Founding & Presenting Sponsor:
The Top Women in Convenience program celebrates its 10th anniversary as another 86 female leaders are welcomed into the fold
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
Chain Store Age is proud to unveil the 2025 honorees of CSA Retail’s Top Women awards. The annual program highlights the crucial role women play in key areas of retail operations, celebrating individuals across all sectors of the retail industry.
The 2025 CSA Retail's Top Women are:
Barbie Cameron
Tianne Doyle
Emily Taylor
TECHNOLOGY
Global VP, Omnichannel & Digital In-store Excellence
Sephora
Samantha Abrams
CIO
Leslie’s Pool Supplies
Maryann Byrdak
CTO
Sweetgreen
Wouleta Ayele
SVP of Digital Technology, Experience & Insights
Crocs Inc.
Feliz Papich
Chief Digital Officer
The Save Mart Companies
Tamara Pattison
Senior VP of Shopper Experience
Albertsons Companies
Jill Pavlovich
Chief Digital Officer, Edible Brands and General Manager
Edible.com
Erica Randerson
CIO
J.Crew Group
Danielle Schmelkin
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In her eight-year career at Sephora, Samantha Abrams has held multiple roles across areas that include retail operations, store experience, retail technology and omnichannel experience. During her time at the beauty giant, she has worked to cultivate a strong and supportive environment, positively impacting her colleagues and the overall workplace culture.
In her current role, Abrams counts among her proudest achievements the North American launch of Sephora’s AI-powered skincare diagnostics solution, which uses AI to recommend products based on individual skin concerns and goals. . She is now steering its rollout across the globe.
Abrams advises other women looking to enter the retail technology field to pay close attention to feedback from frontline employees who regularly engage with shoppers and day-to-day enterprise operations.
“Listen to your store associates, she says. “Innovation will start with their pain points and expertise.”
Wouleta Ayele has worked on digital transformation throughout her career, at companies that include Starbucks and Coca-Cola and now at Sweetgreen. In every position, her focus has been on using technology to improve the customer experience while also making operations more efficient.
At the heart of Ayele’s current role role is the cultivation of high-performing teams who align technology with Sweetgreen’s strategic goals, ensuring every innovation drives meaningful growth and advances the mission of the fast-casual chain. Sweetgreen was among the first restaurant brands to build its own app and Ayele is overseeing the embedding of innovation into every aspect of the business, elevating the customer experience, empowering associates and streamlining store operations.
Ayele’s advice to other women in technology is to always lead with curiosity and remain a lifelong learner.
“Know the details deeply enough to effectively guide decisions and focus on solving the right problems, but trust your team's expertise and empower them as you move forward together,” she advises. “Exceptional leadership means elevating others and building a culture where everyone learns, grows, and succeeds together.”
As CIO of largest direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, Maryann Byrdak leads the company’s technology vision, digital roadmap and enterprise systems strategy. She brings more than 25 years of expertise leading technology strategy, digital transformation, operations excellence, analytics and enterprise system deployments across the retail, restaurant and nonprofit sectors to her role.
Currently, Byrdak is spearheading Leslie’s enterprise-wide transformation — modernizing the tech stack, accelerating cloud migration, deploying optimized inventory and customer loyalty solutions, and aligning the technology portfolio with the company’s strategic goals.
Her rise in a male-dominated industry has made Byrdak a champion for gender equity in the tech workforce. In the early years of her career, she was often the only woman in the room.
“Don’t wait for someone to hand you a seat at the table — bring your own chair,” she recommends. “Own your voice, sharpen your technical skills, and understand the business When women lead in tech, they bring systems-level thinking, empathy, and grit—and the entire organization wins.”
Feliz Papich oversees a broad range of digital functions at Crocs Inc. —including digital development, engineering, operations, project and product management, quality assurance, user and customer experience, and analytics. Her team is responsible for the end-to-end digital customer journey across Crocs’ websites, marketplace platforms and marketing tech stack. It’s a highly cross-functional role, with Papich focused on driving innovation, improving performance, and making data-driven decisions that directly impact business outcomes and customer satisfaction.
One of the biggest milestones in Papich’s career at Crocs has been modernizing the company’ tech stack to be more flexible and modular so it can innovate faster and respond to changing consumer expectations in real time. Under her leadership, the company has also made significant strides in elevating the digital customer experience — whether through enhanced personalization, improved search and discovery or optimizing its mobile and app platforms.
Papich believes women just starting their careers in retail technology should be curious and never stop learning.
“You can learn something from everyone around you,” she says, “so listen, ask questions and seek out feedback."
Tamara Pattison oversees all aspects of digital information and technologies for The Save Mart Companies’ three distinct store banners: Save Mart, Lucky California and FoodMaxx. Her key areas of focus include home delivery and curbside pickup with partners such as Amazon and Instacart, driving consumer engagement through Save Mart’s membership program and business intelligence, analytics and reporting. She has developed initiatives to expand opportunities for the company with emerging digital technologies and e-commerce strategies, enabling future growth in alignment with Save Mart’s strategic objectives. Her many initiatives include developing the company’s retail media network.
Pattison’s key areas of focus include home delivery and curbside pickup with various partners including Amazon and Instacart, driving consumer engagement through Save Mart’s membership program, business intelligence, analytics and reporting, and consumer research and insights.
She advises other women starting careers in retail technology to avoid second-guessing and being willing to learn from their mistakes as well as their successes.
“As long as you put in the effort, you will always find something useful comes out of it, Leadership is a journey, not a title. It’s about showing up with purpose, uplifting others, and creating momentum."
A seasoned digital leader, Jill Pavlovich is responsible for the digital product strategy and management of Albertsons’ mobile app and website. She oversees a large team responsible for a multi-billion-dollar e-commerce grocery business and serves as the strategic leader, setting a multi-year product vision aimed at transforming Albertsons from a 'local grocer' to an omnichannel retailer and service provider.
Under her leadership, Albertsons has yielded digital growth consistently above 20% year-over-year. She also initiated a transformative mindset shift within Albertsons, steering the company toward a 'connected experience' strategy that revolutionizes how both digital and in-person consumers perceive their local grocer.
“Through digital tools we make it easy for customers to plan, shop, save and manage their well-being,” says Pavlovich. “When we make it easier for our customers, we take the chore out of grocery shopping and give them more time to enjoy food with family and friends.”
She advises women entering retail technology to develop a deep obsession for the customer/end user, which will lead to building better experiences and technology, and pave the way for a better workplace, leadership and customer outcomes.
Erica Randerson is leading Edible Brands’ (formerly Edible Arrangements) digital transformation, overseeing site and app experience, e-commerce strategy, digital product innovation and data insights. This includes web and mobile platforms, digital product development and customer data, as well as working closely with marketing, product and operations leaders to align digital transformation with broader brand goals.
One of Randerson’s most rewarding achievements has been leading the overhaul of Edible’s digital experience. Under her guidance, the company modernized its online presence, streamlined checkout flows and enhanced personalization across the site, all of which helped drive growth in conversion and retention. She also spearheaded growth in Edible’s third-party delivery program, which has become an important customer acquisition tool and will soon span five channels.
Women starting careers in technology should seek out people who will both challenge and advocate for them, says Randerson. She also advises that women in tech determine what motivates them and the impact they want to make to serve as a career foundation.
“Most importantly, give yourself grace,” Randerson says. “You don’t need to have all the answers right away—curiosity, resilience and the right support system will take you far.”
With a career that includes roles at Andersen Consulting, Barnes & Noble, Coach and Kate Spade, Danielle Schmelkin joined J.Crew Group to guide its Madewell banner before taking the role as company CIO to reinvent technology across all its brands.
As CIO of J.Crew Group, Danielle oversees all things technology — from websites and the technology that runs its stores and distribution centers to less visible, but equally important solutions such as cybersecurity, workforce management and Wi-Fi networks.
During the past year, Schmelkin managed the migration of all J.Crew brand sites to a headless cloud stack, trimming page-load time, increasing checkout-completion, and unlocking new capabilities. Among other achievements, she also spearheaded the development of an AI-powered search experience that doubled search engagement.
Schmelkin advises young women entering the technology field to say yes to anything that seems even the tiniest bit interesting.
“Cultivate a “we will figure it out” mindset — problems are invitations, not roadblocks,” she says, while also recommending that young women build a “personal board of directors” who cheer, critique and open doors, while still realizing they need to own and manage their careers.
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Manager, Workforce Management & Task Solutions
Rack Room Shoes
Hannah Simpson
Director of Loyalty
Weigel’s Inc.
Jessica Starnes
• Serving as the senior vice president of asset development, Bridges’ vision has transformed the asset development program by solidifying the network planning strategy, evolving the new store development process, establishing the property management group, and transforming the way Murphy USA approaches maintenance.
• She has led several strategic initiatives at Murphy USA, including maintenance transformation and the creation of the Maintenance Response Team, the reorganization of asset development, the expansion of new store growth strategies to a larger pipeline, and the introduction of network planning to store investment decisions.
• As a leader of the company’s capital allocation campaign in 2022, Bridges drove the strategy around portfolio growth and investment, as well as helped the organization understand the trade-offs with alternative capital investments.
Hannah Simpson’s responsibilities at Rack Room Shoes include managing the overall health, development, and optimization of the company’s WFM and TASK solutions, partnering with department heads, subject matter experts and end users to ensure both applications are meeting the needs of the business .She also assists with implementation plans and rollouts of all store technology, troubleshooting of production issues that impact Rack Room stores, and advising on store operations applications and projects.
Simpson is most proud of advocating for solutions that allow Rack Room store employees to work more efficiently, including several new mobile solutions that have enabled associates to work more efficiently on the sales floor, allowing them to be more visible and available to customers. To women just starting a career in technology, Simpson says that it’s easy to be intimidated where you are the newbie.
“But if you’re doing your homework and you’re putting yourself in a position to learn and become knowledgeable about the subject matter, there’s no reason to be intimidated,” she adds. “Be confident in the skills you have, listen, learn, contribute, and the rest will take care of itself.
As director of loyalty at Weigel’s, Jessica Starnes she leads one of the most successful convenience-store retail rewards programs in the country. Under her leadership, the chain has achieved record-breaking loyalty penetration and built high-impact programs such as “100 Days of Summer” and exclusive name, image and likeness partnerships that emotionally connect with customers.
From acquisition to retention, Starnes’ strategy is rooted in making every interaction meaningful, translating into stronger brand loyalty and increased customer frequency. Her cross-functional approach ensures loyalty touches every part of the business, from merchandising to marketing to operations. A trusted voice in the industry, she continues to set the standard for customer-first innovation while building scalable platforms that drive long-term growth.
She urges women starting careers in technology to be curious.
“Ask all the questions no matter who is in the room, do the research and elevate yourself to expert status,” she advises.
MARKETING
Chief Marketing Officer
Journeys Group
Stacy Doren
Stacy Doren spent the first five years of her career at Quaker Oats in the demand and supply planning segment. It was a highly structured, number-crunching segment that lacked creativity she craved. After joining Levi Strauss & Co. in 1999 as senior manager for content and marketing, her career took off. She spent 25 years at Levi’s in variety of roles with increasing responsibility.
Doren moved across the country in August 2024 when she joined Journeys, part of footwear giant Genesco. Responsible for executing new marketing strategies, her efforts are contributing to back-to-back quarters of double-digit growth. She looks forward to accelerating the growth with the launch of a new brand platform later this year.
Taking risks is important to Doren — and she encourages other female professionals to do the same. “No one wins by playing it safe,” she says. “Use your voice and don’t afraid to take the assignments that may seem undesirable. You will learn and grow as a marketer faster as you will have more permission to lead.”
Senior VP, Marketing
Bealls Inc
Leana Less
Chief Marketing Officer
Smoothie King
Claudia Schaefer
With 30 years of marketing experience that includes leadership roles at Chico’s FAS and Estée Lauder Companies, Leana Less is now putting her expertise to good use at Bealls Inc., where she leads marketing, e-commerce and guest strategy.
Less, who joined Bealls in June 2024, had a busy first year, leading the creative transformation and elevation of all brands within the off-price retailer’s portfolio. She also designed and implemented a new ecosystem of technology and agency partners to unlock marketing efficiencies. Other achievements including launching Bealls’ 110th year anniversary campaign, which delivered record guest activations. She also gamified the company’s loyalty program through the launch of Bealls “ambassadors.”
Less advises younger professionals to build a team that is not only a functional partner, but a cross-functional partner as well. “Retail is a team sport, she says. “Also, if you are not learning every day, something is wrong. You also need to make time to celebrate the moments.”
Over the span of her almost 25-year career, Claudia Schaefer has developed expertise in brand-building and strategic marketing, serving in leadership roles at multiple QSR and CDR brands. Currently, she oversees all marketing efforts for Smoothie King, where her primary focus is to further define the fast-growing brand’s purpose and positioning by leveraging consumer insights to ultimately drive traffic and accelerate sales growth.
Schaefer counts her ability to identify and cultivate talent as one of her strengths. Many of her hires share her deep passion for brand storytelling and creating meaningful guest experiences. “There’s something incredibly rewarding about not only delivering strong business results, but doing so with a team that’s committed, collaborative and inspired,” she says.
Schaefer suggests that anyone starting out in marketing work to discover their unique “superpower” — and lean into it unapologetically.
“Marketing is a dynamic field that rewards curiosity, resilience and clarity of purpose,” she says. “The sooner you understand the impact you can uniquely make, the more empowered you’ll be to chart a fulfilling career path—one that isn’t just about following trends but about setting them.”
SUPPLY CHAIN
COO
Country Supplier
Mandi Dyer
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Ahold Delhaize USA Distribution
Sanja Krajnovic
From cashier to the C-suite, Mandi Dyer has worked in multiple capacities across more than two decades during her career at Country Supplier, giving her a deep understanding of both the day-to-day dynamics and the larger strategic needs of the business.
In her current role, Dyer oversees Country Supplier’s operations, purchasing, logistics and data analytics teams. She provides leadership and support for all 55 locations across six states, working closely with store teams to ensure they are meeting both business goals and customer needs.
Some of Dyer’s most noteworthy accomplishments include rolling out an AI-powered robotics solution at all stores, which has helped Country Supplier prioritize product reliability and pricing accuracy on the shelf. She also oversaw implementation of a new communication tool which centralizes operational tasks and consolidates multiple software solutions into a single source.
Her advice for women launching technology careers is to ask questions, and then ask follow-up questions to those questions until you understand the process from a 360-degree view.
“Understand the impact the process has on all departments,” Dyer says. “Also, don’t be afraid to start at the bottom and work your way up. You will be so much more impactful in your future roles as a result.”
As chief supply chain officer of Ahold Delhaize USA Distribution, Sanja Krajnovic leads one of the largest supply chains on the East Coast, overseeing a network of more than 20 distribution centers and a vast transportation fleet. Previously, she served as senior VP of store operations at Dollar General. Before that, Krajnovic spent 25 years at Target Corp., where she held various leadership roles across retail operations, food strategy, logistics and global supply chain.
Krajnovic is especially proud of the progress Ahold Delhaize USA Distribution and Transportation has made in advancing a self-distribution model and enhancing its operational performance. Under her leadership, the company has driven significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and retention, and strengthened its people-first, team-driven culture.
Krajnovic wants young women considering a career in supply chain to know that it is a dynamic field full of opportunity.
“Don’t hesitate to ask questions, embrace challenges and pursue roles that push you beyond your comfort zone,” she says. “A broad perspective and diverse experiences not only fuel personal and professional growth, but also help you build meaningful connections that can elevate your career and enhance your impact within your organization.
Building on her strong track record, 37-year Macy’s veteran Barbie Cameron was promoted to chief stores officer of the company in February 2025. In the role, she leads the stores organization, which includes Macy’s store locations, field support, operations, staffing and customer experience, and asset protection.
Cameron is also spearheading initiatives to modernize Macy’s, improve the shopping environment and elevate the customer and colleague experience, all part of the company’s “Bold New Chapter” strategy. She has a deep appreciation for the “colleagues that work in our stores.” They are passionate about the customer experience, she says, “and how we can continue to elevate the experience.”
Women who are beginning careers in corporate retail should set goals and check in on their progress, Cameron says. She also advises asking for feedback — being open to both positive and challenging input — and finding mentions that will challenge “your way of thinking, support you in your success and challenge and give you advice.”
“Also, stay curious,” she recommends. “Read everything that you can about the business in order to get different points of view.”
Barbie Cameron
Chief Stores Officer
Macy’s
Tianne Doyle
President
Bealls Inc.
A 25-plus-year Dollar General veteran, Emily Taylor currently leads the discount giant’s merchandising, marketing, global sourcing, digital, customer insights, channel innovation and in-store experience efforts at more than 20,000 stores across 48 states. Joining the chain in 1998, she went on to roles of increasing responsibility across the organization before becoming CMO in 2020.
The impact of Taylor’s work in merchandising extends beyond the product mix, helping Dollar General deliver an enhanced shopping experience and improving operational efficiency to benefit the people who staff the stores and bolster the bottom line.
One of Taylor’s proudest accomplishments is simplifying the store experience for associates and customers. Her team successfully eliminated 1,000 SKUs network-wide in 2024 and drove an inventory reduction of 6.9% on a per-store basis. She and her team have also spearheaded the expansion of DG’s in-store fresh produce.
Taylor’s advice to others seeking a retail career is to actively seek experiences outside of their comfort zone by exploring different areas in the company. “[My] experiences in investor relations, finance, and merchandising planning not only challenged me, but also provided a holistic understanding of the business that has proved to be invaluable in my role as CMO,” she says.
Emily Taylor
Executive VP, Chief Merchandising Officer
Dollar General
PRODUCED BY
The first woman to serve as president of Bealls Inc., Tianne Doyle joined the off-price retailer in 1991, and went on to hold numerous leadership positions across the company. Promoted to president in 2023, she is responsible for retail operations including mmerchandising, planning, product development, operations and logistics.
Among her biggest achievements: building and developing a high performing team grounded in shared values, and prioritizing culture and collaboration over personal gain. Doyle also successfully led the implementation of several innovative systems and processes that helped transform Bealls’ operations and positioned the business for scalable growth.
Doyle’s best career development advice: Be open to constantly learning.
“Prioritize curiosity and learning over titles,” she says. “It is not how much you know, but how much you are able to learn that will lead to a fulfilling career.”
FINANCE
VP, Accounting
Ulta Beauty
Susan Chason
Throughout a 20-plus-year career in corporate accounting and finance, Susan Chason has focused on leading high-performing teams, driving transformation and aligning financial operations with strategic business goals. At Ulta, she leads a team of over 50 professionals across general accounting, financial reporting, lease accounting, fixed assets, project accounting, accounts payable, consolidations and systems management.
Among her recent accomplishments, Chason led the Ulta accounting organization through a multi-year transformation from a legacy platform to a modern enterprise resource planning system. She played an integral role from system design to full implementation — while maintaining business continuity throughout. The initiative significantly elevated Ulta’s accounting capabilities, improving accuracy, streamlining key processes, and enhancing financial visibility and control across the enterprise.
Chason believes that women looking to build a career in finance should focus on building strong relationships in addition to sharpening technical skills. Also, mentors and sponsors, she says, can make a tremendous difference in career trajectory.
“Stay curious and open to change—finance is an evolving field, and adaptability is key,” Chason adds. “And as you grow, make it a priority to support and uplift others, especially women and underrepresented voices. Creating a more inclusive and collaborative environment benefits everyone.”
STORE DEVELOPMENT & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
VP, Facilities, Energy and Store Development
Rite Aid
Catherine Barnes
Director of Construction
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Heather Lindsay
Director, Facilities & Equipment Maintenance
Schnuck Markets
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Nancy Meyers
Senior Director, Store Facilities Management
Dollar General
April Crofford
Global Real Estate Director
Nike
Juliana Gois
Facilities Manager, North America Retail
MillerKnoll
Nicole Price
Senior Design Manager
Heartland Dental
Megan Schimmel-
pfenning
Senior Director of Electric Vehicles & Utilities
7-Eleven
Ann Scott
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Director, Store Design & Planning
Schnuck Markets
Amy Ward
Catherine Barnes began her career in interior design, but always had a passion for facilities and development, which she parlayed into a 25-year career that spans real estate, property management, facilities, construction and store development.
”Having a seat at the C-suite table is rare in the facilities and development world, so being able to execute changes at this level has been an accomplishment during my eight years here [at RiteAid],” she says.
Barnes advised other female professionals to surround themselves with smart people and learn as much as possible.
“For each role you are in, learn a new skillset to expand personally,” she adds. “Excel in your position while thinking about your next role. Build a resume of knowledge and skills — not just a resume of what locations you worked at.”
April Crofford leads a team of approximately 125 individuals dedicated to executing Dollar General’s facilities programs across more than 20,000 stores nationwide. Her efforts have earned numerous internal recognitions including the company’s prestigious “Circle of Excellence” award.
Prior to joining the discount giant in 2016, she spent approximately nine years at Sam’s Club, supporting outside sales, membership retention, growth and in-club experiences.
Crofford encourages other female professionals entering the field to focus on leadership and strategy — and be tenacious.
Heather Lindsay joined Academy Sports in 1996 as a store associate. Over her 28 year-tenure with the company, she has moved up the corporate ladder taking on various leadership roles across construction.
In her current role, Lindsay leads the company’s new store and remodel cconstruction teams.
Her advice to women in the field: “If you're passionate about a career in construction, don't let anything hold you back. And don't be afraid to ask questions and educate yourself.”
Nancy Meyers’ career at Schnuck Markets began 49 years ago as a clerk typist in the grocer’s facilities department. From there, she continued to take on roles of increasing responsibility.
In her current role as director of facilities and equipment maintenance, she manages a team that oversees all facilities, equipment, refrigeration, HVAC and energy management operations for Schnuck’s 114 stores.
Female facilities management professionals must be confident in their abilities, strong enough to pursue the possibility and believe in themselves, counsels Meyers.
“You don’t need to know it all,” she adds. “Ask the experts, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, just show up and dedicate yourself.”
Juliana Gois started her career as an architect and, as her career progressed, her interests moved into construction and real estate development.
After joining Nike in 2020 as a retail construction manager, Gois was named senior store construction manager a year later, leading a 100-plus store construction program across multiple store concepts in North America. She was appointed Nike’s global real estate director in August.
For Gois, the key to being a successful leader requires learning how to collaborate with others.
“Cultivating strong partnerships and communicating with purpose will reaffirm your leadership and confidence in yourself — and create great results,”she says.
Nicole Price’s almost 20-year career at MillerKnoll spans various roles and expertise across facilities management, budgeting and leading store development initiatives.
One of her proudest achievements: opening communication and fostering collaboration with internal stakeholders — a move that enables Price to successfully execute capital reinvestments and store development projects companywide.
She encourages female professionals to stay curious and always be open to learning.
“This industry never stops evolving, so it is important to build strong relationships with your team, vendors and especially your peers,” Price says. . They all will be essential to your success,” she said. “The path will not always be straightforward — every experience contributes to your growth.”
One of the first females to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in electrical engineering, Ann Scott has led soldiers in multiple countries, been a project manager at a major Dallas/Fort Worth-based design firm and spearheaded The Army & Air Force Exchange’s sustainability, real estate planning and new and existing construction activities in North America, Europe and Asia.
Scott takes pride in being one of the senior leaders on 7-Eleven’s construction, engineering, energy and facilities team. She leads the company’s EV charging and utilities team which manages operations across more than 12,000 stores in the United States and Canada.
Her 11-year tenure at 7-Eleven has been dedicated to improving and executing the company’s energy strategy. She includes as one of her accomplishments “growing the company’s EV business from the corner of my desk to a fully operating business.”
Amy Ward joined Schnuck Markets in 2016 as a project manager of facilities design — a year later she became manager store design and planning.
In her current role, she leads a team of designers whom she credits as being instrumental in helping her build, establish and refine corporate standards for decor, store and fixture design, prototypes and design specifications companywide.
Ward describes herself a strategic and creative leader who isn’t afraid to lean on her business relationships.
“Building strong, collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary teams is the key to breaking down silos and bringing ideas from the bottom up,” she says. “It drives innovation, and highlights challenges and opportunities from different angles.”
Megan Schimmelpfenning oversees the design team at Heartland Dental and manages the company’s portfolio of new build projects from the design phase through permit completion.
During her nearly five-year tenure at Heartland, Schimmelpfenning counts as one of her biggest accomplishments the management and opening of a group of second-generation conversion projects, which became the blueprint for future second-generation process improvements.
Schimmelpfenning reminds female professionals that it is okay to not know all of the answers.
“It is more important to ask questions and bring the right people to the table,” she explains. “Remember to find beauty in the process and never lose sight of doing the right things for the right reasons.”
Founding & Presenting Sponsor:
Chief Marketing Officer
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Erin Walter
Erin Walter brings more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant franchising industry to her current role as CMO of one of the nation’s fastest-growing fast-casual brands.
Walter oversees all aspects of Freddy’s marketing initiatives, including strategy, creative, media and digital. She is also responsible for product development & menu innovation, communications, grand opening and local store marketing programs as well as digital guest hospitality.
She describes her career as a journey fueled by continuous learning and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
“From a start-up to leading a major brand's marketing team, each step has been a building block in my professional growth,” she says. “I am grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and experiences that have shaped my path.”
Walter counnts leading her team of “rockstar marketers” as her proudest achievement to date.
“Together, we strive to push boundaries, captivate audiences, and drive the brand's success to new heights,” she says.
Chief Stores Officer
Macy’s
Barbie Cameron
President Bealls Inc.
Tianne Doyle
Executive VP, Chief Merchandising Officer Dollar General
Emily Taylor
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
Barbie Cameron
Chief Stores Officer
Macy’s
Barbie Cameron
President Bealls Inc.
Tianne Doyle
Executive VP, Chief Marketing Officer Dollar General
Emily Taylor
Tianne Doyle
Emily Taylor