1:30 – 2:15 PM

REGISTRATION & WELCOME REFRESHMENTS
Sponsored by Leaders Circle Sponsors: RSM US LLP and Yellow Brand Protection

EXECUTIVE SUMMIT OPENING ADDRESS
Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA
Introduction by Tom Glaser, Vice President, VF Corporation and President - Supply Chain, VF Corporation; AAFA Chairman

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: RETAIL
Thomas Kingsbury, CEO, Burlington Stores
Introduction by Gary Simmons, Director of Intradeco; AAFA Vice Chairman

ONLINE TO OFFLINE INTEGRATION
Weaving in and out of physical and digital channels – often simultaneously – has created both great opportunity and challenge in delivering a seamless and joyful customer experience. Interactive displays, instore social communities, mobile platforms, and cashless transactions are just the beginning in defining a unified business. Hear what it takes to be on top of the O2O game.
Diane Hoskins, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Gensler
Felix del Toro, Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandise & Design Officer, TechStyle Fashion Group
Introduction by Deepak Das, SVP of Marketing, Visionet Systems, Inc.

4:20 – 4:55 PM

REINVENTING THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO SUPPORT THE DEMAND-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT
Building a strategic supply chain is the opportunity to drive corporate value. It’s the differentiator, it’s the disruptor, and it’s the key to building a lifetime of trust with the consumer. Are you positioned to deliver?
Dave Wheeler, Executive Vice President of Value Chain and Chief Supply Chain Officer, New Balance Athletics, Inc.
Moderated by: Matt Smith, CEO and Founder, ICIX

OPENING DINNER: AAFA UNDER THE BIG TOP AT MGM NATIONAL HARBOR
Sponsored by ICIX and Visionet Systems, Inc.

BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
Sponsored by JD.com

WELCOME
Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA

CHINA POP UP SERIES
Andrew Stevens
Award-Winning Journalist and Former Foreign Correspondent for CNN

GETTING TO KNOW THE CHINESE CONSUMER 
While brands are looking at alternate production countries, increasing their retail presence in China is imperative to optimize future growth. With savvy consumers, powerful platforms, and state of the art payment systems, consumption in China is highly personal and unique. Take a tour of what makes the Chinese consumer tick.
Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion and Head of Toplife, JD.com
Moderated by: Andrew Stevens, Award-Winning Journalist and Former Foreign Correspondent for CNN

STRATEGIC SOURCING VS. TRADE DISRUPTIONS
While trade, tariffs, and taxation live at the crossroads of unprecedented and uncertain, diversifying production away from China is paramount. Complicated and multi-dimensional, this strategy must include a conversation on manufacturing capabilities, global markets, labor and materials, currency issues, trade chaos, and more. How will you pivot to meet these demands?
Ted Dagnese, Chief Supply Chain Officer, lululemon athletica Inc.
Rob Sinclair, President of Supply Chain, Global Brands Group
Moderated by: Andrew Stevens, Award-Winning Journalist and Former Foreign Correspondent for CNN

NETWORKING BREAK

WASHINGTON & BEIJING: THE GREAT DEBATE 
Facing one of the most unmatched political periods in history, ambiguity and disruption characterize the U.S. - China relationship, today. The global economy, business, education, safety and well-being are all being revisited. This panel of experts bring their years of deep political and diplomatic experience to discuss next steps and what the future could look like.
Wendy Cutler, Vice President and Managing Director, Washington, D.C. Office, Asia Society Policy Institute
Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA
John G. Murphy, Senior Vice President for International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Moderated by: Andrew Stevens, Award-Winning Journalist and Former Foreign Correspondent for CNN

REPUTATION, RELEVANCE & PROTECTING THE BRAND
Brand authenticity is a key performance driver in today’s Demand + Deliver world. Trusted, credible, and legitimate are its hallmarks; so as online and offline operations become more integrated, the state of brand protection has never been more vital. Hear what it takes to successfully deploy a brand protection program.
Traci Escamilla, Intellectual Property Paralegal, Patagonia
Pilar Toro, Brand Protection Manager, Red Wing Shoe Company
Moderated by: Morris Wilder, Senior Account Executive, Yellow Brand Protection

LUNCH
Sponsored by A&E and Newtimes Group of Companies

THE STATE OF AMERICAN FASHION
Every facet of the fashion industry is going through a transformation. Global, democratic, and a retail environment that is boundaryless has opened the door to new influencers, the consumer who is shaping fashion, and a new economics paradigm.
Steven Kolb, President and Chief Executive Officer, Council of Fashion Designers of America
Marc Karimzadeh, Editorial and Communications Director, Council of Fashion Designers of America
Introduction by Susan Lapetina, Senior Vice President, Education & Corporate Marketing, AAFA

CEO TECH TALK
Kurt Cavano, Technology and Supply Chain Evangelist, AAFA Board of Directors

LEADERS CIRCLE: THE COGNITIVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Mark Burstein, President, NGC Software, AAFA Board of Directors

LEADERS CIRCLE: BLOCKCHAIN FOR FASHION
Ben Tickner, Principal, Technology and Management Consulting Global Operations, RSM US LLP

NETWORKING BREAK

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: RETAIL RADICAL
Michael Evans, President, Alibaba Group
Fireside Chat with Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA

THE CIRCUS COMES TO AAFA
Co-hosts and creators of Showtime’s The Circus, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon deliver a savvy, insider’s view of the Washington scene. Two of America’s most prolific and respected political reporters and commentators, Heilemann and McKinnon share unparalleled access to the corridors of power and the forces shaping American politics.
John Heilemann - Creator, Executive Producer, and Host, The Circus on Showtime; National Affairs Analyst, NBC News and MSNBC; Co-Author, New York Times No. 1 Best Sellers Game Change and Double Down.
Mark McKinnon – Creator, Executive Producer and Co-host of Showtime’s The Circus; former political advisor to George W. Bush and John McCain
Introduction by Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA

OFFICER INDUCTION
Introduction by Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA

CLOSING RECEPTION AT MGM NATIONAL HARBOR
Sponsored by Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services and Gerber Technology

DEPARTURE