Future of Retail & Commerce

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

• 9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration
• 9:55 AM Welcome Remarks

  Brandon Gutman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

  Marc Sternberg, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

  Vito Maranzano, Vice President Retail, Luxury, Content + Community, Brand Innovators

  Joe Varano, Vice President of Content & Community, Brand Innovators

  Emcee: Brian Spencer, Marketing Director, Precision Marketing, Kroger

• 10:00 AM Fireside Chat

  Matt Martin, Vice President of Marketing, Kroger

  Moderated by: Chloe Johnston, Director of Client Partnerships, Zeta Global

• 10:30 AM Beyond the Snack: Building Consumer Experiences That Create Lifelong Brand

  As consumers expect every interaction with a brand to be personalized, seamless, and memorable, the definition of consumer experience continues to evolve. In this conversation, we’ll explore how Mondelēz is reimagining the path from discovery to loyalty by connecting brand building, commerce, retail partnerships, and shopper engagement into one unified experience. We’ll discuss how iconic brands remain culturally relevant while creating deeper relationships that drive both consumer love and long-term business growth.

  Steve McGowan, Senior Director, US Consumer Experience (CX) Mondelēz International

  Moderated by: Kelsey Brenon, Commerce and Retail Media Network Partnerships Lead, SiriusXM Media

• 11:00 AM Retail Media's Next Chapter: Beyond Advertising

  Retail Media Networks have become one of the fastest-growing marketing channels, but the next phase will be defined by integration, measurement, and customer value. This session explores how retailers and brands are evolving retail media into a full-funnel growth engine that delivers stronger consumer experiences while driving incremental business results.

  Christine Foster, Group Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Operations (Kroger Precision Marketing), Kroger

  Moderated by: Morgan Chapman, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Fluent

• 11:30 AM Networking Break
• 11:45 AM Winning the Omnichannel Customer Journey

  Today’s consumers don’t think in channels—they simply expect brands to be there whenever and wherever they’re ready to engage. This discussion examines how organizations are integrating digital, physical, social, and marketplace experiences into seamless customer journeys that build trust, increase conversion rates, and strengthen long-term relationships.

  Jorge Alfonso, Head of Site Merchandising & Center Store Digital Merchandising, Kroger

  Grant Shova, Head of Ecommerce, PepsiCo

  Rick Shuman, Customer Director, Omnichannel Activation – East, Mondelez International

  Moderated by: Matt Knust, Vice President, Practice Lead (CPG), InMarket 

   

• 12:15 PM Loyalty Reimagined: Building Relationships That Last

  Loyalty has evolved far beyond points and rewards. Today’s most successful brands are creating emotional connections through personalized experiences, community, exclusive access, and shared values. This session explores how marketers are designing loyalty strategies that drive advocacy, lifetime value, and lasting customer relationships.

  Jessica Ardis, Brand Manager, Nutella, Ferrero North America

  Jason Giammona, Director of Ecommerce & Retail Media, Exverus

  Peter Olson, Senior Director of Marketing, Right Guard & Dry Idea, Thriving Brands

  Moderated by: Uma Tailor, Industry Lead, Fetch

• 12:45 PM Signals to Standout: Capturing Attention in a Fragmented Culture

  How can brands combine audience insights, contextual intelligence, emerging trends and high-impact media to reach consumers in the right mindset and create experiences that genuinely resonate?

  Sara Lipton, Vice President of Programmatic, PatientPoint

  Moderated by: Dave Walker, Sr. Brand Director, NA Family Care-Brand Growth & Innovation, Kimberly-Clark

• 1:15 PM Lunch
• 2:00 PM AI Beyond the Buzz: Creating Smarter Customer Experiences

  As third-party data continues to disappear, brands are rethinking how they collect, activate, and use customer data responsibly. This discussion examines how organizations are building trust while leveraging first-party data to deliver more relevant experiences, smarter marketing, and stronger business outcomes.

  Nick Hamilton, Senior Vice President, Head of Technology, 84.51°

  Melinda Johnson, Director, Marketing – Hair, Henkel

  Moderated by: Adrienne Ross Maihle, Vice President, Commercial Partnerships, Equativ

• 2:30 PM Building Brands Through Community

  The strongest brands today are creating a sense of belonging, not just awareness. This conversation will explore how organizations are fostering authentic communities that deepen customer engagement and strengthen brand affinity. We’ll discuss the strategies, experiences, and partnerships that turn audiences into advocates.

  Randy Limes, Vice President, Global Digital Marketing & Media Strategy, Gorilla Glue

  Claude Zukowski, Senior Director, Community Impact, The Procter & Gamble Company

  Moderated by: Sung Kim, Sr. Account Executive, TeamSnap

• 3:00 PM Growth Without Compromise: Leading Through Constant Change

  The pace of disruption has never been greater. From AI and economic uncertainty to shifting consumer expectations and organizational transformation, today’s leaders must continuously adapt while keeping teams aligned and focused. This fireside explores the leadership principles, cultural shifts, and decision-making frameworks that enable organizations to thrive through change.

  Chad Brizendine, Chief Marketing Officer, Glow Brands

  Craig Cuchra, Vice President Marketing – USA, Perfetti Van Melle

  Allison Grim, Senior Director, National Grocery Omni, Mars Snacking

  Erica Tam, Senior Vice President Brand, Bloom Nutrition

• 3:30 PM Networking Break
• 4:00 PM The Creator Economy Meets Commerce

  Creators have become trusted advisors influencing discovery, consideration, and purchase across every category. This discussion explores how brands are building long-term creator partnerships that extend beyond campaigns to foster community, authenticity, and measurable commerce outcomes.

  Jennifer Madison, Senior Manager, Media Connections, Danone

  Jon Solimando, Global Brand Director, Treasury Wine Estates

  Moderated by: Briana Finelli, Vice President, Brand & Commerce Media, Goodway Group

• 4:30 PM The Future of Commerce Starts Here

  Retail and commerce are entering a new era shaped by AI, connected ecosystems, predictive experiences, and evolving consumer expectations. This closing conversation brings together visionary leaders to discuss what they believe will define the next five years of commerce and how brands can prepare today to remain relevant, resilient, and indispensable tomorrow.

  LB Addington, Group Product Manager | Search, Personalization, Monetization, and Marketing Enablement, Kroger

  Dave Walker, Senior Brand Director, NA Family Care-Brand Growth & Innovation, Kimberly-Clark

  Moderated by: Gina Smart, Senior Vice President Sales, GumGum

• 5:00 PM Wrap