05/01/2026
A full room, coffee flowing, and a strong lineup set the tone for what was ahead at our NEXT 2026 General Session.
Kevin McCrain, CEO, opened with a look at where we are today, and Jon Kramer, President, closed with where we’re headed—framing a series of conversations that spanned the business from multiple angles, with our team leading the discussion throughout.
Across the stage:
• Chefs Emeril and E.J. Lagasse on building from local roots
• Marci Rossell, economic forecaster and former Chief Economist for CNBC, on navigating an evolving economic landscape
• Pauline Brown, former Chair of LVMH North America, on the critical role of aesthetic intelligence in successful brand building
• Brieane Olson, CEO of Pacsun, on legacy retailers evolving to meet the needs of the next generation
• And some unexpected moments along the way
More to come from each of these conversations—but first, a look at how it all came together.