Modern Retail Marketing Summit
BOOK PASSES

    Modern Retail Marketing Summit

    Huntington Beach, CA
    Apr 20–22, 2026
    BOOK PASSES

    Vital connections for an industry in flux

    Marketers don’t have crystal balls. But some days, it sure feels like they are expected to, as they are tasked with figuring out how to adapt to an ever-changing marketing landscape.

    New technological shifts like AI are forcing marketers to move faster, while figuring out to get their brand surfaced in more Gemini or ChatGPT results. Third-party data signals are becoming less reliable, meaning brands have to get smarter about first-party or even zero-party data collection.

    On the consumer side – shoppers are taking longer to buy, doing more research to ensure they get the best value and increasingly demanding a shopping experience that feels personalized and authentic.

    All this while CACs are climbing, budgets are shifting, the best practices for each channel are changing and every dollar needs to work harder.

    The Modern Retail Marketing Summit equips you with the knowledge, strategies and connections you need to navigate this new marketing landscape through fireside chat discussions. And our signature Challenge Board and Working Groups enable the sharing of pain points as well as solutions to overcome them that you can take back to your colleagues who aren’t lucky enough to attend.

    Brand and retail executives face a marketing landscape that is changing more quickly than ever before. Attendees will come away with practical tips on how to ensure they’re building a modern, fast-moving and tech-first marketing operation.

    Interested in who’s attending? Request a sample list.

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    Speakers

    • Mary Beech
      Chief Growth Officer
      Thorne
    • Cathrin Bowtell
      Chief Executive Officer
      Seed Health
    • Kristen Brophy
      SVP, Head of Marketing
      ThredUp
    • Richard Cox
      Chief Merchandising Officer
      Pacsun
    • Brian Gulotta
      VP OF SALES
      OMAKASE AI
    • Sara Holman
      Chief Commercial Officer
      Bobbie
    • Aaron Jones
      Chief Digital Officer
      Liquid I.V.
    • Lindsey Kling
      SVP Brand Marketing, Partnerships + Business Development
      Coterie
    • Ross Kramer
      CEO
      Listrak
    • Cyntia Leo
      Head of Brand Marketing, Brand Comms & PR
      Urban Outfitters
    • Renee Lopes-Halvorsen
      Chief Marketing Officer
      Marine Layer
    • Paul Norris
      SENIOR DIRECTOR, ORGANIC
      Journey Further
    • Jessica Padula
      VP, Marketing & Head of Sustainability
      Nespresso USA
    • Amina Pasha
      Chief Marketing Officer
      Thrive Market
    • Lauren Sherman
      Chief Marketing Officer
      Ruggable
    • Nilofer Vahora
      Chief Marketing Officer
      Amika Beauty
    • Catherine Walstad
      CHIEF MEDIA OFFICER
      MARKETING ARCHITECTS

    Agenda

    Apr. 20

    • 1:30 pm
      Registration opens
      Huntington Foyer South

      Registration opens and our team will be ready to greet you. Please stop by to check in and grab your badge.

    • 2:00 pm
      Opening remarks
      Huntington Ballroom

      Jill Manoff

      EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

      GLOSSY & MODERN RETAIL

    • 2:10 pm
      How amika has built an earned-first growth engine
      Huntington Ballroom

      For hair care brand amika, word-of-mouth has been critical to scaling its brand. In this session, you’ll hear from Nilofer Vahora, CMO of amika who will talk about the tactics that have worked to drive word-of-mouth and build organic community momentum through professional stylists, creator advocacy and cultural moments that drive disproportionate impact without overreliance on paid media.

      Nilofer Vahora

      Chief Marketing Officer

      Amika Beauty

      Moderator
      Jill Manoff
    • 2:30 pm
      Brand as the new algorithm
      Huntington Ballroom

      As algorithms fragment and AI reshapes discovery, brands can no longer “hack” their way to durable growth. In this session, you will hear from Amina Pasha, chief marketing officer at Thrive Market, who will discuss why trust — not tactics — has become the most reliable algorithm, and how leading brands operationalize credibility, transparency, and consistency to drive acquisition, retention, and long-term relevance.

      Amina Pasha

      Chief Marketing Officer

      Thrive Market

      Moderator
      Anna Hensel
    • 2:50 pm
      The Revenue You Can’t See: How Unified Data Changes Your P&L
      Huntington Ballroom

      Lots of people talk about the importance of unifying owned channel data. Few understand how unified data ties to the P&L. In this session, you’ll see how retailers that connect their email, SMS, and app data are closing revenue leakage and eliminating wasteful spend. You’ll hear how one retailer proved that splitting email and SMS across vendors was costing them nearly $500K a year in missed triggered revenue, and how another discovered a 400% lift in attribution simply by connecting store order data to their messaging platform. Walk away with a framework for connecting your owned channel data to outcomes your CFO cares about.

      Ross Kramer

      CEO

      Listrak

    • 3:05 pm
      Beyond the brand team: How Nespresso’s marketing leaders are tearing down silos
      Huntington Ballroom

      At Nespresso, marketing encompasses much more than brand campaigns. It also includes making cohesive connections across a customer journey that spans retail partners, DTC, subscriptions and digital platforms. In this session, Jessica Padula breaks down how the role of marketing is expanding into brand stewardship, internal alignment and even operational accountability. She’ll share ways that Nespresso is balancing marketing’s channel-specific needs with stakeholders across the entire organization.

      Jessica Padula

      VP, Marketing & Head of Sustainability

      Nespresso USA

      Moderator
      Melissa Daniels
    • 3:25 pm
      Modern customer acquisition strategies
      Huntington Ballroom

      The modern CMO’s job has gotten a lot more complicated as attribution changes and AI have complicated the traditional Facebook/Google funnel. In this session, you’ll hear from Kristen Brophy, SVP, Head of Marketing at ThredUp. Kristen will argue that in an ever-changing world, new experimental channels and ways to measure your full funnel are the future. She’ll also explain how AI tools have increased engagement and improved conversion for ThredUp.

      Kristen Brophy

      SVP, Head of Marketing

      ThredUp

      Moderator
      Melissa Daniels
    • 3:45 pm
      Coffee & networking break
      Huntington Foyer South

      Take a break, grab a coffee and connect with fellow attendees before the next session begins.

    • 4:00 pm
      Town hall & challenge board
      Vista Ballroom

      Brands only. Gather with fellow brand and retail leaders for a candid discussion about the industry. Together, we’ll create a challenge board and explore the real issues you’re facing — think of it as group therapy. 5:05pm – Journey Further

      Paul Norris

      SENIOR DIRECTOR, ORGANIC

      Journey Further

    • 5:15 pm
      VIP welcome reception
      Huntington Ballroom

      ​​Brand and retailer VIPs are invited to join us for a welcome drink and networking ahead of the 10-Minute Meetings.

    • 5:30 pm
      10-minute meetings
      Huntington Ballroom

      The 10-Minute Meetings are designed to help connect participants with innovative technology platforms and build valuable business relationships.

    • 6:35 pm
      Cocktail reception
      California Courtyard

      Join us for a cocktail to wrap up Day 1. Open to All.

    Apr. 21

    • 8:00 am
      Breakfast | Modern Market
      Huntington Terrace

      While you grab breakfast, check out the Modern Market showcase. Sample products and check out cutting-edge innovations from the industry’s top brands.

    • 9:00 am
      Welcome back
      Huntington Ballroom

      Welcome back! Anna Hensel is about to kick off day 2.

      Moderator
      Anna Hensel
    • 9:05 am
      The marketer’s guide to full-funnel strategy: How Thorne built a full-funnel growth engine
      Huntington Ballroom

      What does it mean for a marketer to act as a true Chief Growth Officer — building a full-funnel strategy that balances performance and brand and enables long-term growth? In this session, Mary Beech, Chief Growth Officer at Thorne, will share how she approaches growth at the health and wellness brand, how she transformed Thorne’s marketing approach from a lower-funnel, conversion-driven model into a scalable engine, and how education, content, and credibility serve as critical levers in guiding consumers through the consideration phase.

      Mary Beech

      Chief Growth Officer

      Thorne

      Moderator
      Anna Hensel
    • 9:25 am
      Building a high-trust brand in the age of AI and information overload
      Huntington Ballroom

      Join Lindsey Kling, SVP of Brand Marketing at Coterie, as she discusses how to build a brand that resonates in a world where shoppers take longer to buy and demand more from every dollar. Lindsey will share how Coterie moved beyond transactional marketing to create a "parent-first" community, leveraging zero-party data and authentic storytelling to cut through the noise.

      Lindsey Kling

      SVP Brand Marketing, Partnerships + Business Development

      Coterie

      Moderator
      Anna Hensel
    • 9:45 am
      How Pacsun keeps a close pulse on the changing tastes of Gen Z
      Huntington Ballroom

      In this session, you'll hear from Richard Cox, chief merchandising officer of Pacsun, who will discuss all the ways that the brand engages with Gen Z, through new ventures like a youth advisory council and its new app called PS Community Hub, which combines content creation, community engagement and e-commerce.

      Richard Cox

      Chief Merchandising Officer

      Pacsun

      Moderator
      Jill Manoff
    • 10:05 am
      Scaling innovation with discipline: How fast-growing Seed is retaining its distinctness and edge
      Huntington Ballroom

      CEO Cathrin Bowtell has been careful and strategic in managing Seed Health’s growth while also fueling it. In this session, she’ll discuss how she established the brand as the No.1 digestive health probiotic, seamlessly expanded beyond its core product focus, used a differentiated commercialization model to its advantage and introduced product newness to the long-term benefit of the business.

      Cathrin Bowtell

      Chief Executive Officer

      Seed Health

      Moderator
      Jill Manoff
    • 10:25 am
      Coffee & networking break
      Foyer South

      Take a break, grab a coffee and connect with fellow attendees before the next session begins.

    • 10:40 am
      Town Hall and sandbox presentation
      Vista Ballroom

      Join us for a mini-town hall before we break out into working groups. Sandbox Presentation: 11:00am: Marketing Architects – Retail Brands Are Measuring CTV Wrong

      Catherine Walstad

      CHIEF MEDIA OFFICER

      MARKETING ARCHITECTS

    • 11:10 am
      Working groups
      Vista 1, Vista 2, Royal Tern

      Join our Modern Retail moderator-led working groups to brainstorm solutions for today’s biggest marketing challenges—review the topics and room names to choose your group: Vista 1 Room, The New Customer Acquisition Playbook; Vista 2 Room, How AI Is Changing the Job of a Marketer; and Royal Tern Room, Breaking Through in Brand Marketing. Self-select your group and join us.

      Jill Manoff

      EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

      GLOSSY & MODERN RETAIL

      Anna Hensel

      EXECUTIVE EDITOR

      MODERN RETAIL

      Melissa Daniels

      SENIOR REPORTER

      MODERN RETAIL

    • 12:00 pm
      Lunch
      Lighthouse Courtyard

      Recharge with a delicious lunch and network with peers before the next session.

    • 1:00 pm
      Afternoon activities

    • 5:15 pm
      VIP cocktail reception
      Huntington Ballroom

      Opent to VIP participants. Grab a beverage before the 10-Minute meetings begin.

    • 5:30 pm
      10-Minute Meetings
      Huntington Ballroom

    • 6:35 pm
      Cocktail reception
      Lighthouse Courtyard

      Join us for a cocktail to wrap up Day 2. Open to all.

    Apr. 22

    • 8:30 am
      Breakfast
      Huntington Terrace

      Fuel up with breakfast, courtesy of Modern Retail, as we get the day started.

    • 9:00 am
      Open remarks
      Huntington Ballroom

      Welcome back. Jill Manoff is about to kick off the day's sessions.

    • 9:05 am
      Creating campaigns that are seen — and joined — by Gen Z
      Huntington Ballroom

      According to Urban Outfitters’ Cyntia Leo, brand awareness that doesn’t resonate doesn’t equate to brand loyalty. In this session, she’ll break down how Urban ensures its marketing investments pay off, particularly among its core college-student audience. A focus on authentic, customer-driven experiences, including community brand trips, pop-ups, concerts and parties, has proven effective.

      Cyntia Leo

      Head of Brand Marketing, Brand Comms & PR

      Urban Outfitters

      Moderator
      Jill Manoff
    • 9:25 am
      Standing out in an age of digital saturation
      Huntington Ballroom

      As more people crave in-person, tactical experiences, Marine Layer is finding success with old-school marketing tactics: print catalogs, pop-ups and other in-person experiences. In this session, you’ll hear from Renee Lopes Halvorsen, chief marketing officer at Marine Layer, who will talk about why she thinks these experiences are resonating more with consumers today, how Marine Layer digitally amplifies its IRL marketing touch points, how the brand is planning its first content creator trip and more.

      Renee Lopes-Halvorsen

      Chief Marketing Officer

      Marine Layer

      Moderator
      Anna Hensel
    • 9:45 am
      Balancing brand and performance while keeping consumers at the center of your marketing
      Huntington Ballroom

      In 2026, Ruggable’s focus is on building a more creative-led consumer organization and divesting away from purely performance-led digital spend and reinvesting in its brand culture. In this session, you’ll hear from Lauren Sherman, chief marketing officer at Ruggable about her strategy for aligning teams around brand purpose, how to quickly iterate based on customer feedback, and how to build emotional resonance without losing performance.

      Lauren Sherman

      Chief Marketing Officer

      Ruggable

      Moderator
      Melissa Daniels
    • 10:05 am
      The modern guide to working with retailers
      Huntington Ballroom

      Succeeding in retail today requires brands to build out different muscles. Gone are the days when brands can score more sales simply by scoring a sweet end cap. Rather, today’s brands face pressure from retailers to spend on everything from retail media to seasonal deals, while also constantly promoting newness and innovation. In this session, you’ll hear from one brand executive who will talk about how they use the insights collected from their brand’s DTC business to power its omnichannel business to successfully launch new products for their retail partners, and how they approach everything from retail media spend to working with local influencers to power new customer acquisition in retail.

      Sara Holman

      Chief Commercial Officer

      Bobbie

      Moderator
      Melissa Daniels
    • 10:25 am
      Closing Remarks
      Huntington Ballroom

    Full Agenda

    Location

    Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach
    21500 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648


    Pass Options

    Connect Pass
    $3,395
    • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
    • • Three one-on-one 10-Minute Meetings with executives of your choice
    • • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
    • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
    • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
    • Brand or retail marketing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Retailer Pass. Contact us here to find out.
    Buy Now
    Best Value
    Premium Connect Pass
    $5,295
    • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
    • • Five one-on-one 10-Minute Meetings with executives of your choice
    • • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
    • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
    • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
    • Brand or retail marketing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Retailer Pass. Contact us here to find out.
    Buy Now

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