Fashion and Retail Studies Speaker Series
"Retailing Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond"

If you have any questions about the Fashion and Retail Studies Speaker Series, please contact Alexandra Suer.

2021-2024 FRS Speaker Series included talks from:

Spring 2024

Panelists from the Women of Color Retail Alliance X FRS Industry Board:

“Navigating the Future”

  • Shelly Miller - Associate VP HR at Knitwell brands
  • Jessica Theis - University and Community Engagement at Express
  • Aaron Hawk - Manager Early Career programs at Bath and Body Works

Autumn 2023

Panelist from the CFA: “Made in the MidWest”

  • Ariana Lindenfelser: Creator / Curator / Director
  • Esther Sands: Fashion Designers / Dancer / Cosplayer
  • Maurice Whittaker: Designer / Fashion Instructor
  • Ashley White “The Power of Being YOU with US” – VP of Diversity & Inclusion, Big Lots Stores 

Spring 2023

  • Kim Harr “Drilling Down on Sustainability at A&F” - VP of Global Sustainability at A&F
  • Damon Mosley “Addressing the Images of Black Men in the Media” – Writer, Producer, Publisher

Fall 2022

Yohannan Terrell // Executive Director of the Columbus Fashion Alliance

Panelists

  • Dr. Tasha Lewis // Associate Professor – Clinical EHE OSU 
  • Dr. Cydni Robertson // Post Doctoral Fellow - EHE OSU
  • Dr. V. Ann Paulins // Associate Professor – Clinical EHE OSU

Spring 2022

Gabe Rodriguez// Co-owner of Soul Happy Boutique

Panelists

  • Monica Sklar // Ph.D. Design-History & Culture emphasis, University of Minnesota
  • Marlise Schoeny // History Curator at The Ohio History Connection 

Fall 2021

Sami & Scott Bossert // Owners P’Tula Active

  • Jennifer Peterson // Chief Executive, Easton at Steiner + Associates, Inc.

Spring 2021 

Kareem Gahed // CEO John Hardy

Panelists

  • Steve Light // President at Accel Inc 
  • Rachel Williamson // Chief Strategic Retail Advisor at Running Great Stores 
  • Joe Baer // CEO at ZenGenius
  • Electa Varnish // SVP wholesale/entrepreneur
  • Chris Bailey // VP-DMM Toys, Gifts & Electronics Burlington and OSU Alum

Past Speakers

  • Harris Levinson, Executive Producer, Emoticon Productions and Pull Aside Productions, "2020 and beyond: Video is in fashion"

  • Lisa Edheimer, VP Design and Merchandising, Nautica, Watch Lisa's talk

  • Jonathan Mugler, Chief Marketing Officer, Justice

  • Yaromir Steiner, Founder/CEO, Steiner and Associates, Watch Yaromir's talk

  • Leigh Helsel, Chief Client Officer, Accel, "Taking the Fashion Out of Retail"

  • Jim Hilt, EVP/Chief Customer Experience Officer, EXPRESS Watch video

  • Joe Baer, CEO/Creative Director/Co-founder, ZenGenius, Inc., "There's a ZenGenius in All of Us"

  • Todd Bernstein, President, Original Penguin, "Work smarter, not harder"

  • Roger Rawlins, CEO, DSW, DSW's Brand Revitalization Story: Inspiring Self-Expression

  • David Hirsh, President, Atrium Buying Corp., "Designed to Fit"

  • Lisa Baldzicki, VP-Global Product Design and Merchandising, The Walt Disney Company, "Tales of Magic"

  • Jamie Dulick, President, Jake Sales Inc., "Entrepreneurship in a Corporate World"

  • Ronald L. Schuller, EVP, FST Logistics, Inc., "Transforming Brands: It's More Exciting than Watching Paint Dry!"

  • Linda Heasley, President/CEO, Lane Bryant, "How Lane Bryant is Changing the Conversation"

  • Seth Schwinger, President, Mark Tucker, Inc., "It's Not Just About the Shoes"

  • Diane Ellis, CEO, The Limited, "Gladiators, Scandal and Branding."

  • Cindy Monroe, Founder, President/CEO, Thirty-One Gifts - "Thirty-One Gifts"

  • Uri Minkofff, CEO/Co-founder, Rebecca Minkoff - "Disrupting the Retail World"

  • David Campisi, Big Lots, Inc. - "Big Changes for Big Lots"

  • Ronnie Robinson, Ascena Global Sourcing - "Evolution of Apparel Sourcing & What the Future Holds"

  • Cheryl Krueger, Cheryl & Co. - "An Entrepreneur's Road to Success"

  • Nick Coe, Bath & Body Works, Co.

  • Kristy Eckert, Capital Style - "The Making of a Magazine: A Peek Behind the Scenes"

  • Edward G. Razek, Limited Brands

  • Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's

  • Laurie Dowley, Elizabeth Arden - "The Beauty Industry: An Inside Story"

  • Christina Getachew, Substance - "Sustainable Fashion: A Retailer's Perspective"

  • Michelle Honer, Lady M, Ltd. - "Planning a Career for Life"

  • Dan Clifford, Victoria's Secret - "Marketing"

  • Brian Giles, Kohl's - "Successful Retailing"

  • Stephanie Leader, Leaderpromos.com - "Promotional Product Solutions"

  • Shannon Keene, Von Maur - "The Inside Story"

  • Dr. Connie DeJong, Global Gallery - "The Ins & Outs of Fair Trade, Local & Global"

  • Stu Nifoussi, MR Magazine & MRketplace.com - "Jobs in Fashion Design, Merchandising, Business and Publishing: What Are They and Where Can You Find Them?"

  • Richard Zielinski, Lane Bryant - "Technical Design and Product Lifecycle Management"

  • Shannon McBurney, Tween Brands - "Product Development"

  • Nita Rollins, Resource Interactive - "New Style: Fashion's Digital Trends and Turning Points"

  • Wendy Goldstein, Costume Specialists Inc. - "Specialty Companies"

  • Jamie Schisler and Danielle Miller, Express - "White Space - See it, Size it, Seize it!"

  • Suzi West, Owner of Collier West - "Passion and the 6 P's of Successful Retailing"

  • Sally Boyer, Justice - "Inside Look Into Specialty Retailing"

  • Rick Ruppert, Sunrise Beauty Studio - "Global Sourcing and the Impact on Retail Strategy"

  • Tara Abraham, Accel, Inc. - "Contract Packaging: Careers that Bring Concepts to Life!"

  • Brian Giles, Kohl's - "Careers in Retail Stores"

  • Lisa Stein, Revolutions, Inc. - "E-Tailing – The Future of Retail"

  • Sue Schilling, Accent on Image - "Specialty Retailing"

Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities will be administered in compliance with the law as of June 27, 2025.