NRF and Divisional Committees, Councils and Task Forces
April 2013
| ADA Task Force | ||
| A group comprised of NRF retail members interested in the Americans with Disabilities Act and any resulting or pending federal regulations or litigation. | Contact: | Mallory Duncan 202-783-7971 duncanm@nrf.com |
| ARTS Board of Directors | ||
| The ARTS Board identifies standards to be developed, sets program priorities, approves new and revised standards prior to public release and maintains budgetary oversight for the Association for Retail Technology Standards, the retail technology standards division of the National Retail Federation. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| ARTS Data Model Committee | ||
| This committee shapes the future of the ARTS Data Model. Members propose enhancements, prioritize activities and approve all changes to the Model. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| ARTS Standard RFPs | ||
| Through this committee, NRF and ARTS are developing a library of standard RFPs to assist retailers in selecting the “right” software applications for their specific business practices. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| ARTS Unified Point of Service (POS) | ||
| UnifiedPOS, the specification for both OPOS and JavaPOS, provides retailers freedom of choice in selecting POS devices from multiple manufacturers while enabling select POS equipment upgrades without total replacement. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| ARTS XML | ||
| The ARTS XML Committee develops standard XML Schemas and message sets that are used to facilitate – and lower the cost of – integration of applications in the retail enterprise. Participation is limited to ARTS members, although both retailers and vendors may participate. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| Associate Member Council (AMC) | ||
| This council of Associate member companies meets annually and via conference call to ensure the needs of NRF's growing associate member base are met, and to provide feedback to NRF regarding the needs of retailers and how NRF can better meet those needs. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| Awards Committee | ||
| NRF's Awards Committee makes recommendations for recipients of NRF awards and honors, including the NRF Gold Medal, International Retailer of the Year, Retail Innovator of the Year, and the Silver Plaque Awards. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| Board of Directors | ||
| The NRF Board of Directors is the governing body that oversees the activities of the Federation. | Contact: | Matt Shay 202-783-7971 shaym@nrf.com |
| CIO Council | ||
| This is an invitation-only committee made up of retailing's most prominent chief information officers. It meets in winter, spring and summer to discuss issues of common interest, promising technologies, and to take a proactive stance on creating new technology environments. | Contact: | Tom Litchford 202.626.8126 litchfordt@nrf.com |
| Committee on Employment Law | ||
| This committee serves as NRF's technical committee on labor law and employee relations matters, and is comprised of retail industry corporate executives and independent labor counsel, as well as human resource and employee relations executives from NRF member companies and associations. | Contact: | Kelly Knott 202-783-7971 knottk@nrf.com |
| Compensation Committee | ||
| NRF’s Compensation Committee was created principally to review the salary and benefits of NRF’s President and CEO in keeping with best practices adopted by many retailers in today’s business environment. | Contact: | Matt Shay 202-783-7971 shaym@nrf.com |
| Credit Executives Committee | ||
| This committee provides NRF with strategic and operational advice related to consumer credit issues, including federal legislative and regulatory policy, the standardized credit bureau reporting format, as well as file integrity among retail credit grantors. | Contact: | Mallory Duncan 202-783-7971 duncanm@nrf.com |
| Executive Committee | ||
| The purpose of the NRF Executive Committee is to serve as a sounding board for management, to tackle corporate governance issues and to discuss strategic matters in depth that affect NRF’s long term health and direction before presentation to the full Board for discussion and approval. | Contact: | Matt Shay 202-783-7971 shaym@nrf.com |
| Finance Committee | ||
| This committee is elected by the Board of Directors and is one of three standing committees of the Board. It oversees the finances of the Federation including reviewing and recommending the Federation's budget to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. | Contact: | Carleen Kohut 202-783-7971 kohutc@nrf.com |
| Financial Executives Council (FEC) | ||
| The FEC is comprised of senior financial executives of NRF member companies who work with NRF to develop industry financial benchmarks and serve as advisors for industry advocacy efforts with the FASB, SEC, etc. | Contact: | Carleen Kohut 202-783-7971 kohutc@nrf.com |
| Forum for International Retail Association Executives | ||
| The FIRAE seeks to promote the free exchange of information among national retail trade associations around the world and works to identify opportunities for cooperation in research and education. | Contact: | Steven Glover 202-783-7971 glovers@nrf.com |
| General Counsel's Forum | ||
| This invitation-only Council is limited to the most senior legal officers among NRF's retail membership. Two to three times each year they meet to share strategy and ideas for addressing cutting edge legal and management issues of concern to retail law departments. | Contact: | Mallory Duncan 202-783-7971 duncanm@nrf.com |
| Gift Card Working Group | ||
| The Working Group addresses the rapidly spreading restrictions on the highly popular gift cards used by many retailers. | Contact: | David French 202-783-7971 FrenchD@nrf.com |
| Government Affairs Policy Council | ||
| The NRF Government Affairs Policy Council is the Federation's principal policy making body on federal legislative and regulatory issues. | Contact: | David French 202-626-8112 frenchd@nrf.com |
| Health & Employee Benefits Committee | ||
| This Committee consists of retail benefits executives managers and directors who provide technical input on a wide range of health, pension and other benefit issues. | Contact: | Neil Trautwein 202-783-7971 trautweinn@nrf.com |
| ID Theft Working Group | ||
| This working group was created as a result of the Choice Point and Bank of America security breaches, concerns over identity theft [the safety of personally identifiable information (PII)] and the ways in which PII is used by the business community. | Contact: | Beth Provenzano 202-783-7971 provenzanob@nrf.com |
| Internal Audit and Compliance Council | ||
| This Council is comprised of senior internal auditors of NRF member companies. These executives develop and exchange best practices for ensuring effective internal controls and maximizing the effectiveness of the operation, which is accomplished by meeting semi-annually and holding conference calls. | Contact: | Rachel Ryan 202-783-7971 ryanr@nrf.com |
| International Trade Advisory Committee | ||
| ITAC members include senior retail sourcing, compliance, and government relations executives and general counsels responsible for international trade, customs, and international labor issues for their companies both on the legislative and regulatory fronts. ITAC plays a key role in representing the industry's interests on eliminating U.S. and foreign trade barriers and facilitating trade. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| IT Audit Council | ||
| NRF’s IT Audit Working Group is comprised of senior IT Auditors of NRF retail member companies. | Contact: | Rachel Ryan 202-783-7971 ryanr@nrf.com |
| ITAC - Customs Subcommittee | ||
| This Subcommittee of the ITAC provides guidance and technical expertise on customs and trade facilitation issues affecting retailers as well as relations between the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the importing community. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| ITAC - Hardgoods Subcommittee | ||
| This Subcommittee of the ITAC provides guidance and technical expertise on trade issues that specifically affect retailers of consumer products other than textiles and apparel. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| ITAC - Softgoods Subcommittee | ||
| This Subcommittee of the ITAC provides guidance and technical expertise on trade issues that specifically affect textiles and apparel retailers. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| ITAC - Supplier Compliance Subcommittee | ||
| This subcommittee of the ITAC formulates the industry's response to concerns involving working conditions in U.S. and international manufacturing operations and other ethical sourcing and corporate social responsibility issues. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| ITAC - Trade Remedies | ||
| This Subcommittee of the ITAC provides guidance and technical and legal expertise on antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguards, as well as other trade remedies actions affecting consumer goods. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| Lawyers Committee | ||
| The NRF Lawyer’s Committee is composed of in-house staff attorneys selected by the NRF General Counsel's Forum to discuss current nuts-and-bolts legal matters unrelated to employment law. | Contact: | Monica Anderson 202-783-7971 andersonm@nrf.com |
| Loss Prevention Advisory Council | ||
| This council, composed of senior loss prevention executives from diverse retail sectors, meets frequently to discuss common problems confronting the retail industry and to share new ideas on product and program results. Participation by invitation only. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Awards and Recognition Committee | ||
| The Awards and Recognition Committee develops initiatives to honor and recognize law enforcement professionals/agencies and loss prevention/asset protection professionals. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Conference Planning Committee | ||
| The Planning Committee works to develop topics and content for the annual NRF Loss Prevention Conference and Senior Executive Summit | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Diversity Committee | ||
| The Diversity Committee was developed to promote inclusion and diversification in the loss prevention industry. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Education and Research Committee | ||
| This group of industry professionals was assembled to explore and network with universities and certifications related to the loss prevention field. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Homeland Security Committee | ||
| The Homeland Security Committee was created to provide loss prevention professionals expedited access to critical information on weather emergencies, man-made crises like active shooters and terrorist attacks as well as other updates on Homeland Security. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Investigator’s Network | ||
| This group of over 1,500 loss prevention professionals and federal, state and local law enforcement officials meets annually as an entire group and twice a year in six regions throughout the country. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202.661.3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Joint Organized Retail Crime Task Force | ||
| The Joint Organized Retail Crime Task Force (JORCTF) has a primary focus of developing standard training and awareness programs for retail loss prevention professionals and law enforcement officers. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202.661.3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Legislative Committee | ||
| This group was developed to help identify and establish LP priorities to set the legislative agenda of the industry. In addition, this subcommittee compiles statistics and anecdotal information as background for potential congressional testimony. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202.661.3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| LP - Women in Loss Prevention Caucus | ||
| This subcommittee of the Loss Prevention Advisory Council meets annually and by conference call quarterly to discuss the issues that women face in advancing their careers in retail loss prevention. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| NCCR Board of Directors | ||
| The NCCR Board of Directors is the governing body that oversees the activities of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. It is comprised of senior executives from the nation’s leading chain restaurant companies. | Contact: | Rob Green 202-626-8187 greenr@nccr.net |
| NCCR Food Safety Task Force | ||
| This task force is comprised of designated representatives from NCCR member food service companies, normally quality assurance, food safety or technical service staff. The Task Force provides a forum for members to network and share food safety and technical information of common interest for mutual benefit. The Task Force also develops positions and statements for NCCR on food safety and technical issues for adoption or approval by the NCCR Board of Directors. Membership is open to any NCCR member executive. | Contact: | Rob Green 202-626-8187 greenr@nccr.net |
| NCCR Food Supply Chain Committee | ||
| This committee focuses on issues impacting the supply chains of chain restaurant companies. At present, the committee is examining the following issues: biofuel policy's impact on commodity prices; dairy price volatility; commodity speculation; and international trade impacts on the supply chain. | Contact: | Scott Vinson 202-626-8183 vinsons@nccr.net |
| Nominations and Membership Committee | ||
| The NRF Nominations and Membership Committee reviews nominations for Directors and members, and prepares slates of nominees for consideration by the Board and for election by the NRF membership. This group is also responsible for supporting NRF’s membership efforts, building relationships with CEOs of retail companies and including them in NRF events and initiatives that demonstrate the value of membership in the organization. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| NRF - Online Marketplace Working Group | ||
| This group comprised of retail organizations, law enforcement agencies and online market place companies. Initiated to target online auction site offenders, the group works together on major investigations; proposing legislation to protect retailers and online market places. | Contact: | Rich Mellor 202-661-3057 mellorr@nrf.com |
| NRF Foundation Board of Directors | ||
| This Board of Directors, made up of senior executives of major retail and supplier-partner firms, directs and oversees the programs, activities and functions of the NRF Foundation, the non-profit research and education arm of the National Retail Federation. | Contact: | Angela Elder 202-783-7971 eldera@nrf.com |
| Payment Systems Task Force | ||
| This Task Group meets as needed to discuss matters pertaining to card acceptance and issues pertaining to retailer relationships with the credit and debit card associations and card acceptance networks. | Contact: | Mallory Duncan 202-783-7971 duncanm@nrf.com |
| Postal Working Group | ||
| This Working Group provides guidance to the NRF in representing retailers on matters before Capitol Hill, the Postal Rate Commission and the United States Postal Service. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| Privacy Committee | ||
| The Privacy Committee is composed of senior retail representatives with responsibility for aspects of company operations that affect customer and employee privacy. | Contact: | Mallory Duncan 202-783-7971 duncanm@nrf.com |
| Product Safety Committee | ||
| This Committee communicates existing and potential product safety problems within the retail industry and addresses emerging product safety issues by providing substantive and strategic input into the development of industry public policy. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| RAMA Awards Committee | ||
| Responsible for the RACie Awards night, this committee works together throughout the year to develop every aspect of the evening, including the entry form, the judging process and the awards night presentation. | Contact: | Kelly Gilmore 217-546-7110 gilmorek@rama-nrf.com |
| RAMA Board of Directors | ||
| The RAMA Board of Directors provides overall direction and leadership in the retail marketing community. Comprised of both senior level retail marketing executives and industry partners, the RAMA Board of Directors addresses critical issues facing retail marketers and works together to bring solutions to the challenges they face. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| RAMA Commerce Committee | ||
| The goal of this committee is to facilitate relationship building between attendees at RAMA’s Retail Advertising Conference. Comprised of RAMA Board Members, from both the retailer and the supplier side, this group works to bring commerce to the forefront of RAMA events. The plan is to create time, space, opportunity, and networking activities that facilitate these opportunities. | Contact: | Kelly Gilmore 217-546-7110 gilmorek@rama-nrf.com |
| RAMA Executive Committee | ||
| The RAMA Executive Committee, comprised of senior level retail marketing executives, is responsible for identifying research, education and information needs of retail marketers and advertisers. They review and provide input and direction on various programs and participate in RAMA’s annual CMO Summit. The Chairman of the Board of Directors presides over the RAMA Executive Committee. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| RAMA Growth Initiatives Committee | ||
| This committee focuses on the growth of the association beyond RAC and launches ongoing programs designed to support retail marketers and inspire innovative solutions to industry challenges. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| RAMA International Committee | ||
| This committee assists in working to make RAMA more relevant to the international community, therefore increasing membership, and bringing more international content. | Contact: | Mike Gatti 202-626-8117 gattim@nrf.com |
| RAMA Main Stage & Fast Tracks Committee | ||
| This committee is responsible for selecting relevant and exciting programming for the Main Stage and Break Out sessions for the Retail Advertising Conference. | Contact: | Kelly Gilmore 217-546-7110 gilmorek@rama-nrf.com |
| RAMA Research Committee | ||
| Focusing on research development for RAMA, this committee works to identify and answer leading key consumer and marketer questions. | Contact: | Kelly Gilmore 217-546-7110 gilmorek@rama-nrf.com |
| State Association Council | ||
| SAC membership comprises the state retail associations that are most active in protecting their members' interests in both the state and national public policy arena. | Contact: | David French 202-783-7971 FrenchD@nrf.com |
| State Leadership Group | ||
| The State Leadership Group is a joint membership opportunity that allows for small retail businesses to become members of NRF through their state retail association. Strengthening the relationship between the states and NRF signals a "win-win" for the overall retail policy agenda; the state association expands its benefits package to in-state members, and NRF expands the industry's political reach and influence through the all-important small business voice in Washington. | Contact: | David French 202-783-7971 FrenchD@nrf.com |
| Strategic Supply Chain Council | ||
| This working group of the ITAC and the NRF Loss Prevention Committee includes senior retail executives responsible for global supply chain, transportation, and logistics. The SSCC provides guidance and technical expertise on issues affecting retailers’ management and security of their international supply chains, with a focus on public policy, technology, supply chain management tools and best practices. | Contact: | Jonathan Gold 202-626-8193 goldj@nrf.com |
| Sustainable Retailing Consortium | ||
| The Sustainable Retailing Consortium brings together retailers, manufacturers, vendors, and organizations that are engaged in sustainable (green) retailing efforts. | Contact: | Dan Butler 202-783-7971 butlerd@nrf.com |
| Tax - Sales Tax Working Group | ||
| This Group is a combination of tax and government affairs experts working in tandem with the state retail associations and governments to modernize and simplify state sales tax systems in the U.S. | Contact: | Rachelle Bernstein 202-783-7971 bernsteinr@nrf.com |
| Taxation Committee | ||
| This Committee is comprised of senior tax executives of NRF retail member companies. The Committee examines tax legislative and regulatory policies that affect retailers and recommends policy positions for the NRF to try to achieve through their lobbying efforts. | Contact: | Rachelle Bernstein 202-783-7971 bernsteinr@nrf.com |