Meeting
Open to members of the RILA Board of Directors only. - 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 2 Concurrent Events
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Pre-Conference: Historic Palm Beach Bike Tour
Experience the subtropical ecosystem of the Loxahatchee River in a new way: by bike! Take a relaxing, 8-mile bicycle ride through exotic and lush Riverbend Park near the town of Jupiter. This area has been home to Indians, trappers, pioneers, a trailer park and the sweetest oranges in the country. The guide helps you differentiate between the ecosystems as the route wends its way through an ever-changing environment. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for blue and white herons, egrets, ibises, white tailed deer, lizards, turkeys, ospreys and the elusive limpkin. -
Pre-Conference1: Scenic Mansion Tour
Enjoy the charm of Palm Beach and experience the life of the “rich and famous” through a 3-hour guided tour led by one of Palm Beach’s very own socialites. You will explore the ins and outs of three of the most fabulous and immaculate mansions in the area!
- 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
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Breakfast
Please join us for breakfast and networking before the day begins. - 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
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Welcome Remarks
The Retail CEO Forum will open with the themes that will drive RILA's work on behalf of the industry for 2019.
- Speakers
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Mary Dillon
Chairman, RILA; Chief Executive OfficerUlta Beauty, Inc.
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Brian Dodge
PresidentRILA
- 8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
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Responsible Retailing in an Era of Disruption
There is no doubt that we are living in a polarizing world. The ubiquity of technology has fostered the sharing of ideas and movements in moments. Topics such as climate change, #MeToo, and the global political landscape have dominated headlines. People have found their voice across all demographics; race, gender, age, sexual orientation and political parties. These “stakeholders” are impacting a “retailer’s” business with “their” dollars.
With the race to remain relevant in a disrupted industry like retail, how can retailers stay true to their purpose while still remaining profitable? Those retailers that are strategizing through the lens of responsibility in delivering value to their stakeholders are leading the future of our industry. Accenture calls this Responsible Retail.
Accenture will share research that shows that consumers are starting to shift their discretionary spending to support the responsible retail theory, and highlights of retailers that have adopted these practices and grown their business.
Resources:
Responsible Retail — Being Great Means Doing Good [Report]
The 100 Most Visible Companies [Axios + The Harris Poll]- Speakers
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Cara Smyth
Founder, Fair Fashion CenterAccenture
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Jill Standish
Senior Managing Director, Global Retail Consulting PracticeAccenture
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Jim Vandehei
Co-Founder and Chief Executive OfficerAxios
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
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Retail Spotlight: Dollar General
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for 80 years through its mission of Serving Others. Dollar General’s incredible growth over the past decade is a testament to their culture and leadership. In a fireside chat setting, CEO Todd Vasos will share more about Dollar General’s story, their growth strategy, the company's digital journey and his views on what it takes to be a leader today.
- Speakers
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Brian Dodge
PresidentRILA
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Todd Vasos
Chief Executive OfficerDollar General
- 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
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Leading Executive Teams with Radical Candor
Kim Scott uses her experience as a senior executive at Apple and Google and coach of many Silicon Valley chief executive officers to create her management philosophy, dubbed Radical Candor, which explores how to be a great boss without losing your Humanity. Ms. Scott will share her views on the personal relationship that leaders must develop with their teams in order to effectively provide candid input, and facilitate a discussion with attendees about individual approaches to leading effective teams, including inviting debate, reaching decisions, implementing strategy and reviewing and refining actions.
- Speaker
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Kim Scott
Author and Co-FounderRadical, Inc.
- 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
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Executive Luncheon
Getting to know your peers in the industry is a key opportunity of the CEO Forum, and this informal networking lunch is a perfect setting to meet and connect. - 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
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The Evolution of America at Work
For centuries, societal changes and new technologies have shaped work in America. Looking ahead, automation promises to once again transform how and where Americans work. Given retailers’ place in the economy, now is the time to consider this evolution and the economic transition that will result. Walmart Foundation President Kathleen McLaughlin will share insights from their 2019 report, America at Work: A National Mosaic and Roadmap for Tomorrow and how retailers and other stakeholders can prepare for this important transition.
- Speaker
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Kathleen McLaughlin
EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer, President, Walmart FoundationWalmart Inc.
- 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
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Build, Buy or Partner: A Case Study in Acquiring Cutting-Edge Technology
In March 2019, McDonald’s announced it was acquiring AI-based personalization engine Dynamic Yield for an estimated $300 million, its largest acquisition in 20 years. McDonald’s said it will use this technology to create a drive-thru menu that can be tailored to things like the weather, current restaurant traffic and trending menu items. The acquisition was noteworthy for many reasons, including the fact that Dynamic Yield's technology is not just powering new McDonald's offerings, but also many retailer experiences. Join the Founder and CEO of Dynamic Yield and the SVP of Marketing Technology at McDonald's as they discuss how the partnership first came about, why McDonald's made the decision to acquire the technology provider, and how the two companies are working together to create groundbreaking new personalized experiences.
- Speakers
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Liad Agmon
Co-Founder & CEODynamic Yield
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Bob Rupczynski
Senior Vice President, Marketing TechnologyMcDonald's
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Zia Daniell Wigder
Chief Global Content OfficerShoptalk
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
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The Equal Opportunity Political Inquisition
Chris Wallace is typically the one asking questions, here he will be the one answering them. Former Counselor to President George W. Bush and 2017 candidate for Governor of Viginia Ed Gillespie will turn the table on Fox News Sunday Host Chris Wallace in an interview about the state of media and the business of covering politics and policymakers today. This candid conversation gives attendees an inside look at Washington from the point of view of this veteran journalist who, as described recently by The Hill newspaper, "has carved out a reputation as a tough but fair interviewer who has gotten the best of members of both parties."
- Speakers
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Ed Gillespie
Renowned GOP Strategist
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Chris Wallace
AnchorFOX News Sunday
- 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
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Night on the Boardwalk
Enjoy an evening of food, fun and entertainment. Start with pre-dinner cocktails, enjoy a delicious dinner with a variety of food stations, then go back in time for a "Night on the Boardwalk," featuring arcade classics, a boardwalk band, and networking fun with desserts and after-dinner libations.
- 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
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Breakfast
Please join us for breakfast and networking before day two begins. - 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM
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Welcome Day Two
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
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Retailers, Investors and ESG
Investors are increasingly using Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria to evaluate company performance. What does this mean long-term for retailers? How can retailers anticipate and prepare for the evolution of ESG expectations?
- Speakers
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Katherine Collins
Head of Sustainable InvestingPutnam Investments
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Drew Hambly
Executive Director, Corporate GovernanceMorgan Stanley
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Christina Maguire
Managing Director, Governance Policy & OperationsBNY Mellon
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Teresa Roseborough
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate SecretaryThe Home Depot
- 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
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Leadership and Risk Management: Taking Command
Admiral William H. McRaven will share highlights of his exceptional leadership experiences, exploring today’s geopolitical environment and a look forward to America’s place in an ever-changing global community. His principles of leadership and risk management are applicable to any organization and he emphasizes the necessity of preparation, order and discipline, knowing that they are naught without a distinct and meaningful purpose or goal. He shares impactful narratives, lessons and insights on authority amidst turmoil and instability, the force of teamwork and personal initiative, resilience in the face of opposition, and the unconditional importance of never giving up. He challenges us to accept responsibility, be creative within the rules, take control of our circumstances, and maintain focus during times of conflict, as he inspires us to apply his diligence, courage and risk management strategies.
- Speaker
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ADM William H. McRaven USN (Ret.)
Former Commander, U.S. Special Operations
- 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
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Forum Wrap-Up and Book Signing
RILA gets the top CEOs in the retail industry together to share ideas about future innovation in the industry. I think it’s a very important forum.

Brian Cornell
- Chairman & CEO
- Target
2020 Attendee List
- Academy Sports + Outdoors
- Advance Auto Parts
- AutoZone
- Best Buy
- Blain's Farm & Fleet
- C&S Wholesale Grocers
- Coca-Cola
- Dollar General
- Energizer Holdings
- FGX International
- Five Below
- Foot Locker
- Hudson's Bay
- Hy-Vee
- JCPenney
- JOANN
- Lidl US
- Lion Brand Yarn
- Lowe's
- Meijer
- New Balance Athletics
- PetSmart
- Radio Systems Corporation
- Sally Beauty
- ShurTech Brands
- Southeastern Grocers
- Target
- The Home Depot
- Ulta Beauty
- Walgreens Boots Alliance