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iRACE Industry Lecture Series©

Technology and innovation have been revolutionizing retail businesses in both product and service industry sectors. The iRACE Initiative offers a semester-long industry lecture series from which Auburn University students and faculty can hear from key industry lecturers who share the current and near future innovations in the retail industry with novel technologies and approaches and entrepreneurial spirits.

2025 iRACE Industry Lecture Series

Mr. Daniel Black

Founder & CEO, Glass-Media

Topic: "Shaping the Future of Hybrid Visual-Digital Merchandising: Where the Industry Is Headed and the Technologies Leading the Way"

12:00 - 12:50 pm, August 25, 2025

Mr. Nelson Truong

Founding Product Manager, Moonvalley

Topic: "Generative AI in Product Ads: A Game-Changer for the Ad Industry, Brands, and Consumers"

12:00 - 12:50 pm, September 8, 2025

Mr. Willy Rotstein

Chief Commercial Officer, Nexite

Topic: "You Know What Sold, You Never Know Why It Didn't: How a Live Retail Optimization Technology Answers It"

12:00 - 12:50 pm, September 15, 2025

Mr. TJ Fanning

Vice President - Sales & Consulting New Business, Kardex Solutions LLC 

Topic: "Behind the Click, the Global Journey of What You Buy: The Impact of Your Behaviors, AI, and Robotics on Supply Chains"

12:00 - 12:50 pm, September 22, 2025

Ms. Gina Maddaloni

Sr. Manager - Retail Growth Initiatives, Carter's

Topic: "More Than Meets the Aisle: The Systems Powering Omnichannel Retail at Carter's Inc."

12:00 - 12:50 pm, Septemeber 29, 2025

Mr. Scott Light

Vice President, Churchill Systems Inc.

Topic: "Revolutionizing Retail: Unveiling the Power of AI in Merchandise Planning"

12:00 - 12:50 pm, October 6, 2025

Past iRACE Industry Lecturers

Thank you very much for all of our past iRACE Industry Lecturers! Your generosity made huge differences for Auburn University students as they prepare themselves as future retail professionals.

 

We are always seeking industry speakers who are interested in sharing innovative ideas and approaches from their workplace with our students and faculty!

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For inquiries on industry lecturer opportunities, please email Dr. Wis Kwon 

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Mr. Rory Fane-Hervey

VP of Sales,  

Visual Retailing by IWD Group

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2024

Ms. Sarah Hix

Senior Director of Asset Protection - Operations, 

Home Depot

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2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017

Mr. Ted McCaffrey

Business Development Consultant Inventory Intelligence Data Analytics, Sensormatic

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2023, 2022, 2021, 2019

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Ms. Susan Flake

Director of RFID Business Development,  

Zebra Technologies Corporation

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2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017

Ms. Jane Rawnsley

SVP, Creative AI, 

Avataar​

 

 

​​2024

Mr. Scott Light

Vice President,

Churchill Systems, Inc.

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2025, 2024

Mr. Isaac Korn

Director of RFID Business Development,  

Zebra Technologies Corporation

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2022, 2019, 2018, 2017

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Mr. Ivannn Borovikov

Co-Founder & CEO, Mmmmindbox

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2024, 2023

Mr. John Hwang

Manager,

Regulatory Engagement, Amazon

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2022

Mr. Sanjeev Sahni

Senior Director,

eGain Corporation

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2022

Dr. Seth Bridges

Co-Founder & Head of Product & Marketing, Rival IQ

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2022

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Mr. Daniel Black

Founder & CEO, 

Glass- Media 

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2025, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018

Lorna McKinlay

Communications Manager & Marcoms Team Lead, PAL Robotics

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2023

Ms. Chandralika Hazarika

 Co-Founder & CEO, Bigthinx-

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2023 

Àlex Font Ibañez

Sales Account Executive,

PAL Robotics

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2022

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Mr. Trey Tinnell

North America Lead for Watson,

AI, & Deep Learning, 

IBM


2021, 2019

Mr. Mac Howard

Chief Revenue Officer,

AMZ Atlas

 

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2021, 2018

Ms. Wendy Earon

CTO, Retail, Travel & Transportation, IBM

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2021

Mr. Allan Gulley

Senior Designer & Technical Architect, People Rocket

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2021

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Mr. John Kim

SVP, WW Sales & Alliances, 

ThreeKit

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2021

Mr. Corey Thomas

Co-Founder/CEO,

AMZ Atlas

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​2021

Mr. Bill Connell

Former Executive VP of

Logistics and Operations,

Macy's

​2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Mr. Jason Adlman

Senior Customer Loyalty and Analytics Manager,

Hibbett Sports

​2019

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Mr. Chris Dudley

Co- Founder / CEO, 

Patron

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2019

Ms. Cecile Lee

VP of Revenue,

Trendalytics

 


2019

Mr. Jeremy Miller

Product Marketing Director, 

SmartHome Solutions,

GE Appliances

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2019

Mr. Jason Smith

Lead Innovation Strategist

Watson Customer Engagement,

IBM

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2019

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Mr. Jason Sain

Senior Manager,

Kurt Salmon

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2019

Mr. Justin Lambert

CEO, 

The Mint Julep Boutique

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2018, 2017

Mr. Jannis Koehn

CEO,

Looklet

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2018

Ms. Anna Malkan

VP of Sales,

Volumental


2018

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Mr. Michael Fisher

Former President, 

Yes Lifecycle Marketing

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2017

Mr. Rusty Redecker

Market Development Director, 

RFID - Performance Apparel,

Avery Dennison

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2017

Mr. Petteri Strömberg 

Head of Product Management, 

ynvisible

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2017

Mr. Chris Young

Former Vice President Supply Chain Operations, Timberland, 

VF Corporation

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2017

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