Consumer & Design Sciences
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.
Topic: Automation of direct-to-customer marketing through centralized customer data platform and machine learning
Title: AI-automated digital customer engagement – Optimized customer journeys Year 2022, Virtual Lecture
Topic: Artificial Intelligence in retail Year 2018
Topic: Automation of direct-to-customer marketing through centralized customer data platform and machine learning
2024 iRACE Industry Lecture Series
Mr. Daniel Black
Founder & CEO, Glass-Media
Tentative Topic: Purpose-driven experimental marketing
12:00 - 12:50 pm, Jan 29, 2024
Mr. Rory Fane-Hervey
VP of Sales, Visual Retailing by IWD Group
Tentative Topic: Shape your store with virtual visual merchandising using interactive 3D stores
1:00 - 2:00 pm, Feb 5, 2024
Mr. Ivan Borovikov
Co-Founder & CEO, Maestra
Tentative Topic: Automation of direct-to-customer marketing through centralized customer data platform and machine learning
12:00 - 12:50 pm, Feb 19, 2024
Ms. Sarah H. Johnson
Sr. Director of Asset Protection - Operations, Home Depot
Tentative Topic: How technologies and analytics are leveraged for loss prevention and asset protection
12:00 - 12:50 pm, Feb 26. 2024
Ms. Jane Rawnsley
Sr. Vice President of Creative AI, Avataar
"Breaking Boundaries: How Generative AI+Human Co-pilot Transforms Product Narratives in Spatial Storytelling"
12:00 - 12:50 pm, March 11, 2024
Mr. Scott Light
Vice President, Churchill Systems Inc.
"Revolutionizing Retail: Unveiling the Power of AI in Merchandise Planning"
12:00 - 12:50 pm, March 18, 2024
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 kwonwis@auburn.edu.
Ms. Susan Flake
Director of RFID Business Development,
Zebra Technologies Corporation
2023,2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
Ms. Sarah Hix
Senior Director of Asset Protection - Operations,
Home Depot
2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017
Mr. Ted McCaffrey
Business Development Consultant Inventory Intelligence
Data Analytics,
Sensormatic
2023, 2022, 2021, 2019
Mr. Isaac Korn
Director of RFID Business Development,
Zebra Technologies Corporation
2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
Mr. Ivan Borovikov
Co-Founder & CEO, Mindbox
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
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 Robotic
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
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Department of Consumer and Design Sciences
College of Human Sciences, Auburn University
372C Spidle Hall
Dr. Wi-Suk Kwon
p. (334)-844-4011