Coresight is hosting retail legends to provide their experienced-based insights on today’s retail issues. Evolving business models, the role of technology, leadership and team building are topics for discussion along with COVID-19 and how it will change the retail landscape. Join Deborah Weinswig, Marie Driscoll, Jan Kniffen & Mark Cohen as they discuss:

1. Who are the retail winners and losers on the other side of the Covid - 19 Pandemic?
2. Specifically, which retailers are not likely to be able to resume normal operations if at all when this is over?
3. What will the marketplace look like, brick and mortar vs e-commerce, vs omnichannel when this is over?
4. What will a “New” normal be like with regard to consumer preferences and behaviors, or will we revert back to our original status quo?
5. How will this crisis change the global matrix of sourcing and consumption?

About Mark Cohen: Mark A. Cohen has been in the retail business since his graduation from Columbia University in 1971. (MBA ’71, BS Electrical Engineering ’69) He has over 20 years experience in president/chairman, chief executive officer level positions. Most recently he was Chairman/CEO of Sears Canada Inc, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Softlines of Sears Roebuck & Co., Chairman/CEO of Bradlees Inc., and Chairman/CEO of Lazarus Department Stores. He has also held positions with Abraham & Strauss, The Gap, Lord   Taylor, Mervyn’s and Goldsmith’s Department Stores. He has been a contract Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business since 2006 teaching courses in Retailing Leadership, Retail Fundamentals, and a Master Class in Creating a Retail Enterprise. He is currently the Director of Retail Studies and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia. He also serves as an independent consultant to both the retail and consumer products industry and offers commentary on the retail industry to CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business networks.   About Jan Kniffen: 

Since October, 2005, Jan Rogers Kniffen has been CEO of J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide, a boutique consulting firm providing independent research on publicly traded retailers to a select group of institutional investors, due diligence to PE firms, funding for retail ventures, and advice to retailers and retail real estate operators. Since 2012 Jan has also been the functional area expert for retail and a contributor to CNBC as an on air personality. Jan also has been an expert witness in several retail legal cases. Jan currently serves as an advisor to several retail tech startups,  After a stint as an Air Force Officer Jan joined an S&P 500 Company acquired by Carl Icahn and became Assistant Treasurer of ACF Industries reporting to the Treasurer of Icahn and Co. and working on acquisitions and divestitures for Carl. In 1985, Jan joined The May Department Stores Company and became SVP Finance and Treasurer. At that time, May was the largest department store company in the US with 19 department store divisions, two discount store companies, Venture and Caldor, the US's largest shoe store chain, Payless ShoeSource, and the nation's largest bridal business, David's Bridal, as well as the nation's largest tuxedo rental business, After Hours Formalwear. As SVP Jan ran Treasury, Tax, Risk Management, Investor Relations, Public Relations, Long Range Financial Planning, Acquisition Analysis, Competitor Comparison and Medical. Jan also managed the $3 billion pension, profit sharing, and foundation portfolio. Jan chartered and was President of the May National Banks, and president of the insurance subs of May. Jan was instrumental in the acquisition of Associated Dry Goods (doubling the size of the company), David's Bridal, Foley's, Filene's, Thalhimers, Strawbridge's, ZCMI, Marshall Field's, parts of Woodward & Lothrup and Mercantile, and was also instrumental in the sale of Caldor, and the spin-offs of Venture and Payless ShoeSource, as well as the divestiture of May Centers. In 2005 Jan was charged with selling May to Federated Department Stores (now Macy.)