Auburn University
Department of Consumer & Design Sciences
Get in touch with us at kwonwis@auburn.edu
Topic: Why so much hype about AI: Where it is from and where it is leading to Year 2019
Topic: Why so much hype about AI: Where it is from and where it is leading to Year 2021, Virtual Lecture
Topic: How Blockchain is changing the retail industry Year 2019
Topic: Why so much hype about AI: Where it is from and where it is leading to Year 2019
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!
For inquiries on industry lecturer opportunities, please email Dr. Wis Kwon
Mr. Rory Fane-Hervey
VP of Sales,
Visual Retailing by IWD Group
2024
Ms. Sarah Hix
Senior Director of Asset Protection - Operations,
Home Depot
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017
Mr. Ted McCaffrey
Business Development Consultant Inventory Intelligence Data Analytics, Sensormatic
2023, 2022, 2021, 2019
Ms. Susan Flake
Director of RFID Business Development,
Zebra Technologies Corporation
2023,2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
Ms. Jane Rawnsley
SVP, Creative AI,
Avataar
2024
Mr. Scott Light
Vice President,
Churchill Systems, Inc.
2024
Mr. Isaac Korn
Director of RFID Business Development,
Zebra Technologies Corporation
2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
Mr. Ivannn Borovikov
Co-Founder & CEO, Mmmmindbox
2024, 2023
Mr. John Hwang
Manager,
Regulatory Engagement, Amazon
2022
Mr. Sanjeev Sahni
Senior Director,
eGain Corporation
2022
Dr. Seth Bridges
Co-Founder & Head of Product & Marketing, Rival IQ
2022
Mr. Daniel Black
Founder & CEO,
Glass- Media
2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
Lorna McKinlay
Communications Manager & Marcoms Team Lead, PAL Robotics
2023
Ms. Chandralika Hazarika
Co-Founder & CEO, Bigthinx-
2023
Àlex Font Ibañez
Sales Account Executive,
PAL Robotics
2022
Mr. Trey Tinnell
North America Lead for Watson,
AI, & Deep Learning,
IBM
2021, 2019
Mr. Mac Howard
Chief Revenue Officer,
AMZ Atlas
2021, 2018
Ms. Wendy Earon
CTO, Retail, Travel & Transportation, IBM
2021
Mr. Allan Gulley
Senior Designer & Technical Architect, People Rocket
2021
Mr. John Kim
SVP, WW Sales & Alliances,
ThreeKit
2021
Mr. Corey Thomas
Co-Founder/CEO,
AMZ Atlas
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
Mr. Chris Dudley
Co- Founder / CEO,
Patron
2019
Ms. Cecile Lee
VP of Revenue,
Trendalytics
2019
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Mr. Jeremy Miller
Product Marketing Director,
SmartHome Solutions,
GE Appliances
2019
Mr. Jason Smith
Lead Innovation Strategist
Watson Customer Engagement,
IBM
2019
Mr. Jason Sain
Senior Manager,
Kurt Salmon
2019
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Mr. Justin Lambert
CEO,
The Mint Julep Boutique
2018, 2017
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Mr. Jannis Koehn
CEO,
Looklet
2018
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Ms. Anna Malkan
VP of Sales,
Volumental
2018
Mr. Michael Fisher
Former President,
Yes Lifecycle Marketing
2017
Mr. Rusty Redecker
Market Development Director,
RFID - Performance Apparel,
Avery Dennison
2017
Mr. Petteri Strömberg
Head of Product Management,
ynvisible
2017
Mr. Chris Young
Former Vice President Supply Chain Operations, Timberland,
VF Corporation
2017
Mr. Ivan Borovikov
Co-Founder & CEO, Mindbox
2024, 2023
Mr. John Hwang
Manager,
Regulatory Engagement, Amazon
2022
Mr. Sanjeev Sahni
Senior Director,
eGain Corporation
2022
Dr. Seth Bridges
Co-Founder & Head of Product & Marketing, Rival IQ
2022
Mr. Daniel Black
Founder & CEO,
Glass- Media
2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
Lorna McKinlay
Communications Manager & Marcoms Team Lead, PAL Robotics
2023
Ms. Chandralika Hazarika
Co-Founder & CEO, Bigthinx-
2023
Àlex Font Ibañez
Sales Account Executive,
PAL Robotics
2022
Mr. Trey Tinnell
North America Lead for Watson,
AI, & Deep Learning,
IBM
2021, 2019
Mr. Mac Howard
Chief Revenue Officer,
AMZ Atlas
2021, 2018
Ms. Wendy Earon
CTO, Retail, Travel & Transportation, IBM
2021
Mr. Allan Gulley
Senior Designer & Technical Architect, People Rocket
2021
Mr. John Kim
SVP, WW Sales & Alliances,
ThreeKit
2021
Mr. Corey Thomas
Co-Founder/CEO,
AMZ Atlas
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
Mr. Chris Dudley
Co- Founder / CEO,
Patron
2019
Ms. Cecile Lee
VP of Revenue,
Trendalytics
2019
Mr. Jeremy Miller
Product Marketing Director,
SmartHome Solutions,
GE Appliances
2019
Mr. Jason Smith
Lead Innovation Strategist
Watson Customer Engagement,
IBM
2019
Mr. Jason Sain
Senior Manager,
Kurt Salmon
2019
Mr. Justin Lambert
CEO,
The Mint Julep Boutique
2018, 2017
Mr. Jannis Koehn
CEO,
Looklet
2018
Ms. Anna Malkan
VP of Sales,
Volumental
2018
Mr. Michael Fisher
Former President,
Yes Lifecycle Marketing
2017
Mr. Rusty Redecker
Market Development Director,
RFID - Performance Apparel,
Avery Dennison
2017
Mr. Petteri Strömberg
Head of Product Management,
ynvisible
2017
Mr. Chris Young
Former Vice President Supply Chain Operations, Timberland,
VF Corporation
2017