Join Us Before RetailConnections Summit Sells Out Feb. 26-28, Miami

Jan. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- Senior retail executives are set to gather in Miami next month to uncover new insights in an atmosphere that inspires high-level discussions and networking with industry peers. It’s not too late to join us! Are you in?

The RetailConnections 5th Annual Business Executive Summit Feb. 26-28 draws the most senior level and eclectic range of retail leaders to examine critical business issues — from all things mobile, social and digital to supply chain innovations, cross-functional collaboration and strategies to enhance the customer experience online and in-store.

The Summit offers a program of speakers as diverse and intense as the industry itself. Highlighting the two-day deep-dive into retail’s most relevant issues today are:  
• Staples VP of E-Commerce Brian Tilzer, who will deliver the Feb. 27 keynote, outlining strategy and enhancements made to the world’s second largest e-commerce web site.
• Casual Male Retail Group’s COO/CFO Dennis Hernreich will reveal how a re-imagined new store format won over new and existing shoppers.
• Juicy Couture’s VP of E-Commerce Katherine Bahamonde will divulge tactics to overcome the “us” versus “them” dynamic to foster greater internal collaboration.
• Bon-Ton Stores DVP of Marketing Tiffany Tocco will team up with Adam Turgeon, Bon-Ton Senior Manager, Business Insights, to dissect how customer data can reveal new ways to bridge cross-functional gaps.

New program additions just this past week include:
• Warnaco Global CIO Michelle Garvey will chronicle the rapidly changing role of the CIO in an era of globalization
• Mahender Nathan, VP of Direct, Godiva will, explore how personalization engages customers in new ways that lock in loyalty
• Harry Cunningham, SVP of Store Planning, Design & Visual Merchandising, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Brian Hume, President of Martec International, will team up to share in-store innovations to capture shoppers’ imaginations.

“Stay alert and ready,” said Cunningham of Saks Fifth Avenue. “You never know when inspiration will find you. And as they say, it's probably when you least expect it.”

CXOs and VPs confirmed to attend hail from a wide range of retail companies including: Coach, Nike, Staples, The Children’s Place, Juicy Couture, Escada, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Belk, Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Wakefern Food Corp., Danier Leather, Army & Air Force Exchange, Cavender’s Boot City, Casual Male Retail Group, Whole Foods Markets, Kohl’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Warnaco, Roche Brothers Supermarkets, New Balance, Bon-Ton Stores, Perry Ellis International, Rooms to Go, Helzberg Diamonds, El Corte Inglés, Macy’s, Jarden, Elie Tahari, Jimmy Jazz, Hess Oil, Michaels Stores, Hawes & Curtis (U.K.) Burlington Coat Factory, Abt Electronics, REI, Cost Plus World Market, Reitmans, Stylo Shoes, FedEx Office, Harry Rosen, Godiva Chocolatier, Brooks Brothers, Sephora, the TJX Cos.

The RetailConnections Business Executive Summit cultivates an environment of trust. Small group discussions and spontaneous, one-on-one encounters encourage sharing. The event has an intimate flair that makes it easy for everyone to interact in a variety of settings. The Summit is closed to the press.

The event features a wide variety of presentations covering topics chosen by retailers as most relevant. Networking opportunities abound at evening receptions, dinners, workshops, morning roundtables, golf and afternoon meet-and-greet.

For a complete Summit agenda featuring retail’s most admired thinkers, visit http://www.retailconnections.com.

Retail Connections Summit presenters Feb. 26-28.2012, Miami, include:
• Brian Tilzer, VP, E-Commerce, Staples “Leveraging E-Comm to Drive Multichannel Growth”
• Dennis Hernreich, EVP, CFO, COO, Casual Male Retail Group “The Ultimate Customer Experience”
• Michelle Garvey, Global CIO, Warnaco “Changing Role of CIO”
• Tiffany Tocco, Divisional VP, Marketing, and Adam Turgeon, Senior Manager, Business Insights, Bon-Ton Stores “Customer Data Bridges Cross-Functional Gaps”
• Katherine Bahamonde, VP, E-Commerce, Juicy Couture “Cross Channel Collaboration: Defeat ‘Us Vs. Them’”
• Mahender Nathan, VP, Direct, Godiva, “Personalization”
• Ken Nisch, Chairman, JGA “The Art & Science of Retail Experience” panel featuring Paul Calderon, SVP, Store Environment & Development, Kohl's; Harry Cunningham, SVP, Store Planning, Design & Visual Merchandising, Saks Fifth Avenue; and Christine Sturch, Midwest Senior Interior Design & Branding Coordinator, Whole Foods Market
• Dave Remer, CEO and Creative Director, Remer Inc. “The Branded Retailer”
• Francisca Vicente-Tamarin, IT Business Analyst, El Corte Inglés Department Stores, “Multichannel Integration Best Practices” workshop
• Tom DeCaro, EVP, Supply Chain, Michaels Stores “Supply Chain Innovation: Top Strategies for Enhancing Profits”
• Jay Dunn, CMO, Bare Necessities “Building Your Brand through Facebook Advertising” workshop
• Pam Sweeney, SVP, Logistics Systems and Technology, Macy’s “RFID Strategies” workshop
• Lori Schafer, Executive Adviser, Retail; Author “Branded!” Mobile/Social workshop
• Bernie Brennan, Author, “Branded!” Mobile / Social workshop

Summit attendance, golf and hotel accommodations are complimentary for VP and CXO retail executives. The Summit is limited to 100 retail executives, with almost 70 spots already taken. For more information and to register, visit www.retailconnections.com or contact Marc Millstein at marc@retailconnections.com | (914) 620-5947 or Denise Power at denise@retailconnections.com | (773) 573-3939.

Among the sponsors signed to date are: Avanade, Cisco, Epson, HP, Kony, Microsoft Dynamics, Reflexis, TradeCard, 4R Systems, CrossView, Manthan Systems, Pitney Bowes and SAP Retail. For remaining sponsorship opportunities, contact Tia Potter, (917) 846-5185 tia@retailconnections.com or LuAnn Hallberg, (814) 516-4965 luann@retailconnections.com.

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RETAILCONNECTIONS serves senior retail executives by hosting events that provide exceptional learning and networking. We believe the value of establishing new business relationships in person far outweighs other forms of communication.