NRF - Key Persons

Adam Lukoskie

Job Titles:

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation
Executive Director, NRF Foundation

Adam Lukoskie is executive director of the NRF Foundation. In this role, he leads all major programs, including the RISE Up training and credentialing program and university initiatives, communications, content, fundraising and the board of directors. He ensures alignment between the NRF Foundation and the National Retail Federation on advocacy priorities, workforce issues and research, and develops strategies, programs and activities to help the NRF Foundation provide the skills and resources people need for life-changing careers. Prior to the NRF Foundation, Lukoskie spent 10 years in multiple leadership roles at Teach For America, one of the nation's top education nonprofits, as well as the YMCA and a secondary school in London. Lukoskie volunteers as a precinct captain for the Washington, D.C., Board of Elections, as a tutor for Higher Achievement, and serves breakfast at N Street Village. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics, leadership and management from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.) and a master's degree in business administration from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He studied abroad in China, England, Germany, Morocco, South Korea, Tanzania and Ukraine. Lukoskie grew up in a small farming community in northern Wisconsin. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his partner James and five-year-old pit bull Nollie.

Adam Reiter

Job Titles:

Director, Event Experiences

Addison Bay - CEO, Founder

Job Titles:

CEO
Founder
Member of the Board of Directors

Adrienne Alexander

Job Titles:

Manager, Revenue Accounting

Adrienne Andrews

Job Titles:

Marketing Analyst

Alexa Herman

Job Titles:

Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager at the National Retail Federation

Alexa Herman is a marketing manager at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she oversees email marketing campaigns for targeted audiences to promote events, research and resources to the retail industry. She also manages virtual events and executes the organization's monthly member newsletter. Herman has held progressive roles in NRF's marketing department since summer 2020, starting as a digital marketing intern then moving into a marketing coordinator role before being promoted to marketing specialist in 2021. Prior to joining NRF, Herman was the strategic consultant for Towson University Athletics. In this role, she managed marketing, social media and email outreach campaigns as well as survey development and rebranding initiatives. She previously served as a brand analyst intern at Marriott International, where she analyzed guest reviews to better understand consumer trends and social media engagement. In addition, Herman interned for two years at The Brand Guild, where she worked on partnership outreach and crafting proposals for potential new clients. Herman is an alumna of Towson University and its Honors College. She earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies and a minor in marketing and served as the commencement speaker at Towson University's graduation in 2020.

Allison Taylor

Job Titles:

Digital Designer / Member Relations

Amy Jones

Job Titles:

Director, Infrastructure Management
Senior Director of Infrastructure Management at the National Retail Federation

Amy Jones is senior director of infrastructure management at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she oversees network upgrades and the security of the network, and works with NRF staff to ensure they have the best technology available to meet their needs.

Anish Melwani - CEO, President

Job Titles:

Chief Executive Officer
Member of the Board of Directors
Member of the Executive Committee
President

Annalea Soudry-Maurer

Job Titles:

Director of University Relations and Programs at the NRF Foundation
Director, University Relations & Programs

Annalea Soudry-Maurer is the director of university relations and programs at the NRF Foundation. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the strategy and execution of NRF Foundation programs including all scholarships, virtual and in-person events, university membership and additional programs for students and alumni. Prior to joining NRF, Soudry-Maurer held positions with the American Advertising Federation in education services and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation. She brings several years of experience in program management, market research and communications to her role at NRF. Originally from France, Soudry-Maurer earned her B.B.A. in marketing and international business at The George Washington University. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Anthony Hucker

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

April O'Brien

Job Titles:

Director of Partnerships
Director, Partnerships and Programs
in 2017 As Manager of Member Relations and Programs

April O'Brien is the director of partnerships and programs at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she manages current and prospective partner relationships and oversees program logistics for related events. She also develops member products and programs that will enhance NRF's member value and influence engagement. O'Brien joined NRF in 2017 as manager of member relations and programs. In this role, she oversaw member engagement initiatives, managed special programs in conjunction with NRF conferences, and developed sponsorship programs for networking dinners and other events. Prior to NRF, she was an event specialist at ConnellyWorks Inc., where she oversaw a range of events and managed event marketing, media relations and sponsor outreach. She previously held roles at CustomInk and Clear Channel Communications. O'Brien holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and communications from East Carolina University.

Ashley Wilson

wi..@nrf.com

Job Titles:

Vice President of Tax Policy at the National Retail Federation
VP, Tax Policy

Ashley Wilson is vice president of tax policy at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she acts as NRF's principal lobbyist for tax policy matters, interacting with members of Congress and their staffs, Treasury Department and IRS officials on behalf of the retail industry. Wilson also staffs NRF's Taxation Committee, comprised of tax directors for the nation's largest retailers. Prior to joining NRF, Wilson served as vice president for tax legislative affairs and the managing director for public affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She successfully led the Chamber's advocacy effort to enact the first comprehensive tax reform package in over 31 years. She also directed the Chamber's legislative efforts from 2002 to 2007 in securing major legislative victories for the business community on transportation, water resources, and federal aviation issues. Wilson also previously served as legislative assistant to former Sen. William V. Roth Jr., R-Del., and held senior positions with the Association of American Railroads. She also was director of legislative affairs for Amtrak. Keyed into the economic environment and political landscapes, she directed successful strategies - including grassroots and coalition development - that secured legislative wins for the association and passenger rail groups.

Ashton Wiggins

Job Titles:

Legislative Assistant

Audrey Barnett

Job Titles:

Coordinator, Member Relations

Barbara Collins

Job Titles:

Manager, RISE Up Customer Engagement

Beth Aberg

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Beth Stanaland

Job Titles:

Vice President, Membership Operations and Special Projects

Bill Thorne

Job Titles:

Senior Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at the National Retail Federation
SVP, Communications and Public Affairs

Bill Thorne is senior vice president for communications and public affairs at the National Retail Federation. In this role, he is responsible for the creation and implementation of communication strategies around advocacy priorities, policy campaigns and reputational programs. Thorne came to NRF in 2012 from the Walmart Corporation in Bentonville, Ark. He started with Walmart as the senior director for advocacy and outreach. In this role, he was responsible for developing, implementing and growing the company's strategic advocacy campaigns and reputational efforts. In 2009, he became the senior director of community affairs where he was responsible for helping the largest retailer in the world grow its presence in urban markets. Prior to Walmart, Thorne served as a vice president for the DCI Group, a public affairs firm, where he worked with a range of clients such as AT&T, Verizon and Lockheed Martin on a number of public relations campaigns. He has association experience, serving five years as the director of political and legislative grassroots at the American Medical Association as well as a number of years working with successful political campaigns on the local, state and federal levels. Thorne started his career in Washington as a legislative assistant for banking and finance in the office of former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. Thorne is originally from Savannah, Ga., and holds a journalism degree from the University of Georgia.

Bob Troutman

Job Titles:

Director, Web Development

Brandi Douglas - CHRO

Job Titles:

Chief Human Resources Officer
Chief Human Resources Officer at the National Retail Federation

Brandi Douglas is the chief human resources officer at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she is responsible for leading the association's human resources strategy while working as a strategic partner to senior management to direct the alignment of NRF's people with the business goals and strategic objectives of the association. In keeping with NRF's mission and values, she is responsible for working throughout the association to recruit and retain the best people, refine and define policies and best practices, and maintain the association's competitive edge. Since joining NRF in 2012, Douglas has held progressive roles in the organization, including benefits manager, director of HR and vice president of HR. Previously, she spent nearly 10 years in progressive HR roles with the American Nurses Association in Silver Spring, Md. Douglas is a graduate of Salisbury University with a degree in communications.

Brian Baskins

Job Titles:

Coordinator, Office Administration

Brian Cornell - CEO

Job Titles:

Managing Partner
Member of the Board of Directors
Member of the Executive Committee
Global Corporate Vice President, Retail and Consumer Goods Industries

Carrie Tharp

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Catherine "Cass" Wright

Job Titles:

Director, Data Policy / Marketing

Ceara Flake

Job Titles:

Deputy General Counsel
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at the National Retail Federation

Ceara Flake is vice president and deputy general counsel at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she is responsible for providing corporate and legal analysis and advice on business matters and working closely with internal business clients on both contract and compliance matters. She assists in strategically planning projects, agreements and communications and engages in ongoing work to assure compliance with the laws applicable to nonprofits. Flake joined NRF from American Cleaning Institute, the U.S. cleaning products trade association. She served there for seven years, initially as director of legal affairs before becoming assistant general counsel. At ACI, Flake was relied on as a trusted legal advisor to internal clients and corporate member stakeholders, managing the gamut of ACI's legal affairs including transactions, compliance, governance and trademark and brand management. In addition to her general counsel experience, she has a track record of collaborating cross-functionally to promote innovation. Flake is one of the leaders credited with pioneering and building a solid and sustainable infrastructure for the ACI Future Leaders initiative, an unprecedented industry-level innovation lab that researches, designs and delivers solutions on cross-cutting industry issues. Prior to serving as in-house counsel in the trade association realm, Flake explored her passion for communications by teaching legal communications courses at Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications. Flake holds a bachelor's degree with honors from Denison University and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. In between college and law school, she interned on Capitol Hill as a staffer for former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. After law school she clerked for Hon. Edgar D. Ross, Appellate Division of the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and United States Superior Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands. After clerking, Flake practiced litigation at a leading boutique civil rights firm in Washington, D.C..

Chastity Nelson

Job Titles:

Manager, Office Administration

Christian Beckner - VP

Job Titles:

Vice President
in 2018 As Senior Director of Retail Technology
VP, Retail Technology and Cybersecurity

Christian Beckner is vice president of retail technology and cybersecurity at the National Retail Federation. In this role, Beckner works with policy and industry stakeholders on critical technology issues that affect the retail sector, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, payments technologies and cloud services. He leads NRF's CIO Council, Technology Leadership Council, IT Security Council and cybersecurity program, including the Cyber Risk Exchange. He also supports the development of technology and cybersecurity-related content at NRF's conferences and events. Beckner joined NRF in 2018 as senior director of retail technology and cybersecurity. Prior to NRF, he spent five years as deputy director of the George Washington University's Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, a think tank where he focused on cybersecurity, counterterrorism and homeland security. He was previously an associate staff director at the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he was responsible for coordination of oversight and legislation on a broad range of homeland security and intelligence issues. He has worked on cybersecurity and homeland security issues for close to 20 years, including positions at IBM, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the O'Gara Company. Originally from Washington state, Beckner has a bachelor's degree from Stanford University. He obtained a master's degree in business administration and a master's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.

Christina Morris

Job Titles:

Web Developer

Christopher Baldwin - Founder

Job Titles:

Co - Founder
Member of the Board of Directors
Member of the Executive Committee

Clint Thompson

Job Titles:

Manager, Design & Usability

Colleen J. Taylor

Job Titles:

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

Dakota Jackson

Job Titles:

Manager, Political Affairs
Senior Manager of Political Affairs at the National Retail Federation

Dakota Jackson is Senior Manager of Political Affairs at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she is responsible for managing NRF's Political Action Committee, RetailPAC, and developing effective political strategies to enhance and support the retail industry's political agenda. Prior to joining NRF, Jackson served in various political roles on the federal and state levels including several successful political campaigns. Most recently, Jackson worked on the lobbying team for the Self-Insurance Institute of America as the Government Relations Manager where she oversaw the PAC, political events, priority policy issues, and government relations efforts. Jackson grew up as an Army military dependent, born in Texas and raised in 6 different states. Her family eventually retired in Nashville, Tennessee, where she now calls her home away from home. Dakota received a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in political science from the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign. She also obtained a master's degree in Public Administration from American University. Jackson maintains a certificate in data analytics and management and is working towards finishing her Public Affairs Council PAC & Grassroots Management Certificate. She currently lives in D.C. with her two dogs and partner.

Danielle Inman

Job Titles:

Senior Director of Media Relations at the National Retail Federation
Senior Director, Media Relations

Danielle Inman is senior director of media relations at the National Retail Federation. In this role, she serves as an on-the-record spokesperson for the world's largest retail trade association and spearheads media efforts to drive positive visibility and awareness on behalf of the retail industry. Inman most recently served as chief of staff at the American Hotel and Lodging Association, where she oversaw the organization's executive communications and management of the association's Board of Directors and Executive Committee governing bodies. Prior to AHLA, she served as international trade promotions manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development in Atlanta. During her tenure, she organized economic development missions across Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Germany and Japan. She was a member of the 2014 team recognized with the Presidential E-Star Award, the nation's top honor for export expansion, presented by former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Inman began her professional career in 2010 working as an aide on then-Congressman Nathan Deal's first gubernatorial campaign. Following his election, she joined Governor Deal's legislative affairs team as a liaison to the Administration's Floor Leaders and Georgia General Assembly. A Georgia native, Inman has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

Dasha Kimelman

Job Titles:

Director, Attendee Registration

David French

Job Titles:

Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Retail Federation
SVP, Government Relations and Executive Director, NCCR

David French is senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation and executive director of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. As NRF's chief lobbyist, he plans and implements advocacy strategy for the world's largest retail trade association. As executive director of NCCR, French leads efforts to advance sound public policy that serves restaurant businesses and the millions of people they employ. French has played a leading role in the most important legislative battles affecting retail, including swipe fee reform, internet sales tax, patents, labor policy issues, tax reform and trade policy. In 2017, French scored a rare double win for the retail industry on the same major legislation, first by managing a national coalition to stop the Border Adjustment Tax, a centerpiece of the House GOP plan for tax reform. After the defeat of the BAT plan, he coordinated retail industry lobbying and advocacy in support of the historic corporate tax reform law enacted at the end of 2017. French came to NRF in 2011 from the International Franchise Association, where he served as senior vice president of government relations and public policy. Prior to joining IFA in 2006, he led the government relations programs at the International Foodservice Distributors Association and Food Distributors International for five years. He previously spent nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill, serving on the staffs of former Senator Rick Santorum, R-Pa., former Representative Matthew Rinaldo, R-N.J., and the House Select Committee on Aging. French is routinely identified as one of the top association lobbyists in Washington by the Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill and other publications. French is a native of Pittsburgh and holds a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University.

David Johnston

Job Titles:

Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations for the National Retail Federation
VP, Asset Protection and Retail Operations

David Johnston is vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation. In his role, he leads initiatives and member programs focused on asset protection and store operations, facilitating engagement across the industry and promoting best practices and policy initiatives around crime, violence, loss and issues challenging the profitability of retail store operations. With over three decades of global loss prevention and corporate security expertise, Johnston's experience includes senior roles with global retail and restaurant organizations as a practitioner, consultant and solution provider. He spent the last eight years as the senior global security executive leading loss prevention, global security and fraud initiatives for Inspire Brands, an international restaurant company representing 32,000 restaurants across seven brands, with locations across 65 countries. Before joining Inspire Brands, Johnston served hundreds of retailers across various segments as a loss prevention consultant with LP Innovations. Based in Massachusetts, Johnston has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and will graduate in June 2023 with a master's degree in security studies focused on industry and economical security.