People Shaping Retail’s Future 2020
The NRF Foundation Honors
The NRF Foundation Honors is one of the best ways for retail executives to give back to the industry that has given so much to them. Since 2015, the event has raised more than $10 million to support the NRF Foundation’s philanthropic efforts
Join NRF as it celebrates The Visionary and The List of People Shaping Retail's Future, awards scholarships to students, and announces the recipient of the RISE Up Partner of the Year on January 12, 2020, at the NRF Foundation Honors during the NRF Big Show.
The NRF Foundation has announced the five individuals (below) named to The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2020. The honorees include a wide range of dynamic people impacting retail and will be honored on January 12, 2020, at the NRF Foundation Honors during NRF 2020 Vision: Retail’s Big Show in New York City.
“Our industry has the power to spark impressive change and build dynamic careers, and the honorees on The List embody the passion and diversity in retail today,” NRF Foundation president Ellen Davis said. “This year’s honorees are true champions of retail. They are leading the way to create more opportunities in their businesses and communities that inspire innovation and support the future of the industry.”
The sixth annual Honors will bring together hundreds of the industry’s executives to celebrate those named to The List, award scholarships to students aspiring to become the next generation of retail leaders, and announce the recipient of the RISE Up Partner of the Year for the Foundation’s industry-backed RISE Up (Retail Industry Skills and Education) training and credentialing program.
Proceeds from the Honors benefit the NRF Foundation, NRF’s nonprofit arm, which is committed to demonstrating retail as an industry of opportunity and creating programs that train individuals and help them find jobs in retail. The Honors is expected to raise over $3.5 million for initiatives including educational programs, student scholarships and RISE Up. Since 2015, the event has raised more than $10 million to support the Foundation’s efforts.
The evening will be co-hosted by:
- The evening will be co-hosted by:
Jeff Gennette (Co-Host), chairman and CEO, Macy's Inc.
Chris Baldwin (Co-Host), chairman and CEO, BJ's Wholesale Club
Gunther Bright (Title Sponsor), EVP, U.S. Merchant Services, American Express
Steve Barr (Title Sponsor), Consumer Markets Leader, PwC
Chip Bergh (The Visionary 2019), president and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.
Scott Dahnke (The List 2017), Clobal co-CEO, L Catterton
Diane Dietz (The List 2019), CEO + president, Rodan + Fields
Jane Elfers (The List 2018), president and CEO, The Children's Place
Helena Foulkes (The List 2018), CEO, HBC
Dana Telsey (The List 2016), CEO/Chief Research Officer, Telsey Advisory Group
Phil Wahba (The List 2017), senior writer, Fortune
THE VISIONARY AWARD
Along with celebrating The List at the Honors, Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass will be recognized as “The Visionary,” an award given to a retail leader with a history of spearheading change in the industry.
Gass was appointed CEO of Kohl’s in May 2018, but joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer. She was named chief merchandising and customer officer in 2015, with responsibility for Kohl’s marketing, merchandising, planning and product development functions and then promoted to CEO-elect in October 2017 prior to assuming the CEO role.
Gass was a key architect in the creation of Kohl’s long-term strategic framework, the Greatness Agenda, in 2014. She also led the company’s focus on becoming the active and wellness destination for families, launched Kohl’s next generation loyalty program, and has been responsible for bringing in new categories, partners, and brands, including Under Armour and Amazon.
Prior to Kohl’s, Gass spent more than 16 years with Starbucks holding a variety of leadership roles across marketing, strategy, merchandising and operations, including president, Starbucks EMEA. She played a key role working with the leadership team during the Starbucks transformation of 2008-2009. Gass notably led the growth of the Frappuccino blended beverage platform, the innovation of the overall Starbucks beverage menu, the expansion of the food program, and the introduction of the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program.
The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2020
- Ann-Marie Campbell, Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores, The Home Depot
- Manny Chirico, Chairman and CEO, PVH Corp.
- Kerry Cooper, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rothy’s
- Philip Krim, Co-founder and CEO, Casper
- James Reinhart, Co-founder and CEO, thredUP
