Retail Connections - Business and IT Executive Summit - February 6-8 2008 @ Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, FL

Attending Retailers

Many of whom are sending more than one executive, in most cases representing different departments, and nearly all C-Level/SVP thus far include:

Qualified retail executives -- meaning VP titles and above -- are invited to attend the event on complimentary basis, with all on-site Summit-related activities covered at no charge (including hotel, meals, sessions and meetings, receptions, golf, etc.) Below is registration link. The form does ask for a credit card number to reserve your space, but I promise you will not be charged. If a problem, let me know. Sign up now as space is limited and can only be guaranteed if you register soon. Click Here To Register Now.

For potential sponsors, service providers, analysts or others interested in taking part in the event, please contact me directly at marc@retailconnections.biz or 914-620-5947!

Why Have This Summit?

Beyond the value in general of bringing together some 100 senior executive retailers to brainstorm, network, hear from industry leaders, and gain value in other Summit activities, however, I have two specific reasons for hosting this Summit. I believe the reasons are compelling.

1. I hope to (and so far have succeeded) draw a much wider range of senior executive titles -- what I call a 360-degree retail executive suite representation -- with about 1/2 line-of-business executives representing finance, merchandising, planning and allocation, customer anything, etc., along with IT.

   In fact, we are asking attendees to invite and if possible bring along a second executive from the company, from your own department or even better another. The interaction of all executive suite leaders and hence departments is what helps make a retailing company shine and, I believe, will likewise help raise the value of conversation and networking at the Summit

2. I believe the content at some IT Summits is getting somewhat stale or dated and hence I have tried to include a broader and new range of more valuable opportunities. We are, for example, hosting:

   • a series of concurrent closed-door retail-vendor industry council meetings to kick off the Summit on Wednesday, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
   • four in-depth panel discussions as part of the program -- one on finance decision making in today's market, a second on customer experience optimization, a third on merchandising and pricing, and a fourth on cross-channel/e-commerce
   • unveiling two new industry studies: one conducted by Gartner, RetailConnections and WWD on Retail Innovation and another conducted by Karabus Consulting on the role of the CFO in Retail
   • presenting eight or more solo/keynote presentations ranging from some of the most senior retail executives to the most esteemed Wall Street, private equity and retail and vendor analysts
   • hosting tabletop round-table breakfast discussions each morning
   • networking pre- and post-dinner receptions, dinners and a very special award presentation
   • of course a truly magnificent golf outing on Thursday afternoon
   • a special pre-summit IT-only Network Luncheon meeting Wednesday 12:00 noon-2:30 pm
   • and more...

Distinguished Summit Speakers

• Larry Selden

  Professor, Finance and Economics, Columbia University (Emeritus), Graduate School of Business and Visiting Distinguished Scholar Wharton, University of Pennsylvania

• Deborah Weinswig

  Managing Director, Retailing/Broadlines, Food & Drug, and Home Improvement, Citi Investment Research

• Gary Hawkins

  CEO, Green Hills

• Michael Rabinovitch

  SVP, CFO, Birks and Mayors

• Bennett Nussbaum

  SVP, CFO, Winn Dixie

• Jeffrey Marshall

  SVP, CIO, Kohl's

• Kurt Streitz

  SVP, CIO, Mervyns

• John Polizzi

  SVP, CIO, BJs (80%)

• Frank Zarrello

  VP, Director, Planning and Allocation, Big M

• Brett Bonner

  Director, Research and Development, Kroger

• Jeffrey Roster

  Research VP, Industry Market Strategies, Retail Technology & Service Providers, Gartner

• Brian Hume

  President, MARTEC International

• Antony Karabus

  CEO, Karabus Consulting

• Richard D. Hastings

  VP, Senior Retail Sector Analyst, Bernard Sands

Special Award Presentation

• Phillip Maxwell

  SVP, CIO, on behalf of Neiman Marcus Group

Panel and Meeting Moderators

• Timothy Anglum

  President, The Anglum Group, and past consumer relationship guru, Best Buy

• Evelyn Follit

  Founder and President, Follit Associates, and renowned Board of Directors member for several technology and retail companies, as well as past senior executive at RadioShack, IBM and other major companies

• Bob Bersani

  Senior Partner, Navigator Consulting, and prior SVP, Global Retail Applications, Ahold

• Mark Laughlin

  Principal Consultant, Soosman, Laughlin & Associates,and past CEO and CIO at retail and other companies

• Cathy Hotka

  Founder, Cathy Hotka & Associates