IBM Retail User Group
2009 Speakers
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Steve Ladwig
General Manager
IBM Retail Store Solutions
 Monday - May 18, 2009
8:40 am - 9:00 am
"IBM Executive Perspectives"
Steve will share with you, our view of the revolution taking place in Retail. How that is driving our Global retail strategy and how we are setting our priorities.
Steve Ladwig was named general manager, Retail Store Solutions in January, 2006. He is responsible for leading IBM's activities in all facets of implementing technology products and solutions in store environments. His worldwide responsibilities include strategy, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales for IBM's portfolio of total store offerings.
Previous to this position, he was general manager for Global Retail Industry responsible for definition, marketing, selling and servicing of "on demand" business solutions to IBM's worldwide customers in the retail industry.
Prior to this, Mr. Ladwig was president and CEO of The Ladwig Companies, Inc., where he provided high-level consulting services to technology companies and investors, including business development and funding strategies. He also founded Ladwig Farms, LLC, which delivered high quality organic food products under the trademark “Best of Health!”.
Before starting those companies, Mr. Ladwig was president, CEO, and director of Retek, Inc. Prior to joining Retek, Steve was senior vice president of Imation and served as the company's president of Data Storage and Information Management.
Previously, Mr. Ladwig held positions of increasing responsibility at IBM in areas including software and server development, planning, marketing and programming. He served as general manager of Network Computing and Software for Global Small and Medium Business, where he was responsible for General Business worldwide strategy development, sales and service for network computing and software. Prior to that, Mr. Ladwig was vice president of development for IBM’s AS/400 division, leading the worldwide product development, support services and applications for AS/400.
A graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato , Mr. Ladwig first joined IBM in 1979.
Chris Schroeder, CISM
Vice President, Information Security
Lowe's Home Improvement  Monday - May 18, 2009
9:00 am - 9:45 am
"Retail Security Beyond PCI"
This topic will provide simple, practical perspectives on protecting your company and your brand in these volatile days of multichannel threats. PCI protects the credit card companies but does not really protect the retailer. You have studied and worked PCI, but what about the rest of the company. What is the right thing to do to secure your image and customer?
Learn to evaluate compensating controls, learn what will allow you to control 80% of your threat and monitor the other 20% without going broke.
Chris is internationally recognized as an expert in information security. He is a published author on many security related topics including network security and is a Certified Information Security Manager.
As an experienced seminar leader and conference speaker, Chris draws on his vast experience with network security, penetration audits and electronic commerce to easily translate complex technical issues into language readily understood by participants at all levels.
Chris specializes in Network Security, Operating System Security, Penetration Testing, and Information Security management. Chris has performed Information Security work for many Fortune 500 companies and his knowledge expands across many industries including retail, banking, health care and utility organizations.
Leo Suarez
Vice President, Marketing & Strategy
IBM Retail Store Solutions
 Monday - May 18, 2009
9:45 am - 10:15 am
“IBM 2009 Retail Strategy”
Leo will review the IBM Retail Store Solutions portfolio of today and tomorrow and how the portfolio aligns with retailer priorities.
Mr. Suarez joined IBM in 1978 and worked as part of the development team that brought many of IBM’s initial suites of Personal Computers to the market. He was part of IBM’s original mobile computing team and was the principal member and lead architect of the team that defined, developed and launched IBM's successful ThinkPad brand in 1992. A product line that eventually grew into a multi billion dollar annual business. Between 1992 and 1995 Mr. Suarez was assigned to Mobile Brand Manager, Latin America, where under his leadership IBM reached number one market share in the portable computing business. In 1996, Mr. Suarez returned to IBM’s worldwide Personal Computing division where he held key executive positions such as Director of World Wide Mobile Product Marketing, and Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Personal Computing.
In October, 2002, Mr. Suarez was given the responsibility of Vice President and Business Line Executive for IBM’s x86 based servers, with worldwide responsibility for product strategy, brand management and business execution for all rack, tower, blade and scalable systems, workstations and options. During this period Mr. Suarez also brought to market IBM’s first x86 based Linux cluster offerings, as well as a new revolutionary high density server system now known in the industry as a “blade” server.
In May, 2006, Mr. Suarez assumed the responsibility of Vice President, Deep Computing Business, responsible for unifying IBM’s multi-billion dollar worldwide High Performance Computing ( HPC) product line. During this period IBM maintained an unchallenged HPC leadership position, dominating the Top500 listing which measures the 500 most powerful computers in the world as well as the Green500, which measures the most powerful and energy efficient computers worldwide. In June, 2008, IBM announced the world’s first Petaflop supercomputer, which remains to this day the most powerful computer in the world.
In October, 2008, Mr. Suarez took over the worldwide marketing and strategy responsibility for IBM retail store solutions organization, with the mission of maintaining IBM’s dominant position in retail POS, as well as expanding services and solutions in the retail marketplace.
Mr. Suarez holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
Guest Speaker
Jon Stetson
 Monday - May 18, 2009
10:15 am - 10:45 am
"Mastering the Art of the 4-Wall Experience"
Mastering the Art of the 4-Wall Experience is an interactive, experiential-based program designed to provide you with a personal branding strategy that works—powerfully, strategically, and most importantly, simply.
Traditionally, personal branding was reserved for those sales types. But the 4-Wall game has changed, and mastering the art of the 4-Wall experience applies to everyone—the CEO who enters the shareholder’s meeting, the CIO whose role in the organization now requires presentation skills and strategy rollouts, the manager who has just been called in to a team meeting with an upset customer, the trade show staffers who has 30 seconds to enhance the brand…the 4-Wall game has certainly changed. Do you know how to 4-Wall?
Mastering the Art of the 4-Wall Experience will help you discover and show you how to use key 4-Wall strategies—mastering the art of knowing yourself, your environment, and the dynamics that are taking place when you showcase your brand.
Dr. Robert Genetski
ECONOMIST, INVESTOR AND RESEARCHER
 Tuesday - May 19, 2009
8:30 am - 9:10 am
"Economic and Financial Outlook"
Dr. Genetski is a popular speaker who entertains thousands of people at conferences and investor meetings around the world each year. He is one of the nation’s premier interest rate forecasters and investment advisors, providing insights to economic, financial and investment matters through his own consulting firm and at his website.
Dr. Genetski is well known for his research and advocacy of classical economic principles. These principles provide a reliable guide to creating both a healthy economy and profitable investment opportunities. Dr. Genetski has conducted pioneering research into the role of taxes and their impact on economic prosperity. In the early 1980s, he correctly forecast that tax cuts would end the nation’s economic malaise by boosting productivity and helping to reduce both inflation and interest rates. In 1989, Dr. Genetski correctly referred to the Japanese stock market as “a classic case of a speculative bubble waiting to burst.” As a member of Blue Chip forecasters, Dr. Genetski has been commended on his ability to out-forecast the pack. He was listed on two separate occasions as the number one interest rate forecaster in the country, according to Institutional Investor Magazine and Blue Chip Financial Forecasts. During the 1990s he gained a reputation as one of the most optimistic investment advisors in the nation, if not the world, for forecasting rapid growth, low inflation and record-breaking stock prices. During the course of his career Genetski has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for a major Midwest Bank and has headed asset management, investment research, and investment banking operations.
Dr. Genetski has authored several books and numerous articles. He authored Taking the Voodoo Out of Economics, an influential book that anticipated and shaped many of the major policy changes that are now occurring throughout the world. In his latest book, A Nation of Millionaires, Dr. Genetski provides his vision of the changes in government policies that will shape the economic and financial landscape in the 21 st century.
Dr. Genetski earned his Ph.D. in economics from and has taught economics at New York University and at the University of Chicago 's Graduate School of Business. He has served on numerous Boards of Directors and writes a regular column for the Nikkei Financial Daily’s leading business newspaper.
Brian E. Kilcourse
Managing Partner
RSR Research LLC
 Tuesday - May 19, 2009
9:10 am - 9:50 am
"Maintaining Share of Sales in Today's Economic Reality"
Brian Kilcourse, recognized as one of the top retail technology leaders in the United States, is a managing partner at Retail Systems Research LLC (“RSR Research”), a company focused on delivering research, strategies, and knowledge for the extended retail industry.
Formerly President & Chief Executive of Retail Systems Alert Group (RSAG), Brian is a recognized leader in retail technology practices. Brian is a frequent public speaker on subjects ranging from emerging technologies to IT governance and best practices. He also has led training seminars on the subject of "selling IT to retailers." Brian has authored research reports on Multi-Channel Retailing, Supply Chain Collaboration, Customer Data Security, RFID, Business Intelligence, Services Oriented Architectures (SOA), and Software as a Service (SaaS), among other topics.
Previously, Brian was the SVP & CIO at Longs Drug Stores for ten years from 1993 through 2002. One of the top retail CIO 's in the United States during his tenure, Kilcourse was named one of the Premier 100 IT Leaders by Computerworld magazine and by Information Week as leader of the #1 retail IT shop in 2001.
Kilcourse is a member of several technology company advisory boards, including Borland and Azzarello Group. A long time San Francisco Bay Area resident, Brian holds a BA degree in Management from St. Mary’s College of Moraga , CA.
- The Three E's of Retailing: Economy, Efficiency and the Environment
This panel focuses on initiatives retailers are employing today to adjust to the current economic downturn of decreased consumer spending growth. We'll hear from retailers on how the changing economy has impacted their enterprise "efficiency", and learn about some "green" initiatives that can benefit both the environment and your company.
- Panelists:
- Joe Rosolanko, Director, International Store Systems, Toys "R" Us
- Marc L. Windahl, VP of Information Technology, Scheels, Inc.
- Leon Milnes - Technical Sales and Architecture, IBM
- Moderator: Michael Puma, IBM Client IT Architect, IBM
Panel Discussion  Richard Mader, Executive Director ARTS
Wednesday - May 20, 2009
9:30 am - 10:30 am
"Mobile Phones the Next Retail Revolution"
Mobile phones will create the next retail revolution, new services to attract and retain customers and increased sales via new methods of promotion. However, there are challenges to be solved to obtain these benefits, shop anywhere buy on lowest price only, global standards, new payment options and cooperation between all the stakeholders, retailers, mobile network operators, banks and credit card companies. Attend this session to guide your planning and learn how you can help make it happen.
Richard Mader is the Executive Director and a founder of the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Mr. Mader has over 35 years’ experience in retail information management, having served as SVP and CIO for Boscov’s and Bon-Ton Department Stores, Director of Corporate Systems for Federated (Macy’s) Department Stores and Manager of Programming and Operating Systems for McCrory’s.
Mr. Mader is recognized as a leader in Retail Information throughout the world. He has made presentations at Retail and Distribution conferences in the US, South Africa, Europe, UK, and Japan.
- Panelists:
- Richard Mader, Executive Director, ARTS
- Mohammad Khan, President, ViVOtech, Inc.
- Kristian Gjerding, CEO, CellPoint Mobile, Inc.
- John Rohland, AVP, Sales Operations Solutions, BJ's Wholesale Club
Daniel L. Hopping
President and CEO
Next Retail Group
 Wednesday - May 20, 2009
10:45 am - 11:15 am
"The Consumer of 2014"
Many retail store projects being designed and decided upon in 2009 will not be fully implemented until 2014. These projects will, in some way, impact the consumer – retailer relationship. Most consumers will have significantly changed their lifestyle and buying behavior in the five years leading up to 2014. This discussion will share with you a vision of the changing consumer based on research projects on paleoconsumer evolution and an examination of the rate of change in consumer buying behavior. We will try to put realistic predictions on how much the consumer will change and in what direction. We will then provide recommendations for retail planning.
Daniel Hopping is a global technology futurist, author, inventor, consultant and speaker. He has worked with hundreds of retail companies and has been involved with dozen of retail “store of the future” projects in almost every segment of Retail. His company, Next Retail Group, works with retailers to keep them abreast of the latest technologies and how their utilization of technology affects the enterprise’s competitiveness. The consumer is now changing faster than retailers can change their systems, making planning for change a critical function. |
