RETAIL + DESIGN
Forum
The Retail Design Forum is an annual event hosted by The Retail Studies Organization. Each year, RSO invites IU alumni who hold executive positions in the retail industry to travel from their perspective companies to Bloomington to speak in front of approximately 800 IU students about their insights within the industry.
This year, the forum will take place on October 20th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union, and any IU student can attend.
YOU are invited to apply for small group discussions with the industry speakers where they can make more of a one-on-one connection.
Photos
Wait until you see what we have in store for you.
PRESENTING THE 2025 FORUM SPEAKERS...
Speakers
KRISTIN SHANE
CHIEF MERCHANDISING OFFICER
REI
Kristin Shane is the Chief Merchandising Officer at REI Co-op, where she leads the company's merchandising strategy, product assortment, brand partnerships, and private label business. She brings decades of retail leadership experience, having held merchandising and executive roles at Guitar Center, PetSmart, and Target. Known for her expertise in omni-channel retail and consumer products, Shane is focused on driving innovation, sustainable growth, and delivering an exceptional experience for REI members.
STUART
HOGUE
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
YETI
Stuart Hogue serves as Senior Vice President, Americas at YETI, where he leads commercial operations across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Prior to joining YETI, he served as Senior Vice President of U.S. Consumer at Lands' End, overseeing the company's $1 billion North America Consumer Division. Earlier in his career, Stuart was a senior advisor at McKinsey & Company and spent more than 15 years in leadership roles at Nike, where he helped drive digital commerce, wholesale, and marketplace growth. He earned his MBA from New York University Stern School of Business and his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University.
KIMBERLY GARDINER
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
TRACTOR SUPPLY CO.
Kimberly Gardiner serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Tractor Supply Company, where she leads the company's marketing strategy, brand communications, and customer loyalty initiatives through the Neighbor's Club program. Before joining Tractor Supply in 2022, she served as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at Volkswagen of America and previously held marketing leadership roles at Mitsubishi Motors North America, Kia Motors America, 5th Kind, and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mills College and an MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Kimberley also serves on the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Council and the PopTech Advisory Board.
FRANCISCO
(PACO)
LUNA
DIRECTOR OF SOURCING AND PRODUCTION
PATAGONIA
Francisco "Paco" Luna is a global supply chain and sourcing executive with more than 30 years of experience across manufacturing, merchandising, logistics, retail, and product development. Throughout his career, he has specialized in optimizing complex global supply chains, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and accelerating speed to market. Paco has held leadership roles with major international retailers and manufacturers, including extensive experience at Nike, where he received two Apparel Maxim Awards for his contributions to innovation and product development. Known for his strategic, global perspective and expertise in lean manufacturing, he has built a career leading high-performing teams and driving operational excellence across the retail industry.
FORUM SCHEDULE
The schedule for this event is listed below. Because of the number of speakers we have, each company is going to get 45 minute increments to do a presentation and then we will have a panel discussion at the end. This event is open to ALL students and not just RSO members. The small group sessions will be happening while other companies are presenting and please note the breaks in between each session.