Chain Store Age announces SPECS/2018 Advisory Board, new marketing
Chain Store Age announced the selection of the Advisory Board for SPECS/2018, the annual retail event produced by CSA and attended by retail and food-service executives who plan, design, build, and maintain stores and restaurants nationwide.
Now in its 54th year, SPECS will host its 2018 conference in Dallas, at the Gaylord Texan, March 18-20. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of physical retail.
The SPECS Advisory Board, which is comprised of 46 industry leaders both from leading retail companies and key supplier organizations, will advise and direct the educational program for the 2018 conference. The packed slate of workshops, roundtables and panel presentations covers a wide range of emerging and evolving issues – and the Board, as industry insiders, plays a key role in the planning and creation of each.
Five veteran members were selected as Executive Advisory Board members, charged with team leadership and overall program direction:
Richard Elkins, director of construction services, Firehouse Subs; Craig Hale, associate, HFA; Lori Koeppe, operations coordinator, The Buckle; Lisa Smola-Hollo, project manager, growth and development, ULTA Beauty; and Wendy Whetton, senior facilities project manager, Harbor Freight Tools. Serving as a rotating Executive Advisory Board member to assist with team leadership is Renee Tobin, strategic sourcing manager, Brookdale Senior Living.
Following is a listing of the SPECS/2018 Advisory Board.
• Aaron Ancello, VP, regional facilities manager, TD Bank
• Dan Beeman, president, Beeman Development Group
• Lisa Bien-Sinz, SVP marketing and HR, Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services
• Dan Bilancia, business development manager, Johnson Controls/York
• Brad Bogart, president, Retail Contractors Association
• Mike Burton, director of construction and corporate facilities, The Home Depot
• Brandon Collier, director of architecture, design and store planning, RaceTrac Petroleum
• David DiCarlo, regional director of construction, rue21
• Greg Duchane, director, retail-restaurant national accounts, Trane
• Richard Elkins, director of construction services, Firehouse Subs
• Brian Foster, senior VP, Paint Folks
• Bridget Farrell, senior manager of architecture and building design, JCPenney
• Mike Gordon, facilities maintenance manager, Fogo de Chao
• Greg Green, divisional VP national accounts, Orion Energy Systems
• Scott Griffin, director of store design, Stein Mart
• Craig Hale, Associate, HFA
• Nick Hanson, construction coordinator, Whole Foods Market, 365 by Whole Foods Market
• Susan Hecht, VP, solutions development, sales, SMS Assist
• Al Hellaby, senior project manager, development group, Wegmans Food Markets
• George Holz, director of construction, Warby Parker
• Angie Huff, VP/retail, NGS Films and Graphics
• Keith Johnson, director of store design, Dollar Tree & Family Dollar Stores
• Lisa Johnson, VP, Interstate Signcrafters
• Bob Keingstein, president, BOSS Facility Services
• Christie King, senior architect, proto and new formats, Wal-Mart Stores
• Tiffany Ko, program manager, store development, lululemon athletica
• Lori Koeppe, operations coordinator, The Buckle
• Sally Lee, market segment manager-retail, Sylvania-LEDVANCE
• Kevin Nolen, director of retail expansion and facilities, Z Gallerie
• Jim Pagano, executive VP, Boston Barricade
• Randy Pannell, VP of construction, Saks Fifth Avenue
• Vaun Podlogar, president, State Permits
• Terry Pratt, senior construction project manager, Academy Sports and Outdoors
• Rob Reiter, chief security consultant, Calpipe Security Bollards
• Kristen Roodvoets, senior manager of retail store planning and development, Alex and Ani
• Eric Russell, director of construction, L Brands
• Lisa Schwartz, president, ProCoat
• Lisa Smola-Hollo, project manager, growth and development, Ulta Beauty
• Kevin Tierney, VP strategic accounts retail, Tarkett
• Renee Tobin, strategic sourcing manager, Brookdale Senior Living
• Bennett Van Wert, national sales manager, DWM Inc.
• Eric Voyles, director of Facilities Management, Dollar General
• Wendy Whetton, senior facilities project manager, Harbor Freight Tools
• Jason Woods, senior project manager, Tesla
• Tracy Scanlan Zaslow, senior director of design and construction, Luxury Brand Holdings
• Melissa Zimmerman, director of store care, Walgreens
Chain Store Age also unveiled a new tagline to be used in all SPECS 2018 marketing and promotional efforts: The Forefront of Physical Retail.
“SPECS has always been about brick-and-mortar retail,” said Katherine Boccaccio, executive director of events. “And we haven’t wavered from that position. Physical stores are here to stay, and our events are designed to present and discuss the latest innovations impacting brick-and-mortar stores as well as focus on the future of physical retail.
“The new tagline sums up that position, and reflects what our Board and our attendees come to SPECS to learn about,” said Boccaccio.
Are you interested in learning more about the qualifications required for SPECS Advisory Board consideration? Contact Katherine Boccaccio, Executive Director of Events, at[email protected], for details.