Program

Last Year's Program

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Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: REI Guided Hike through the Sonoran Desert
Join us for a pre-event hiking experience for CEOs and their families/partners led by an REI expert guide to explore the Sonoran Desert's landscape. REI's guided tour will showcase the breadth of how retailers engage with customers and ensure an exceptional day of hiking and exploration.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Elevated Dinner and Wine Experience
Pre-event dinner and wine experience for CEOs and their spouse/partner.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Executive Committee Meeting and Lunch
Private meeting and Lunch of the RILA Executive Committee.
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Board of Directors Meeting
A private meeting of the RILA Board of Directors.
4:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Welcome Reception
Kick off the Retail CEO Forum at the RILA Gastropub. Join us for a casual opening reception, where you can meet and reunite with fellow Forum participants, watch the NFL Playoff games, indulge in some local Arizona cuisine, and enjoy the beautiful Sonoran sunset. Come and go as you please. Resort attire is encouraged.

7:15 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking before the programming day begins.

8:00 AM – 8:20 AM

Welcome to the RILA Retail CEO Forum 2024

RILA Chair and Best Buy CEO Corie Barry and RILA President Brian Dodge kick off the Retail CEO Forum 2024.

Speakers: Corie Barry
Chief Executive Officer, Best Buy

Chairwoman, RILA; Brian Dodge
President

RILA

8:20 AM – 9:00 AM

Generative AI in Retail: Year in Review and Plan for the Future

Reflecting on the first year of Generative AI in retail, this conversation will explore its impact on customer experiences, business operations and technological evolution and the lessons learned from the early applications adopted by forward-thinking retailers. The session will differentiate Generative AI from traditional AI/ML technologies, not as a competitor but as a complement, enhancing and working in tandem to achieve business value across retail roles and tasks and look ahead to the next phase of Gen AI's influence in retail.

Speakers: Brett Leary
Managing Director, Generative AI Transformation – Global Retail Lead

Accenture; Jill Standish
Retail Senior Managing Director

Accenture; Teresa Tung
Cloud First Chief Technologist

Accenture

9:00 AM – 9:20 AM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

9:20 AM – 10:00 AM

CEO Leadership Spotlight: Ken Hicks, Executive Chairman, Academy Sports + Outdoors

It’s not about the leader, it’s about the team. That’s been Ken Hicks’ view since he was a young army officer. For the entirety of his career, Ken has measured his success based on the advancement of those around him. In this session, Ken will share his reflections on leadership and the management skills that stand the test of time.

Speakers: Brian Dodge
President

RILA; Ken Hicks
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

Academy Sports + Outdoors

10:00 AM – 10:20 AM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

10:20 AM – 11:00 AM

Delighting Customers in a Rapidly Changing World

Customer expectations are always evolving and fed by experiences within and well beyond retail. Panelists will share how they have built a culture capable of delivering excellent services in the face of changing customer expectations and workforce turnover.

Speakers: Erik Nordstrom
Chief Executive Officer

Nordstrom; Courtney Reagan
Senior Retail Reporter

CNBC; Russell Weiner
Chief Executive Officer

Domino's

11:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

11:20 AM – 12:00 PM

Vibrant Communities Initiative: Unveiling Early Learnings

To address safety concerns of employees and consumers, RILA launched a partnership among public and private stakeholders focused on identifying and tackling issues that contribute to the increase in crime, violence, vagrancy, and blight in and around retail environments, business districts and communities across the country. Hear the initial learnings from two pilot communities and a preview of a national playbook.

Speakers: Ann Davison
City Attorney

Seattle City Attorney's Office; Lisa LaBruno
Senior Executive Vice President, Retail Operations

RILA; Leesa Manion
Prosecuting Attorney

King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office; Jeff Reisig
District Attorney

Yolo County District Attorney's Office

12:00 PM – 1:20 PM

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.

1:20 PM – 2:00 PM

Recruiting the Right Talent to Power the New Retail

Building a retail workforce with the right blend of talent and skills to serve customers across channels is a key challenge for leading retailers. This conversation will provide specifics about how to compete with the gig economy to win the workforce to power the new retail.

Speakers: Meg Ham
President

Food Lion; Anthony Hucker
President & Chief Executive Officer

Southeastern Grocers; David Sinclair
Partner

OC&C Strategy Consultants; Pamela Stewart
Chief Customer Officer – Retail North America Operating Unit

The Coca-Cola Company

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Executive Leadership Conversations

The unique Retail CEO Forum audience will turn toward their peers to engage in facilitated executive leadership conversations to prepare, develop, and energize inspired leaders and solutions for the future.

Speaker: Eric Pliner
Managing Director, Global Lead for Leadership & Culture, Accenture

Chief Executive Officer, YSC Consulting, Part of Accenture

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

3:20 PM – 4:00 PM

Perspectives from the Boardroom

Corporate Boards are faced with a new set of challenges navigating a more turbulent future. This conversation will feature insights about the pressures on today’s directors and observations on how to maximize the value of the board-management relationship.

Speakers: Timothy Baer
Partner

TRB Partners; Anne M. Mulcahy
Lead Director

Johnson & Johnson; Courtney Reagan
Senior Retail Reporter

CNBC; Dona D. Young
Chair, Board of Directors

Foot Locker

4:00 PM – 4:20 PM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

4:20 PM – 5:30 PM

State of Retail in 2024

During this live podcast recording, panelists will share their views on the state of the consumer and the economy in the New Year, and how they make decisions in such complex times.

Speakers: Ted Decker
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

The Home Depot; Tim Ingrassia
Co-Chairman, Global Mergers & Acquisitions, IBD

Goldman Sachs; Dave Kimbell
Chief Executive Officer

Ulta Beauty, Inc.; Vishaal Rana
Managing Director, Cross Markets Consumer Retail Group, IBD

Goldman Sachs

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Sonoran Starlight Dinner

Join us for an unforgettable evening beneath the Sonoran desert sky. Enjoy a delicious dinner inspired by regional flavors, play Glow Golf under the stars, savor live music, and conclude the night with captivating star gazing. This celestial celebration offers a unique mix of gourmet delights and cosmic insights, promising an exceptional desert experience.

8:15 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking before the programming day begins.

9:00 AM – 10:05 AM

Wall Street’s View of Retail in 2024

Investors are typically the ones asking the hard questions, in this session the tables are turned. These investors and analysts will share their views on retail in the year ahead, as well as a bit about their craft and how leaders can successfully engage with stakeholders on Wall Street.

Speakers: Elise Crumbine
Chief Investment Officer

Interval Partners: Stormborn Fund; Janet King
Executive Director

J.P. Morgan Asset Management; Michael Lasser
US Equity Research Analyst - Consumer Hardlines

UBS Financial Services; Hal Lawton
President & Chief Executive Officer

Tractor Supply

10:05 AM – 10:25 AM

Executive Connection

Enjoy some lite fair and refreshments while you connect with other executives.

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM

Conversation with President George W. Bush

From geopolitical change to economic challenges, the 43rd President of the United States navigated every aspect of the country’s most difficult job. Join President Bush and Best Buy CEO Corie Barry for a conversation about leadership, politics, and legacy.

Speakers: Corie Barry
Chief Executive Officer, Best Buy

Chairwoman, RILA; George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States & Founder of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Program

Last Year's Program

REI Guided Hike through the Sonoran Desert

Elevated Dinner and Wine Experience

Executive Committee Meeting and Lunch

Board of Directors Meeting

Welcome Reception

Breakfast

Welcome to the RILA Retail CEO Forum 2024

Generative AI in Retail: Year in Review and Plan for the Future

Executive Connection

CEO Leadership Spotlight: Ken Hicks, Executive Chairman, Academy Sports + Outdoors

Executive Connection

Delighting Customers in a Rapidly Changing World

Executive Connection

Vibrant Communities Initiative: Unveiling Early Learnings

Executive Luncheon

Recruiting the Right Talent to Power the New Retail

Executive Leadership Conversations

Executive Connection

Perspectives from the Boardroom

Executive Connection

State of Retail in 2024

Sonoran Starlight Dinner

Breakfast

Wall Street’s View of Retail in 2024

Executive Connection

Conversation with President George W. Bush

Attend the can’t miss event for CEOs!